Menu

European SUP League

The European SUP League (ESL) is a continental racing circuit created to bring together the best of European stand-up paddle racing under one unified format. Founded by a collective of SUP club owners and event organizers, including Daniel Parres from the Parres Watersports Club, the league was built around a shared ambition: to elevate SUP racing, strengthen the European scene and bring the sport to a wider audience.

The ESL launched in 2025 with a test season featuring four events in Spain and Portugal, creating a new platform where elite athletes could compete regularly while benefiting from professional event organization and media exposure.

Following the success of its first season, the circuit expanded in 2026 to six events across five European countries, attracting world champions, national team athletes, emerging talents and passionate paddlers. The league features the sport’s key disciplines, including Technical Race and Long Distance, while maintaining a strong connection with the local identity of each host event.

A major focus of the European SUP League is storytelling and media production, with the goal of making SUP racing more accessible and engaging for a broader audience. Each event offers substantial prize money, while an additional overall prize purse rewards the best performers across the entire season at the final stop.

The first-ever European SUP League overall champions were crowned after the inaugural season, with Denmark’s Christian Andersen and Spain’s Alba Frey making history as the first male and female ESL title holders.

 
Alba Frey Doubles Up as Donato Freens and Sergio Cantoral Split the Men’s Titles in Poland

1 Jul 2026

Alba Frey Doubles Up as Donato Freens and Sergio Cantoral Split the Men’s Titles in Poland

The fourth stop of the 2026 European SUP League brought the tour to southern Poland for the ODRA SUP CUP, although this year’s edition did not take place on the Odra River in Racibórz as its name suggests. Instead, competition was held on a picturesque lake in Rybnik, around 30 minutes from the organising club […]

Shuri Araki opens up about the signature Starboard KATANA and his ocean racing philosophy

1 Jul 2026

Shuri Araki opens up about the signature Starboard KATANA and his ocean racing philosophy

When Starboard announced Shuri Araki as the newest member of its Dream Team at the beginning of the year, the SUP world took notice. At just 20 years old, the Okinawan has already amassed eight senior World Championship titles – six ISA and two ICF – and remarkably, he has never raced in the junior division. […]

Spanish Stars Dominate ESL Stop No. 3 as Aarón Sánchez Claims the Double

26 Jun 2026

Spanish Stars Dominate ESL Stop No. 3 as Aarón Sánchez Claims the Double

The 2026 European SUP League reached Switzerland on 20–21 June for the third stop of the season, as the Big Paddle Festival transformed the shores of Lake Zurich into one of the most exciting venues on the European circuit. Organized by Florian Gander, founder of SUP Kultur and the Richterswil Watersport Center, the event marked […]

Next ESL Stop – Poland: National SUP Champion Maja Bauerek ready for the Odra SUP Cup home-water challenge

22 Jun 2026

Next ESL Stop – Poland: National SUP Champion Maja Bauerek ready for the Odra SUP Cup home-water challenge

As Rybnik and the wider Polish SUP community prepare for a landmark weekend at the 2026 Odra SUP Cup, we caught up with BassSUP  rider Maja Bauerek ahead of the event. Fresh off a double silver medal in the Long Distance and Technical Race at The Big Paddle Festival, the European SUP League Stop #3, […]

Big names locked in for European SUP League Stop #3 at The Big Paddle Festival, Switzerland

13 Jun 2026

Big names locked in for European SUP League Stop #3 at The Big Paddle Festival, Switzerland

The countdown is on to the biggest edition of The Big Paddle Festival yet, as the popular Swiss event prepares to make history as an official stop of the European SUP League (ESL). Organised by Florian Gander – Founder of SUPkultur Wassersport Center and Co-founder of the Swiss Stand-Up Paddle Association – the festival will […]

Triple X and the path to SUP freedom: BassSUP x Yehor Tarasko launch the Freestyle Basic paddleboard

28 May 2026

Triple X and the path to SUP freedom: BassSUP x Yehor Tarasko launch the Freestyle Basic paddleboard

As Basssup approaches its 10-year anniversary, the premium inflatable SUP brand founded by Jędrzej Klafkowski and Małgosia Majda continues to expand both its presence and vision within the international SUP scene. Travelling across the European SUP League (ESL) circuit alongside its athlete team, the brand is building toward a major milestone this season with the ODRA […]

‘All in from the first stroke’: Sergio Cantoral targets European SUP League double header in Switzerland & Poland

26 May 2026

‘All in from the first stroke’: Sergio Cantoral targets European SUP League double header in Switzerland & Poland

The 2026 season is shaping up to be a breakthrough year for Sergio Cantoral. Following his signing with the NSP Team, the 21-year-old Spanish Champion has continued to build momentum with standout performances across the European circuit. Training with Club Deportivo Parres – one of Europe’s most successful SUP development programmes – Sergio heads into […]

Light Board Corp Riders descend on ESL Stop #2 Lido Gandoli, Taranto: Meet Narcy Madeddu & Fabrizio ‘Gas’ Gasbarro

30 Apr 2026

Light Board Corp Riders descend on ESL Stop #2 Lido Gandoli, Taranto: Meet Narcy Madeddu & Fabrizio ‘Gas’ Gasbarro

As the European SUP League (ESL) circuit heads to southern Italy, Lido Gandoli in Marina di Leporano will host three days of top-level stand-up paddle racing from 1-3 May. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Ionian Sea, the event will feature over €7,000 in prize money and bring together some of Europe’s best athletes. […]

European SUP League Stop #2 in Lido Gandoli, Taranto: Who to watch with local pro Maria Laura Metta

23 Apr 2026

European SUP League Stop #2 in Lido Gandoli, Taranto: Who to watch with local pro Maria Laura Metta

As the week heats up and the inaugural European SUP League (ESL) stop is about to kick off, we caught up with Maria Laura Metta – one of the founding members and advisors of SUP Academy Taranto, hosts of the European SUP League (ESL) Stop #2 in Taranto, Italy. A 23-year-old from Taranto, Maria Laura […]

Inside the European SUP League: An In-Depth Conversation with Javier Cantoral

17 Apr 2026

Inside the European SUP League: An In-Depth Conversation with Javier Cantoral

Inside the European SUP League, a new continental circuit is taking shape with the ambition of bringing structure, visibility, and long-term growth to SUP racing. Built on collaboration between organizers, federations, athletes, and media, the ESL aims to professionalize the sport while keeping its community spirit at its core. From standardized race formats and inclusive […]

Nicolò Ricco joins NSP: Dialled-in performance, matched with precision gear & team energy

16 Apr 2026

Nicolò Ricco joins NSP: Dialled-in performance, matched with precision gear & team energy

At just 19, Nicolò Ricco represents a new generation of stand-up paddle athletes – one that, despite its young age, can be defined by a more methodical approach to training and competing, dialling in every factor and optimising performance over time. A multiple Italian champion based in Bari, Italy, and the holder of several SUP […]

‘Unity is the way forward’ – Lido Gandoli, Taranto hosts European SUP League Stop #2: Interview with Mario Tagarelli

2 Apr 2026

‘Unity is the way forward’ – Lido Gandoli, Taranto hosts European SUP League Stop #2: Interview with Mario Tagarelli

Putting the spotlight on the next generation of SUP talent, Mario Tagarelli has transformed junior racing and athlete development in Italy. As Coach and President of SUP Academy Taranto, based at Lido Gandoli in Taranto, southern Italy, he is the mastermind behind a training programme that cultivates young paddlers and elevates clubs dedicated to developing […]

TotalSUP.Training Podcast Ep. 1: What is the European SUP League?

27 Mar 2026

TotalSUP.Training Podcast Ep. 1: What is the European SUP League?

 Welcome to the very first episode of the TotalSUP.Training Podcast! Let’s be honest right from the start: this is our debut episode, and we’re very much in trial-and-error mode. We’re figuring things out as we go — format, rhythm, tone — and we’re learning in public. We don’t even have an official name for […]