The fact that Shrimpy is absent from the ISA SUP World Championships is significant, not just for us, but for the sport as a whole. Shuri “Shrimpy” Araki, arguably the fastest paddler in the world right now, should be competing alongside his peers in Denmark—but he’s not. His statement below, originally in Japanese from July, unfortunately got lost in the overwhelming flow of content we all experience. But a statement of this magnitude carries far more weight than people might realize. This isn’t just about one athlete skipping a competition; it reflects a deeper issue within the industry.
The lack of financial support for young athletes is glaring. Teams are resorting to crowdfunding just to afford the trip to Denmark. The ISA, which holds these events as amateur competitions, traditionally doesn’t offer prize money. In contrast, professional surfers compete in a privately funded tour with prize money and sponsorship opportunities. The ISA has always been the platform for amateurs. Athletes are paying thousands of dollars just to have the chance to be called a world champion—a title that carries prestige but no tangible financial reward.
Shrimpy’s decision to focus on the ICF event in Sarasota is a strategic one. There, not only does he stand a strong chance of winning, but he could walk away with all expenses covered, plus some extra. His absence speaks volumes about the current state of competitive SUP and the financial realities that athletes face. It’s a telling moment for the sport, highlighting the growing divide between amateur prestige and professional viability.
This was his statement: (translated from Japanese)
“The Japanese representative at the ISA (Sponsored by International Surfing Federation) World Championship has decided to withdraw this time. SUP now has two largest organizations in the world holding separate World Championships. Unfortunately, I am not able to get support for transportation and other things, but I am moving around the world while finding sponsors at my own expense. Last year I spent half of the year traveling abroad, but in today’s cheap yen era, moving overseas battles is hard to imagine, and it puts a huge burden on my family. As a high school student & professional athlete, I have an important role in balancing academics (NHK Gakuen) and competitions, so this year I have prioritized traveling.
’22 was the youngest 16-year-old ever to win the ISA Double Crown. In ’23, I won double crowns, but on the other hand, I made a resentful mistake with the technical I was aiming for most at the ICF World Championship (sponsored by the International Canoe Federation), and ended up with a silver medal for distance. Even at the age of 17, he proved that he can win medals mixed up with legendary paddlers, but he is strong in his heart that he couldn’t achieve enough results from his practice. That’s why I made ICF a priority this year. Of course it’s disappointing about the ISA, but I’m very grateful to the organisers and wish all participants the best.
As of right now, I’ve won consecutively 23-24, APP World Tour (Portugal), EURO Tour (Italy and Spain), so I know my ability and position. He put his feet on the ground of his birthplace, Okinawa, and he refine his skills further, and take four months to fix things. “We promise to show you how we leaped at the ICF World Championships (USA, FL, November) called the largest SUP festival in the world. I will continue to pursue my goal in life, my dream of Olympic gold medal with my family.“