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
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Read the full statement:
GlaGla Race 2025 +1
“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.