New European SUP Racing Team Launches at the 2026 World Championships in Sabaudia
A new chapter begins for Jimmy Lewis Boards in European SUP racing. At the 2026 World Championships in Sabaudia, Italy, the newly formed Jimmy Lewis European SUP Racing Team will make its international debut – led by 15-time Swedish SUP Champion Linus Karlsson and former C4 Canoe World Champion Stefan Kiraj.
Two highly experienced athletes. Two very different racing backgrounds. Two new Jimmy Lewis race boards.
And one clear objective: Put Jimmy Lewis back on the European SUP racing map.
The World Championships in Sabaudia will mark the official kick-off for the new team and the beginning of an ambitious new European racing program supported by HAIKU Sports.
For Jimmy Lewis, a brand with decades of board-shaping heritage, it is a return to top-level European SUP racing – and there could hardly be a bigger stage for the comeback.
Linus Karlsson: A New Chapter After Starboard
One of Sweden’s most accomplished SUP racers, Linus Karlsson, joins the team after many years racing for Starboard.
A 15-time Swedish SUP Champion, Karlsson brings an exceptional amount of race experience to the new program – and his move to Jimmy Lewis represents a significant change after his long association with Starboard.
His new weapon of choice is the Jimmy Lewis HellFire.
Designed as a versatile all-water race board, the HellFire is built for the kind of changing and demanding conditions racers can encounter both on the ocean and on technical race courses.
And Karlsson won’t be easing into his new partnership quietly.
His first major international appearance on the HellFire will be at the 2026 World Championships in Sabaudia.
Linus Karlsson:
“After racing Starboard for many years, changing brands was obviously a big decision. But sometimes you reach a point where you want a new challenge and a new direction. The HellFire immediately got my attention and I’m really excited about what we can achieve with the board.
Starting this new chapter at a World Championship makes it even more special. I’m looking forward to getting onto the start line in Sabaudia and representing the new Jimmy Lewis European SUP Racing Team.”
Stefan Kiraj: World Championship Pedigree Meets SUP
Joining Karlsson is Stefan Kiraj, a former C4 Canoe World Champion who brings a different – but equally impressive – background in paddle sport to the team.
Kiraj’s experience in elite canoe racing brings years of technical knowledge, race strategy and pure paddling performance into the Jimmy Lewis program.
For Sabaudia, his focus will be on Sprint and Long Distance.
Kiraj will race the Jimmy Lewis StormShadow, the dedicated flatwater race board in the new Jimmy Lewis racing line-up.
Stefan Kiraj:
“Coming from canoe racing, I have always been fascinated by efficiency – how the board runs, how it accelerates and how effectively you can transfer every paddle stroke into forward speed.
That makes the StormShadow a very interesting board for me. I’m excited to be part of this new team from the very beginning and to bring my experience from canoe racing into the SUP program. Starting together at a World Championship is a pretty good way to launch a new team.”
Two Racers. Two Boards. One New European Team.
Putting Karlsson and Kiraj together gives the new Jimmy Lewis European SUP Racing Team an unusual combination of experience.
Karlsson brings years of dedicated SUP racing on national and international level.
Kiraj brings the technical background and competitive experience of a former canoe World Champion.
The equipment reflects those different strengths.
Karlsson – Jimmy Lewis HellFire
Built for versatility, speed and control across changing all-water race conditions.
Kiraj – Jimmy Lewis StormShadow
Focused on efficiency and outright performance when the water gets flat and speed becomes everything.
Together, the two athletes will form the foundation of the new European racing program.
“We Wanted Experience – And Racers Who Can Help Us Move Forward”
For HAIKU Sports, which represents the Jimmy Lewis presence in Europe, establishing the European SUP Racing Team is about more than simply putting boards on a start line.
The goal is to combine competition with real-world feedback from experienced athletes as the Jimmy Lewis racing program develops.
HAIKU Sports:
“This is an exciting moment for us. We wanted to bring Jimmy Lewis back into European SUP racing with athletes who don’t just race fast, but who also understand equipment at a very high level.
With Linus and Stefan, we have exactly that combination. Linus brings enormous experience from years of international SUP racing. Stefan comes from elite canoe competition and brings a different perspective on paddling efficiency, board speed and performance.
Having the HellFire and StormShadow on the start line at the World Championships gives us the perfect opportunity to kick off the new Jimmy Lewis European SUP Racing Team.”
Straight to the World Championships
There will be no warm-up event for the new team.
The first major appearance of the Jimmy Lewis European SUP Racing Team will be on the international stage at the 2026 World Championships in Sabaudia, Italy.
For Karlsson, it will be the first major test of his new HellFire after leaving Starboard.
For Kiraj, it is an opportunity to bring his World Championship-level canoe experience to the SUP race course.
And for Jimmy Lewis, Sabaudia marks something bigger:
A return to European SUP racing.
- A new team.
- Two proven champions.
- Two new race boards.
- And a new chapter that starts on the biggest possible stage.
We thank HAIKU Sports and Jimmy Lewis for the support of our work. It takes an industry and readers like you to keep our operation going.
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