Surf SUP Denmark just broke the news introducing their ISA Team for 2024 and as it looks like we have Casper Steinfath coming out of retirement to go into retirement with a final race in Copenhagen. The writing was on the wall when Casper competed in the Danish SUP Championships. In fact we called it right there:
“For the first time in quite a while, Casper Steinfath has decided to don his race jersey again (and his signature board shorts) and compete in the Danish SUP Championships. In a recent social media post announcing his participation, he emphasized that this isn’t a comeback but rather a reflection of his enduring love for the sport. Casper seems genuinely excited about the upcoming ISA SUP Worlds in Copenhagen, and we can’t help but feel that we might just see him on the start line, purely for the thrill of it. If this race was a test run, it’s safe to say it was a successful one.” (Full article here)
Now the cat is out of the bag, we will see Casper and his iconic boardshorts on the race course once again. His participation in Copenhagen ads that extra spice to the race as we all will be highly curios to see how he is doing against the young generation of new athletes even if its only in the Team Relay.
The Danish SUP and Surf Federation announced the team and had a small interview with Casper.
- Christian Andersen, Sprint and Technical Race
- Casper Steinfath, Team relay*
- Emma Freja Pedersen, Technical race and Long distance
- Christopher Jeppesen, Long Distance
- Noa Stender, Technical Race
- Asger Wohlert Smidt, Technical Race (Junior) and Long Distance (Senior)
- Katrine Bergmann, Technical Race (Junior), Sprint (Senior), Team relay*
Six-time world champion Casper Steinfath is once again donning the national team colors and is ready to compete in Copenhagen, the same place where he became world champion in 2017. Just a few weeks ago, Casper showed his racing form by securing three silver medals and one bronze at the Danish Championships (DM). Here, he explains his decision to make a comeback to the World Cup.
Why are you choosing to compete again?
“I’m competing in the World Champs to put a symbolic end to my career as a competitive SUP athlete. Even though I’ve taken a few years off from competitions, I’ve spent half my life competing in the SUP sport. It’s been an amazing journey, both athletically and personally, and I can’t think of a better place to cross the final finish line than at the ISA Worlds on home soil in Copenhagen.”
What are you looking forward to?
“I’m really looking forward to standing on the starting line for the World Cup one last time and feeling those butterflies in my stomach. In addition to my own performance, I’m excited to see and support the other Danish SUP athletes as they defend and showcase the Danish colors with all their might! I’m looking forward to a fantastic SUP celebration on and around the water at the World Cup!”
Does this mean a full return to competitive SUP?
“There are many things I love about competing, but I’ve come to the personal realization that I’m at a point in my life where new challenges are calling me. I love adventures on the water in many forms and, through them, inspiring and influencing others. After the World Cup in Copenhagen, I’m eager to dive into my next projects, such as ‘Eventyrs Athlete’ and public speaking. But I can’t deny that it will be an emotional moment when I cross the final finish line in a few weeks.”
From Surf & SUP Denmark, we are thrilled to have Casper on the Danish national team one last time. There is no doubt about the tremendous positive impact Casper has had on the new generation of SUP athletes, both on and off the national team. We look forward to watching his last competition, especially since it will be on Danish soil at the World Cup.
These are his greatest accomplishments:
- 6 x World Champion
- 4 x European Champion
- 2 x Redbull Heavy Water Champion
- 1st person in the world to cross Skagerrak (145 km)
- on a SUP