The M2O just released the roster for the 2024 SUP Channel Crossing. As anticipated the participation in the SUP division got extremely slim. In fact there is only one female and from a competitive point of view we have moved way past the hype and anticipation of the years when the M2O was the gold standard for SUP Athletes.
The two names that are recognizable are Shuri Arkai and Itzel Delgado. Shuri was on the list of athletes last year but for to us unknown reasons did not enter the race.
Due to the big demand in SUP Foiling the M2O organizers have separated the two divisions. The foilers will race on July the 21st. This is the Sunday after the Maui2Molokai race and the SUP Race will be the weekend after on July the 28th.
One might wonder now if it is a coincidence that the APP Tour announce a Hawaii Race between the 24th and the 28th of July. If the APP announcement holds, Hawaii should see a very busy month with SUP and Foil Races.
In the meanwhile enjoy some great memories from our past videos.
Way back when in 2016
Mit dem Laden des Videos akzeptieren Sie die Datenschutzerklärung von YouTube. Mehr erfahren
While gone for the boot show we received the news that this year the M2O is finally returning. It feels like its been half a lifetime since we had the last M2O. Pretty much 4 years in between races, that feels like the FIFA World Cup or the Olympics. It sure was a different world back in in July 2019. Foiling became more and more popular and only a handful of athletes attempted to compete in this class. We also had dwindling participation in the SUP category due to foiling. We can be curios to see how this year will play out. Who will show up and how many people will attempt the foil category given the conditions are favorable.
Lets go down memory lane on the 2019 M2O
Mit dem Laden des Videos akzeptieren Sie die Datenschutzerklärung von YouTube. Mehr erfahren
The 24th Annual Moloka’i 2 O’ahu Paddleboard World Championships is scheduled for Sunday, July 30th, 2023. We are moving forward on all fronts and can’t wait to meet again on the shores of Moloka’i this summer.
The event team is excited to get back in action to produce a safe and exciting return to racing for M2O athletes and local communities.
We thank all of the athletes who supported our Bluewater race last summer. For 2023 we will be focused solely on our return to M2O and the Ka’iwi channel. We look forward to evaluating more opportunities for additional racing in the future.
The 2023 Moloka’i 2 O’ahu Paddleboard World Championships will once again feature prone and SUP paddleboarding and FOIL divisions.
REGISTRATION will open February 15th.
The M2O Virtual Edition 4.0 will continue as athletes look to M2O for inspiration. More info regarding the virtual event will follow in March.
We will be updating the M2O community via email, website, and social media to announce registration details.
For timely updates please follow us on Facebook. Mahalo Team M2O
Kiyomi Sheppard was the sole SUP paddler in the Kaiwi channel at the virtual M2O this year. This is her story:
Crossing the Kiawi channel for me is very special thing. I love the feeling of resetting my mind while out on the ocean. This year the conditions were difficult because of the strong NE winds at 20 miles per hour and the tide going low. My game plan was to go north for about 3-4 hours or until I reached 20 miles, and then go in towards Hawaii Kai. It was so hard because I couldn’t catch any of the swell for the first 20 miles, but I knew I had to keep going north so that I wouldn’t get stuck South at the end like I have in previous years. My game plan went well until I got very sick at the 20 mile mark. I fought it and fought it, but the sickness never went away. The water was so rough and at the end and I didn’t have the strength to stand up on my board. I couldn’t keep my balance and if I tried to stand up, I would fall right away. At one point I fell and hit my head on the top of my board and was under water for a little while. I think it took me a solid 2 hours to get my balance back to be able to stand up, but once I did I had only 3 miles left until the finish at Hawaii Kai- that’s when I started to cry, I was so close.
It was a very hard paddle this year, but I never gave up and I’m so happy that I finished safely. I’m so thankful for the support from my husband and my two beautiful children- I couldn’t have done it without them.
The 24th Annual Moloka’i 2
O’ahu Paddleboard World Championships is tentatively scheduled for Sunday,
July 25, 2021. Currently we are moving forward on all fronts and hope to
meet again on the shores of Moloka’i at the end of July.
The event’s main goal is to produce a safe race for its athletes and
surrounding communities once restrictions are lifted for outdoor events to be
considered in Hawaii. Once cleared we will officially announce the registration
window for 2021, including final details for this year’s M2O edition and
virtual options.
We recognize that many of you are faced with continued
restrictions both at home and upon arrival to Hawaii. For official updates on
travel to Hawaii please reference Hawaii’s official Covid-19 website.
We will be updating our M2O community via email, website, and social media once we can announce registration details. For timely updates please follow us on Facebook. Stay safe and healthy.
It is the end of a long and intense SUP race season. We started with a very busy first half of the year, featuring all the EURO TOUR races in Spain and Italy, as well as the Lake Rocks Festival in Austria, which was part of the SUP Alps Trophy. We have been keeping tabs on the world’s top ten since the beginning of the year.
In the second half of the year, the race schedule became very fragmented, and most elite athletes who don’t live in Europe returned to their home countries. There were few to no major international races, making it more difficult to maintain an accurate top ten list. (This is also the reason we stopped updating it in the second half and are now asking ourselves what to do with this in 2025.)
As always, at the end of the year, the SUP World Rankings are cleaned up, and only the top-ranked races are considered for the final athlete rankings. This is what we have been waiting for, and, frankly, the cleaned-up version closely reflects what we had anticipated all along.
Men Longdistance
hrimpy is the undisputed king of long distance. He has a significant points lead, and everyone who saw his performance at the ICF in Sarasota will agree. In fact, he won every long-distance race he competed in: Sancti Petri, Mondello, Busan, Punta Ala, and Barcelona.
Behind him is Donato Freens, who was a very busy paddler with many great results, but the points difference is significant. Only 10 points behind Donato is Rai Taguchi showing a very close race to the season end.
Congratulations to all the racers, and a special shout-out to Eri Tenorio, who most likely made the top ten due to his phenomenal comeback at the ICF long-distance race in Sarasota.
The clear champions here are Esperanza Barreras and Marie Carmen Rivera. Espe is the world’s undisputed top female paddler, but in Marie Carmen, she has a very worthy opponent. Esperanza holds both the ISA and ICF World Titles, so it is only natural that she is SWR’s top-ranked paddler this year.
Marie Carmen earned silver at both the ICF and ISA, finishing behind Espe — and their points difference is understandably slim. Further back, we find Juliette Du Haime and Duna Gordillo, who both had a respectable year as well.
Special shout out to Kimberly Barnes who is by far the oldest paddler in this group and showed amazing performance against girls more than half her age.
Rank
Name
Nat.
PTS
1
Esperanza Barreras
ESP
2213.25
2
Marie Carmen Rivera
PUR
2031.15
3
Juliette Du Haime
ARG
1548.64
4
Duna Gordillo
ESP
1307.52
5
Susak Molinero
ESP
1113.62
6
Alba Frey
ESP
1108.21
7
Cecilia Pampinella
ITA
1089.37
8
Kimberly Barnes
USA
1017.75
9
Anais Guyomarch
FRA
953.76
10
Iona Rivet
FRA
947.85
Men Tech. Race
Rai Taguchi is the clear Tech Race world champion. Despite not performing as well as he wanted in Sarasota, where he finished 6th, his ISA world title, gold medal at the SUP Spring Race, and various other podium finishes solidified his position.
Christian Anderson had a great year, and he even mentioned in an interview that he felt it was his best year ever. It’s also great to see Itzel Delgado in third place. For an athlete who focused more on ULD races such as M2O, the 11 City Tour, and the Okinawa to Yoron Ocean Race, he certainly excelled with buoy turns this year, winning all the Latin American Races.
Esperanza Barreras is not only the fastest long-distance paddler, but she is also the fastest Tech Racer. She earned silver medals at both the ICF and ISA and claimed victory at the Barcelona SUP World Fest.
Less than 100 points behind her is Juliette Du Haime. At the ICF, she finished 4th, but she won the Copa America, placed 2nd in Barcelona, and took the top spot at the Lake Rocks Festival in Austria. She did miss the top spot but not by much.
In third place, we have Duna Gordillo, who achieved fantastic wins in Sarasota and at the Busan Open in South Korea.
Rank
Name
Nat.
PTS
1
Esperanza Barreras
ESP
1626.75
2
Juliette Du Haime
ARG
1552.5
3
Duna Grodillo
ESP
1319.4
4
Marie Carmen Rivera
PUR
932.02
5
Cecilia Pampinella
ITA
856.75
6
Marta Apanasewicz
POL
783.49
7
Claudia Postiglione
ITA
675.87
8
Rika Okuaki
JPN
659.01
9
Kyriaki Logotheti
JPN
624.1
10
Alba Frey
ESP
617.62
Men Sprint Races
The world of sprinting belongs to Andrey Kraitor. He set his sights on the ICF World Title — and delivered. His dominance was on full display as he clinched victories at Agios Nikolaos, the ECA Sprints, and the Lake Rocks Sprints, cementing his place as the king of speed.
Hot on his heels in second place is Cameron Tripney, whose consistent performances include a 3rd place finish in Sarasota, a 2nd place podium at the Lake Rocks Festival in Austria, and a decisive win at the SUP Spring Race.
Rounding out the top three is Manuel Hoyuela. He grabbed 2nd in Sarasota but followed a different race schedule than Cameron, meeting Kraitor again at the ECA Sprints, where he finished 3rd.
Overall, the Sprint Category reveals a unique dynamic — the names here differ significantly from those in long-distance and tech racing. Clearly, not every paddler is built for the explosive intensity of sprinting, highlighting a different skill set.
IIn the women’s sprint category, we’re looking at a different leaderboard compared to the long-distance and tech races. Alba Frey reigns supreme, claiming the top spot with a 3rd place finish in Sarasota, a victory in Greece, and another triumph at the ISA. Essentially, she dominated, winning two out of the three sprint races she entered.
Second place belongs to Marta Apanasewicz, a lesser-known talent from Poland who quietly amassed her points. Her highlight was a 2nd place finish in Greece, complemented by solid results in smaller races and a 3rd place at the ECA Sprints.
Rounding out the top three is Paris Katniss, who burst onto the scene with a stunning victory in Sarasota. This win secured her spot on the podium, despite a 4th place in Greece and an 8th place at the SUP Spring Race.
The sprint category showcases a fresh mix of names, proving that when it comes to explosive speed, these women are in a league of their own.
Rank
Name
Nat.
PTS
1
Alba Frey
ESP
978.5
2
Marta Apanasewicz
POL
786.27
3
Paris Katniss
USA
707.54
4
Cecilia Pampinella
ITA
687.9
5
Marie Carmen Rivera
PUR
639.56
6
Kyriaki Logotheti
GRE
622.64
7
Claudia Postiglione
ITA
616.95
8
Linda Syrovatkova
CZE
551.79
9
Sey-Chelle
USA
490.72
10
Esperanza Barreras
ESP
442.5
Conclusion
We can all be really happy that Tibor Hasulyo took on the mantle left by Chris Parker. The current ranking system is an accurate, math-based approach that considers all relevant factors, creating a fair ranking. However, after five years of statistics, we’re beginning to encounter challenges. The system is becoming diluted due to the fragmentation of the sport, especially after a few months. This dilution tends to reward athletes who perform well in lesser-ranked or less competitive races.
This raises a fundamental question for us: Why track rankings year-round if we end up with a reshuffeled top ten by the end of the year? The excitement of this ranking system lies in witnessing rivalries develop throughout the season. We love following athletes, seeing them compete head-to-head, and watching the race for the world title intensify as the year progresses. Unfortunately, our sport lacks the organization necessary to form a consistent series of races that could function as a cohesive world tour. Instead, SUP is scattered and inconsistent, making even unifying the competitive side under the SWR a challenging task.
At Stand Up Magazin, we are considering a shift in approach. Instead of maintaining weekly updates to the SWR, we’re thinking of creating our own ranking system that focuses solely on 3- to 5-Star races, using SWR data. We question whether it’s truly necessary to rank and count every race in some pond in the middle of nowhere. This may sound harsh — and we don’t intend to discredit paddlers or organizers — but the most compelling stories come from major events where the sport showcases its highest level of competition.
It’s unfortunate that the APP, despite its excellent media production, has failed to deliver a sustainable model akin to those seen in other sports. Without comprehensive media packages and consistent content creation, we won’t be able to sell this sport to a broader audience or attract major sponsors. Competitive SUP will remain fragmented, relying on government subsidies and two organizations battling for jurisdiction. A few key events will continue to be funded by local tourism authorities, as long as they see value in doing so promoting their destination.
If we want to break out of this niche, we need structure. The SWR is currently the only system providing any semblance of structure. The next step is to identify key races worldwide and encourage top athletes to participate by offering prize money and decent media coverage.
Less thanone Month to Go: Anticipation Builds for the 2024 ICF SUP World Championships
The countdown is on—just one month remains until one of the most anticipated events in stand-up paddling. The 2024 ICF SUP World Championships in Sarasota, Florida, promises an exciting season finale despite the challenges posed by Hurricane Milton. After initial uncertainty, organizers are now confident that the event will go ahead as planned, and the excitement is building.
Unlike the ISA World Championships, the ICF allows open registration, giving us early insight into the lineup of participants. For weeks, we’ve been tracking the sign-ups closely, analyzing who’s competing and who’s missing. With the event just around the corner, we’ve taken another look at the numbers, anticipating that few more registrations will come in at this stage.
Participation Numbers and Demographics: A Mixed Picture
The detailed registration sheets not only reveal the participants but also offer a snapshot of the sport’s demographic landscape. However, the turnout for Sarasota appears lower than expected, falling short of the ICF’s hopes. After the overwhelming participation at last year’s event in Thailand, expectations were high for an even bigger turnout in 2024. Yet, surprisingly, U.S. paddlers have not signed up in large numbers, raising the question: where are the American athletes?
Finding answers isn’t easy. The U.S. is a vast country, with paddling varying in popularity by region. Florida, known as the Sunshine State, seemed like the ideal setting for a major SUP event, but the local participation numbers are underwhelming.
The Numbers So Far
As of now, 398 paddlers are registered for the Sprint event, 399 for the Long Distance race, and 384 for the Technical Race. Additionally, the ICF will host an inflatable board race, with 65 competitors signed up. Unfortunately, the 14-and-under Kids Race has drawn just 22 entries—a disappointing figure for what should be a key development category for the sport’s future.
In the Sprint division, the Junior age group (15–18) boasts 78 participants, a positive sign for the sport’s youth engagement. Interestingly, the 50+ age group stands out with 113 entries, showing that seasoned paddlers remain eager to compete. The 40+ Masters class is also well-represented, with 79 participants.
The most competitive field, however, remains the Open Division, which features 128 entries. This division attracts the sport’s elite athletes, as they battle for prize money across all race formats. Notably, most of the top athletes competing in the Sprint division are also registered for the Long Distance and Technical races, making it the best indicator of overall participation.
Who’s Racing and What to Expect?
As with any major event, the race to predict winners is well underway. However, our previous forecasts—especially on the men’s side—didn’t pan out as expected at the ISA World Championships. That experience has made us cautious this time around.
Notable names and title defenders
ICF 2023 World Champions and Title defenders
Tech Race: Connor Baxter – Esperanza Barreras
Longdistance: Noic Garioud – Esperanza Barreras
Sprint: Noic Garioud – Seychelle Webster
(Connor Baxter not returning to the ICF Worlds this year)
Esperanza Barreras
Espe is notably the woman to beat at this years ICF SUP Worlds. Out of the 10 races she paddeled this year, her worst result was a 4th place at the Tech. Race at the Lake Rocks in Austria. She won the ISA Longdistance and got second in the Tech. Race. We can expect Espe making podiums in all three disciplines.
Noic Garioud
Noic Garioud became a father this year and we have not seen him racing like we are used to. He did very well in the ISA Sprint Races this year with a 3rd place but ranked only 15th in the Tech Race and in long distance things did not go his way at all. Noic is always a force to be reckoned with and with his competitive mind set and price money on the line, we are sure he will do what it takes to redeem himself and go full force in Sarasota.
Seychelle Webster
Seychelle made her grand entry back into the International SUP Race World last year with a gold medal in Thailand. This year she competed in 7 races but did not achieve results like she did at the height of her career. She missed the podiums on all three race classes at the ISA Worlds. We are sure with home turf advantage and price money waiting in Sarasota, Seychelle is ready to do what it takes to grab some of that money on the podium.
Juliette DuHaime
Juliette had a very successful year with many podiums either in Europe or South America. She is currently holding the World Raking top spot in Tech. Race and is in third in Longdistance. However we did not see her at the ISA in Denmark and therefore it will be interesting to see how she is doing against the international competition she hasn’t faced in a while.
Michael Booth
Boothy is one of the biggest names in the sport, however this year he somehow was not able to live up to his name so far. His results at the ISA were not Boothy like, with a 9th – 8th -12th place. He however had a good run in Europe with a two podiums in Austria at the Lake Rocks and a third place in Barcelona. He did win the Longdistance Race at the Carolina Cup. The ICF in Sarasota is a big moment for Boothy and we are sure he is very eager to better his ISA record against the international competition.
Rai Taguchi
Rai had a very busy year with 14 races under his belt, he is entering the ICF World with a lot of momentum. He earned two world titles at the ISA, one in Longdistance and one in the Tech. Race. If he can repeat that in Sarasota he should be in for a good pay day.
Shuri “Shrimpy” Araki
Shrimpy might have not raced as much as in previous years but when he shows up he usually wins. This year he completed 7 races and won 6. That is remarkable! He did miss out on the ISA, so we have not see him racing amongst his international peers in a while, but if one guy is capable todo big things, its him.
Duna Gordillo
Duna is one of our favorite female athletes and has an amazing track record. She raced in 10 races this year and got nothing but podiums and is holding the ISA World Title in the Tech. Race and got third in Longdistance. Duna is very much in contingency for a world title in Sarasota.
Marie Carmen Rivera
Marie Carmen has had an amazing year so far. She raced in 12 race this year and got pretty much podium in all of them. At the ISA she was 2nd in Longdistance, 3rd in Tech. Race and 4th in Sprints. She is a big competition to Esp and Duna and we would put it past her not snagging a title from one of these two ladies.
Alba Frey
Alba is another great female athlete. She paddeled nothing but podiums in all races she made an appearance. She is currently holding the ISA Sprint World Title and and won three times gold at the ICF SUP World Cup “Agios Nikolaos on SUP”. She is a big contender for a world title in any of the disciplines.
Donato Freens
Donato is one of the busiest paddler of 2024, with 14 races completed. He made many podiums, but fell short of podiums in bigger races like the ISA Worlds and the Busan Open. We know Donato is very ambitious and we are sure is training very hard for a good result in Sarasota and is very capable of one.
Christian Andersen
He told us prior to the ISA that he was not sure if he is making his way to Sarasota so we are even happier to see him on the list now. Christian the Polarbear got some podiums in 2024, namely at the Busan Open and some other local races. His biggest result this year so far is probably his 4th place in the Sprints at the ISA in his home country of Denmark.
Andri Kraitor
Andri Kraitor is actually the only athlete in this list with actual Olympic experience. He has been training paddlers all over Aisa and is supporting the community with his rental program for SUP Race Boards. His last victory was his 1st place at the ICF World Cup in Sprints at the Agios Nikolaos. He also won sprints at the Lake Rocks Festival and the ECA SUP Championships and in Pattaya last year he took bronze. He can definitely win a podium or even secure a title in Sarasota if things go his way.
Cecilia Pampinella
Cecilia has become a big name in recent years and with a 2nd place in the Sprints at the ISA Worlds in Denmark, she has solidified her standing in international rankings. She competed in 14 races this year with many great results and podiums. However she did not do as well across the board at the ISA as her fans have expected and we are sure she is going to Sarasota with an extra portion of motivation.
Clement Colmas
Clement is a jack of all trades in the water and a bit of an underground SUP Paddler. We don’t see his name that often but when we do he is doing actually pretty well. His stand out result this year was his second place in the Longdistance Race at the ISA in Denmark.
Itzel Delgado
Itzel had pretty busy season so far, from the M2O, the Copa America and the SUP 11 City Tour Itzel did it all. He won all three disciplines at the Copa America and the Tech. Race at the Pan American Games. At the ISA he did not too well, so we will see how the ICF Worlds will work out for him.
Summary
There are so many great athletes and it is really hard to put your money on one or the other. All these people are capable to take a world title in Sarasota. One thing is for sure after all: The days in Sarasota will be full of action and suspenseful races.
Aftermath of Hurricane Milton in Sarasota: Hope for Swift Recovery Ahead of ICF SUP World Championships
Hurricane Milton recently swept through Florida, leaving significant damage in its wake, particularly in Sarasota and the surrounding areas. The storm, which is being described as one of the worst ever experienced in the region, caused widespread flooding, power outages, and structural damage. Despite the devastation, local efforts are already underway to restore normalcy.
Hurricane Milton passing Tampa on Wednesday night.
Our friend Josh Riccio, who serves in the Bradenton Fire Department and is also the record holder of the M2O in the 14′ board class, offered his insights on the recovery efforts. He shared:
“Yeah, definitely was a crazy storm for so many parts of Florida, worst our area has ever seen for sure… I’d bet the ICF should be good to run in 5 weeks; cleanup efforts like this move pretty fast on the mainland.”
People walk past a yacht at Bayfront Park following landfall of Hurricane Milton in Sarasota, Florida. Photo: Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Indeed, Florida has shown remarkable resilience in the face of natural disasters, and early signs indicate that the recovery process is progressing swiftly. Sarasota’s infrastructure is being repaired, and cleanup crews are working around the clock. Given the pace of recovery, we can cautiously conclude that the ICF SUP World Championships, scheduled to take place in five weeks, should be able to proceed as planned.
As the community continues to rebuild, there’s hope that the event will not only bring people together but also showcase the spirit and resilience of the region.
Breaking news today revealed a surprising development, as the organizers of the GlaGla Race released an official statement on TOTALSUP. After carefully translating and reviewing the French announcement, it’s clear that the organizers faced significant challenges over the years, and after a decade of running one of the most iconic and longest-standing races, they have understandably reached a point of burnout.
We’ve highlighted key points from the statement and noted that the organizer, Benoit, was remarkably candid in his words. Our main takeaway is that some individuals failed to fully appreciate the effort Benoit and his team put into this event. Additionally, bureaucratic hurdles from authorities and a lack of financial support from the SUP industry further complicated their efforts. We sympathize deeply with Benoit and Sarah. Organizing a race requires immense time, dedication, and a true passion for the sport. What begins with enthusiasm and excitement can evolve into a daunting task as the event grows. Unfortunately, while participation increases, the financial return often remains minimal, leaving the organizers to bear an ever-growing burden with little reward.
Sadly, the GlaGla Race has reached the end of its journey. Since its inception in 2014, it stood as one of the most iconic races globally, emerging in the early days of SUP, when beach races like Battle of the Paddle were setting the gold standard and the M2O was considered the race of the year. The GlaGla Race transcended eras, maintaining its reputation as a major event in Europe, showing that SUP could thrive even in harsh, cold conditions.
While the organizers have left the door open for a possible return in 2026, history suggests that when organizers step away and time passes, the passion for the project often fades, and the world moves on. Without a significant financial incentive, we remain skeptical that this race will return. And if it does, it may never be quite the same.
Video from 2017
By loading the post you accept the privacy policy of Facebook. Learn more
“The more original a discovery, the more obvious it seems afterward.” (Arthur Koestler)
In 2024, the GlaGla Race celebrated its 10th anniversary. It is part of the Alpine Lakes Tour, which we created in 2013.
In 10 years, 5,000 people, crazy enough to challenge the mountain winter, have participated in the GlaGla Race—a race that became legendary from the start.
For the very first GlaGla Race in 2014, there were 40 participants; in 2019, we had 650 people; and in 2024, 850.
In 2022, the cumulative media audience in France, measured by AOP, reached 34.6 million! More than any other SUP competition. Since 2019, the live coverage on 8 Mont Blanc has also set audience records. Many international pro competitors have come from across Europe, as well as from New Caledonia, the United States, and Australia, without any prize money being offered!
Thank you!
10 years… 10 years also means months and months of volunteer work to take on this incredible challenge of organizing a paddle race in the middle of winter, with water at 4°C.
It means sacrificing family holiday celebrations in favor of imminent event planning.
It means passionately defending administrative files with the authorities to ensure that state services see a perfect compliance with safety regulations.
It means sleepless nights, because organizing an outdoor event involves taking on massive personal responsibilities.
It means hundreds of meetings trying to convince partners and investors… SUP doesn’t attract many sponsors.
And 10 years also means the explosion of social media, offering an incredible opportunity to build communities and communicate easily. It also brings unlimited possibilities to criticize organizers and demand increasingly personalized service.
To organize an outdoor event, you must be passionate.
To organize an outdoor event, in winter, on a lake with 4°C water, you must be passionate, determined, and surrounded by supportive and caring people.
The 10th edition was beautiful but painful. We spent our winter working on it. We were criticized. Partners and local authorities reduced their support.
We took on the challenge of organizing it. We haven’t yet recovered from its organization. A break is needed.
It’s far from normal to organize the GlaGla Race the way we do. Over time, the GlaGla Race has become a bit too “normal” in our eyes, whereas people need to understand that it is, in fact, a somewhat crazy event.
We are going to take a little time off for once. We’ll see you again for the next GlaGla Race on January 17, 2026.
The 2025 Alpine Lakes Tour schedule will not include the GlaGla Race, but it will feature five stages in France, Switzerland, and Italy, with some new elements! This schedule will be unveiled in December.
Benoit & Sarah and the small, highly dedicated team of volunteers.
This Sunday marked a historic beginning of a new era in Downwind Racing for SUP Foiling. The M2O organizers put into place their announce new race course and it was received very well. All the athletes were happy having the start line in the bumps rather than flat water. The new finish line worked very well too as the foilers were able to take full advantage of the bumps all the way across the finish line.
The conditions in the Kaiwi Channel were not always easy. The trade winds were strong but the wind swell was not always running in the same direction and about 2/3s across the way the wind became really light. This particularly affected the Wingfoilers. Another factor that is coming into play now days is with this many participants going this fast there are the same amount of escort boats around creating quite a bit a wake which is felt right after the start, especially if you are in the 2nd half of the field.
By loading the post you accept the privacy policy of Facebook. Learn more
Once the athletes rounded the corner by China Wall getting into the Hawaii Kai run the winds picked up again and a great finish was certain.
One of the biggest surprised of the day was Fiona Wyldes 2nd place behind Annie Reickert and ahead of Gabriella Bella who won the Maui2Molokai on the Friday before.
On the men side, it was once again Edoardo “Edo” Tanas the Italian with residence on Oahu who was the fastest in the channel. Looking at the finishing times all athletes crossed the finish line withing a respectable distance between each other. Racers are getting spread out far apart on the open ocean and navigating a good line is crucial to the results.
Full recap, statements and what gear are people riding.
Mit dem Laden des Videos akzeptieren Sie die Datenschutzerklärung von YouTube. Mehr erfahren
Before we are crossing Kaiwi Channel in a brand new race course on a brand new date, we took a moment and spoke to Shannon Delaney. Shannon is the heart and soul behind the M2O for so many years. Our community owes her a big thank you for what she had done in the past and continues to do.
In this video we also hear from Kai Lenny, James Casey and Andrea Moller, three athletes that have been participating in the M2O for a very very long time.
Mit dem Laden des Videos akzeptieren Sie die Datenschutzerklärung von YouTube. Mehr erfahren
Downwind Racing in Hawaii has not been this popular since the great days of SUP. The Maui2Molokai / Molokai Holokai was the opener of a weekend to remember. The SUP Foil Division counted 123 participants that made their way to Maui to be part of this historic event. In fact it was their participation that made it historic.
Besides all the local guys there were athletes from Tahiti, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and France. The race color this year was chosen to be pink to show support for the fire victims of Lahaina.
By loading the post you accept the privacy policy of Facebook. Learn more
The results could not be more interesting as we see many new names on the top or at least names that are not yet that commonly known outside of this still small community of skilled Foil Athletes. Then there is also an arms race in this industry going on as well. The gear is changing fast and there are only a few companies that are at the fore front of producing foils with minimal drag. Inside sources tell us that AXIS is flying in some specialty prototype foils from China just for the M2O. This is how serious things are getting in the channel.
Oskar Johansson is at fore front of Downwind SUP Foiling and as an Armstrong Teamrider also involved in the development of new gear. He is currently visiting Maui with the team to participate in the Koa Kai Tripple Crown a Foil Race Series that ties the paddle IMUA the M2M and the M2O all into one ranking.
We had the chance to catch up with him after the paddle IMUA talking about his competition with James Casey from last year and the rapid development in foil gear.
Mit dem Laden des Videos akzeptieren Sie die Datenschutzerklärung von YouTube. Mehr erfahren
In its 12th edition the paddle IMUA was once again a full success. Participants came from all over the US and the world to be part of this extra ordinary ocean race. The race sold out one week prior to the start as conditions for the legendary Maliko Run looked very favorable.
The most remarkable thing how ever was how the demand for SUP Downwind Foiling exploded. There were 135 participants registered at the event. These are numbers nobody would have imagined in their wildest dreams a year ago, let alone two years ago. In Wing Foiling we counted 51 men and 13 women. In SUP there was still a respectful number of 21 participants. What was particularly nice was that the well known Peruvian Athlete Itzel Delgado (interview to follow) found his way to Hawaii to participate in all 3 downwind races of the summer.
Taking a brief look at the names on the top, it was the locals who dominated the race course. Kane De Wilde finished the run in less than 25 minutes ahead for Finn Spencer. On the girls side it was Annie Reickert with a time of just about 30 minutes. The bigger surprise might be that last years M2O winner James Casey only came in 7th place and the second places Oskar Johansson in 12th. Super star Kai Lenny came in 18th just one second faster than Armie Armstrong.
Now we have all eyes on the Pailolo Channel and the Kaiwi Channel next week as all the top names will be part of the KOA KAI Tripple Crown this year.
By loading the post you accept the privacy policy of Facebook. Learn more
Bodie Von Allmen made himself a name in the SUP Sport as the Junior that does not paddle in the junior division. We remember meeting the Hoodriver local at the ICF Worlds in 2021 in Poland. The kid was fast and could have easily won junior divisions, instead he wanted to measure up the pros.
Fast forward to 2024, Bodie Von Allmen is building his career as competitive SUP Athlete and just qualified for Team USA go to the ISW Worlds in Denmark. Besides racing internationally Bodie also has a deep passion for the famous “Viento Run” in his hometown of Hoodriver. This renowned wind destination was home to one of the most iconic SUP Racees in History: The Gorge Paddle Challenge. This race attracted the global SUP elite for years and was one of the most important races for athletes to make podium.
Bodie grew right into this time and started competing there in 2015, pretty much at the height of SUP Downwind Racing. (SUP Race lovers can look at the results here. You will find some names you have not seen in a while).
Now 9 years later the beloved event had to be cancelled due to lack of… well that is what we are trying to find out and reached out to Bodie Von Allmen to hear what is going on and how he and some other people are not taking NO for an answer.
Aloha Bodie, thank you for your time. As we heard in the intro you competed the first time there in 2015. Can you give us a bit of your background at Hood River and how this event has shaped your passion for SUP Racing.
Living so close to such phenomenal downwind paddling conditions has been very influential in my love for the sport. The Gorge Paddle Challenge used to be one of the biggest races of the year and that allowed me to see all of the worlds best compete in my home state. This was very motivating, watching all of the pros race influenced me to want to get to that level one day. My first year competing in that event, I was one of the last kids to finish the kids race which I did illegally on my dads 14ft raceboard. I stuck with it and now almost 10 years later, I am where I’m at today.
As we heard, the 2024 event had to be canceled and you are in the process to pick up the pieces and hold an event regardless. Can you explain this a bit?
We appreciate your help spreading the word about our upcoming race very much! I`ll start by giving you some background on the history and significance of the event in years past. Pre-Covid, this beloved event was one of the most popular events for both pro and recreational paddlers alike. Formerly dubbed the Gorge Paddle Challenge, it was one of the biggest SUP races of the year attracting top paddlers from around the world.
In 2020 the event was cancelled due to the pandemic. The following year SIC sponsored the event but participation numbers were low, largely due to travel and vaccination restrictions. In 2022 and 2023 participation continued to dwindle and this year the race was cancelled altogether.
As a local who has loved competing in this for many years, I was deeply disappointed to hear the news (along with many other avid paddlers in the Portland/Gorge Area), so I decided to partner with fellow NSP rider, Dan Miller, Owner of Stoke on the Water, to salvage the event. That said, we will be hosting a double downwinder during the same window as Downwind Champs July 8-14. I have always thought it made a ton of sense to coordinate the timing for these two events as many of the same athletes come to the Gorge every year to enjoy the amazing downwinding conditions.
What do you think has caused the demising participation?
I believe the Gorge Paddle Challenge lost participants when foiling was added to the event. The double downwinder was eliminated which was by far the most unique and challenging aspect of the race. We want to get back the SUP roots of the event and provide the paddlers with the focus and attention it deserves. While foiling is growing in popularity in the Gorge, SUP is still a thriving sport ever growing in popularity, particularly internationally. Our community deserves an event focused solely on SUP and that is what we aim to do. The Gorge is one of the best places to downwind on the planet and it would be a shame not to host a “Grand Slam” style paddle event here. Perhaps with the proper funding next year we can help return the Gorge Paddle Challenge to its former glory.
Now looking at what you and your friends have in store, can you give us a quick update on what you guys are doing exactly?
Yes these are our specific plans:
Race Window: July 8th-14th.
The first race will start at 12:00 pm and the second at 3:00 pm. Both races are the same course, starting at Viento State Park from the water and finishing at waterfront park on the water. Race day will be called at least 24 hours in advance based on the wind forecast/conditions. Note: Race will not be on the same day as Downwind Champs.
Safety/Permits:
This is an unofficial event without permits or a safety team. Participants are to race at their own risk and should not go out in conditions they aren’t comfortable paddling in. Participants should not rely on a safety crew to be there if something goes wrong.
No Awards/Official Gathering:
Unfortunately since we had little time to raise funds or garner permits we will not be able to host an official gathering or awards ceremony following the race. If there are enough race entries, I`m hoping to give out prize money to the top finishers and gorge performance has agreed to provide additional prizes.
Thank you very much Bodie, we are all looking forward to your report after the race. Here at the Stand Up Magazin we always loved the Gorge Paddle Challenge and hope to be part of its rebirth.
History of “The Gorge Paddle Challenge”
The Gorge Paddle Challenge has a rich history. Our first records date back to 2011, sadly we missed a few years or at least can’t find them. Either way, The Gorge SUP Race comes from a time when Downwind Racing was the gold standard. Traditionally in August, the world SUP Elite migrated to Oregon after having spent July on Maui in anticipation of the M2O. After “The Gorge” most racers stuck around the US West Coast for the Battle of the Paddle in September.
Looking at the results below, we see that “The Gorge” produced some of the biggest names in the sport and created a legacy in SUP like only a few races have. The Double Downwinder became legendary and was a unique format as paddlers raced the “Viento Run” twice.
We had the privilege to be in Hoodriver back in 2019, pretty much the last year before the foil started its dominance in downwind destinations.
The month of July has been traditionally THE Downwind Month in Hawaii. It started back in 2008 when Downwind SUP Racing became popular on Maui. It was a time when the world of SUP came to meet in Hawaii to race the famous 9 mile course where SUP racing actually started: The Maliko Run.
Hawaii had a strong turnout of SUP Athletes year after year as the ocean racing community kept growing. Back then then pinnacle of SUP Racing was the famous M2O and its shorter version the M2M. The run of strong SUP Races kept going until about 2018/19 when slowly but surely the foil started to take over and the busy European SUP Race Schedule started to suck the athletes away from the Hawaiian waters. Then Covid came and the M2O was not held for 3 years. In that time the development of Downwind Foiling was on over drive as the foil took the downwind community by storm.
Now the M2O is going into its 2nd Post-Covid race, the demand for Downwind Foiling became that big that the M2O organizers were forced to split the races into two weekend. The M2M was sold out in less than one hour with one hundred participants and many waitlisted. To give the Hawaii Downwind Month of July more weight this year the organizers of the Paddle IMUA, the M2O and the M2M have joined forces and crated the Koa Kai Tripple Crown.
There is no price money but lots of prestige. Athletes have to participate in all three races and the winner will be crowned at the awards ceremony after the M2O.
Stay tuned for lots of great content as Hawaii once again is leading the Downwind SUP Foil Trend.
The news crossed the wire on Friday Morning: The Gorge (formerly Paddle) Challenge in Hood River has been cancelled for 2024 and the organizers are looking bring the event back in 2025.
Hood River, located in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon, is a renowned destination for water sports enthusiasts. The town’s unique geographical location, where the Columbia River narrows and winds between the Cascade Mountains, creates consistent and powerful winds, making it a paradise for windsurfers, kiteboarders, and stand-up paddleboarders (SUP).
The Gorge (Paddle) Challenge, held annually in Hood River was a legacy event from the earliest days of SUP. This event attracted top paddlers from around the world, thanks to its challenging courses, stunning scenery, and vibrant community atmosphere. The Gorge Challenge featured several races, including a downwind race that takes full advantage of the Gorge’s famous winds and currents, and a technical course race that tests paddler and foilers agility and endurance.
In the statement from Friday the organizers blame financial problems have force them to this very unfortunate decision.
“After many incredible Gorge events, it is with a heavy heart that we announce the postponement of this year’s Gorge Paddle Challenge to 2025. Despite our best efforts and substantial financial commitment, we have been compelled to make this decision due to unforeseen financial challenges.“
“We are grateful to our competitors, supporters, and title sponsor, SIC Maui, who graciously stepped up again this year. However, the economics of producing such a great event, combined with low sponsorship and registration turnout, have resulted in us having to make this tough decision.“
In our opinion the key words here are “low registration” and “low sponsor ship”. It is no secret that the SUP industry is going through a recession and we may assume that many industry participants including SIC did not have the funds to fully carry the event. The part of the “low registration” might be a bit of a self inflicted wound as the event overlapped with the popular Maui2Molokai race and the M2O. Many athletes were already disappointed last year when one half of the community went to Hood River and the other stayed on Maui. Maybe the organizers kept the date this year so they can while piggy back on the Canoe Races held the week before?
The Hood River event was for years in August which did not cause a conflict in scheduling. This year the M2M sold out out in less than one hour and there are 100 SUP Foilers listed. The growing demand in Foiling has forced the organizers of the M2O to make foiling a separate event. As far as Hawaii goes there is no lack of demand and we are sure this demand could have been carried over to Hood River with the right date and marketing.
In Europe festival style events such as the World SUP Fest in Barcelona or the Lake Rocks in Villach (Austria) draw hundreds of people. Their business model is pretty clear: Involve local authorities, all local business, make the event part of a tour where pros participate an market the event toward the community as a participation for all race. The event is becomes more than just a race, it is a festival that highlights the destination as a whole.
We were last in Hood River in 2019 and it was an amazing experience, it was also the last Hood River event before the foiling took over.
Mit dem Laden des Videos akzeptieren Sie die Datenschutzerklärung von YouTube. Mehr erfahren
Official announcement could not be embedded in this post so we copy and past it:
** GORGE PADDLE CHALLENGE POSTPONED TO 2025**
To the Paddle and Downwind Community,
After many incredible Gorge events, it is with a heavy heart that we announce the postponement of this year’s Gorge Paddle Challenge to 2025. Despite our best efforts and substantial financial commitment, we have been compelled to make this decision due to unforeseen financial challenges.
We are grateful to our competitors, supporters, and title sponsor, SIC Maui, who graciously stepped up again this year. However, the economics of producing such a great event, combined with low sponsorship and registration turnout, have resulted in us having to make this tough decision.
As we look to the future, we are committed to improving our race events, sponsors, and brand collaborations. Our goal is to ensure the financial stability of this event and to return in 2025 with a bigger and stronger Gorge Paddle Challenge that we can all be proud of.
We want to express our deepest gratitude to our past sponsors, SIC, all competitors, the safety team, and volunteers. Your unwavering support and service have been instrumental in making the Gorge Challenge one of the top North American watersports events. We deeply appreciate your understanding.
Sincerely,
The Management of Gorge Challenge
If you have questions or would like be involved with the Gorge Paddle Challenge in 2025, please contact our team at info.gorgechallenge@gmail.com.
It was a busy last few days in Wrightsville Beach for the US paddle community. The legendary Graveyard Race took place on Saturday and drew some well known names to the race course but sadly not all of them. The Carolina Cup once was THE season opener and athletes from all over the world showed up. In fact last year we even had Duna Gordillo and Laura Quetglas paddling it. (2023 results here) We also missed Danny Ching this year as well as Candice Appleby.
On the ladies side, Jenny Kalmbach one of the OGs in Stand Up Paddling showed that she is still very strong as she beat last years winner Kimberley Barns and one of the worlds best: Sey Chelle. She was definitely a bit slow for our taste with an almost 10 minute gap to Jenny. Either way, Jenny and Sey have been racing for a very long time and it is great to see them being still competitive. Kimberly is right in there and it sure would be nice to see them taking on the rest of the world but we might just have to wait for the ICF in Sarasota.
Graveyard Race Women
Place
Name
Time
1
Jenny Kalmbach
2:18:18
2
Kimberly Barnes
2:22:33
3
Sey chelle
2:28:00
4
Madeline Leblanc
2:34:39
5
Regan Littell
2:43:12
6
Meredith Stewart
3:08:47
7
Edith Turcotte
3:09:41
8
Hyunyung Boo
3:19:58
9
Kathy Mcrae
3:28:50
10
Wendy Tillett
3:39:26
11
Rachel Cantore
3:46:10
By loading the post you accept the privacy policy of Facebook. Learn more
Michael Booth showed a strong performance putting his competition at least 5 minutes behind him making this his first victory of the year. We know he be traveling to Europe after this where he will attend the Lake Rocks SUP Race in Austria. Itzel Delgado and Bodie von Allmen crossed the finish line withing 21 seconds from eachother. We know Bodie will also go to Austria and Itzel is on the startlist for the M2O this year, but we do not know what his plans are in the meanwhile.
Sadly we have to admit that below the 3rd place we only recognize one name and that is Anthony Galang an SUP enthusiast from the US east coast, he paddled the M2M in 2023 and will be back for this race this summer.
Soryn Preston is a young and shining athlete growing up at the beaches of Southern California. By looking at her race statistics, something is telling us that she in on a great path to become an outstanding SUP Racer. She finished the year 2023 on the 18th place in the SUP World Rankings in Londistance. Her race records since 2021 look amazing she pretty much makes podium at almost all races she enters.
This year she already has two first places and one second place on the scoreboard. It was about time that we gave her a shout out asking for an interview.
Aloha Soryn, thanks for your time talking to the Stand Up Magazin. We wold love to learn more about who you are and what motivates you to Stand Up Paddle. Can you introduce us to our readers?
Thank you yes I am Soryn Preston and I am 15 years old. I was born in Long Beach, California and raised in the SoCal beach lifestyle. I have been paddling for over half my life now, and am striving to become one of the greatest water women. My immediate family consists of my Dad and sister, Willow, also my stepdad and Mom. I enjoy balancing the challenging life of family, school, and athletics.
How did you get into Stand Up Paddling and what made it attractive to you?
Surfing and paddling has been a family sport and something that I fell in love with early on. I started out by sitting between my dad’s legs on his stand up board, and gradually laying down at the nose of the board. This is where my passion began with stand up paddling. I loved the noises the ocean made and how the water sounded as it went around the paddle. As I got older, I learned to paddle confidently, to then kicking my dad off the board to race. We raced together for many years until I finally went to racing and being all on my own in the ocean. The water has always been such a meditative place for me and now my ambitions are to take this to the professional level.
Eventually you started to compete in SUP Racing. Do you remember your first race? Tell us about it and how it made you feel.
My first race was a local race, called HanoHano. I do remember it vividly, being nervous and also so excited. It was a short race, only about 500 meters. Looking back on it now, I know how small that race was, but it felt so big. It was amazing to be racing others and seeing how many people loved the same thing I did. Funny enough, that day I also met Kai Lenny and Jerry Lopez and had no clue who they were. Little did I know that race started my addiction for life. I had manifested Super Soryn without even knowing.
Looking at this years race season you already got to podiums under your belt: 1. Place Longdistance Lanakila Classic and a 2. Place at the Hanohano Ocean Challenge. Congratulations to a good start.
Now looking at your race records from 2023 you were mostly competing on the SUP West Coast where you are from. Are you looking to compete outside of the US anytime soon?
That is correct, I do compete mainly compete in the United States. As I am still only a freshman in public high school, I consider my education a priority. The year of 2023 I did travel internationally and hope to add more each year! This year I will be attending Copenhagen, Denmark for the ISA Championships and Sarasota, Florida for the ICF Championships. I am very excited to be representing my country and competing on world class stages.
What are our competitive goals for 2024?
My main goal this year is to have fun and continue to enjoy this amazing sport with my community. Another goal this year is earning gold in the ISA junior technical in Denmark. I plan to at do my best at the ICF which is a format I have never competed in. I am really excited to try something new! This has been a big focus for me to do my best in representing my country.
What kind of dreams and hopes do you have for the SUP Sport and with you in it?
I hope to have fun and make friends all over the world who love the same one ocean I do. Most importantly encouraging young athletes that they can push themselves beyond what they think is possible. I am fortune enough to have so many people in my life who teach and remind me of this daily. I would also like to help get SUP racing as a competitive sport in the Olympics. It is the fastest growing and becoming the most popular sport in the world. Whether or not I am competing in it, to me it does not matter. But to further push young athletes in the sport of SUP.
Outside of SUP and Paddling, what other interests do you have?
Outside of paddling, I love surfing and skating. Ultimately living the SoCal life, as others would call it. I enjoy reading and just spending time with family at the beach. Being with my little sister, Willow, and teaching her the ways of the water has got to be one of my favorite things to do ever. We love tandem surfing at SanO and building sand castles together.
Thank you very much Soryn for your time we are looking forward to follow you along this year.
BIO
Born at: Long Beach, California
Age: 15
Sponsors: SIC Maui, Quick Blade Paddles, OnitPro, Doheny Bikes, The Paddle Academy, RU Motivated, Power to Shred, and my family!
