After the World Championships in Italy, calls for an over-60 SUP class are growing louder again. Here at Stand Up Magazin, we’ve always wondered about the sense and nonsense of it all. Do we really need even more world championship titles? But you simply have to acknowledge that the older generations are gaining more and more ground and deserve recognition. Many in this class have actively helped shape the sport. The impetus for this article came from a canoeing magazine that we’ll mention below. But let’s dive in, think it through, and see where we end up:
The 2026 SUP World Championships in Sabaudia have once again shown that stand-up paddling is a sport for all generations. While tomorrow’s stars are coming of age in the junior divisions and the elite compete for the prestigious world championship titles, there is one generation that, despite impressive performances, has so far had to make do without its own World Championship standings: athletes over the age of 60.
A recent report by Kanu at breakfast has reignited the discussion. The numbers are remarkable: 35 male athletes born in 1966 or earlier were registered in Sabaudia. Together, they accounted for 95 individual entries in the sprint, technical race, and long-distance events.
Still, there wasn’t a separate 60+ division.
Chris Stringer shows that age isn’t everything
The performance by Canadian Chris Stringer was particularly impressive. Born in 1964, he won the Masters 50+ sprint final in 27.12 seconds, leaving even significantly younger competitors in his wake.
Arnd Dünzinger of Germany, born in 1965, also delivered strong performances in all three disciplines. In a separate ranking for athletes over 60, he would have won the Technical Race, placed second in the long-distance race, and third in the sprint.
In long-distance racing, another prominent name—Larry Cain—also enjoyed success. The Canadian, the 1984 Olympic champion in the single canoe, was the fastest athlete of his generation in Sabaudia.
These achievements underscore that the 60+ generation isn’t just tagging along. They train, travel to international competitions, and continue to compete at a high level for top finishes.
However, the 60+ results listed are not official World Championship rankings. They were calculated retroactively by Kanu zum Frühstück based on the published results and birth years.
How do other sports handle this?
Here at Stand Up Magazine, we wondered whether SUP is the only sport facing this situation. A look beyond our own horizons shows that many international sports federations have long since begun offering much more nuanced age categories.
Track and Field: At the World Masters Athletics Championships, world championship titles are awarded in five-year age groups. In addition to the M60 and W60 categories, there are also age groups for 65-, 70-, 75-, and 80-year-olds. The age groups even extend up to 100+.
Swimming: World Aquatics organizes its own Masters World Championships. Here, too, older athletes are classified into separate age groups. The exact classification depends on the discipline.
Cycling: The UCI Masters Cyclo-Cross World Championships feature age groups such as 60–64, 65–69, 70–74, and 75–79. There are even titles for the 80+ age group.
Table Tennis: The International Table Tennis Federation organizes age groups in five-year increments at its World Masters Championships, including 60–64, 65–69, and other age groups up to 90+.
Rowing: Rowing is particularly interesting. World Rowing offers a category for participants aged 60 and older at its international Masters regatta, as well as additional categories for even older participants. In team boats, the average age of the crew can be as high as 89.
Not all of these events have the same official title status. The World Rowing Masters Regatta, for example, is not a traditional world championship where each winner is awarded a world championship title. Nevertheless, the comparison shows how naturally other sports integrate their older athletes into the international competition structure.
Does adding an age group really have to be complicated?
That’s a perfectly valid question. Organizing a world championship is a major undertaking; additional races take time and money, and adding more and more categories can put a strain on the schedule.
But do we really need additional races?
Especially in long-distance events, a separate 60+ category would be relatively easy to implement. The athletes could start alongside the 50+ Masters and be ranked in two separate age groups based on their times.
In sprint and technical races, the situation is more complicated because qualifying heats, elimination rounds, and finals determine the final standings. However, clear rules could be developed for these as well.
Another option would be to set a minimum number of participants required to award a separate world championship title. This would ensure that a category actually has enough competitors.
A generation that helped pioneer the sport of SUP
There is one more aspect we shouldn’t forget.
Many of today’s Masters athletes belong to the generation that has helped shape modern SUP racing over many years. They have attended events, purchased equipment, supported clubs, and helped popularize the sport in their home countries.
Especially at a time when the SUP racing scene is struggling to attract attention, increase participation, and secure financial support, we should ask ourselves whether it makes sense not to involve this dedicated generation more closely.
Having a separate age group wouldn’t just mean one more medal. It could also serve as motivation to continue actively participating in competitive sports for many years to come.
Is it Paddle Worldwide’s turn?
In any case, the results from Sabaudia provide strong grounds for discussion. When 35 athletes in the 60+ age group are registered in the men’s division alone, it’s hard to argue that there’s no interest.
Of course, we also need to take into account the number of female participants and examine how the age distribution is changing internationally. A new class should be built on a foundation that is sustainable in the long term.