Rai Taguchi no longer with Starboard – Ending Dream team run by December 31st 2024
The news came as a surprise when Rai Taguchi announced his departure from the Starboard Dream Team. Rai is undoubtedly one of the world’s top athletes and has just had one of the best years of his career.
Rai had an incredibly busy year, competing in 18 SWR-ranked races and securing multiple podium finishes, including two world titles at the ISA in Long Distance and Technical races. His worst result was a 7th place in the Long Distance race at the Mondello Water Festival. This track record is something many athletes can only dream of. In fact, in the SWR Overall Top 100 Men, he is ranked NUMBER ONE.
With such an impeccable race season, it raises the question: Why is Rai no longer part of the SUP team considered the most prestigious and strongest in the world?
Rai’s statement on Facebook leaves room for speculation about his professional SUP future. Notably, he does not announce a new sponsor, and the way he articulates his departure raises questions about whether it was entirely voluntary.
This time
I will be leaving STARBOARD, which I have served for 2 years, on 12/31.
Joined the Dream team I admired from the time I started SUP, and the time I spent in the strongest team was the best memories.
And this year’s ISA World Championships, I had the best result of three gold medals thanks to STARBOARD!
Thank you so much for the past two years. Keep up with the future developments of STARBOARD. Praying for you
After two years of support, I will be leaving STARBOARD on December 31st.
I have dreamed of joining the Dream Team since I started SUP, and the time I spent with the strongest team is a wonderful memory.
And it is thanks to STARBOARD’s support that I was able to achieve my best result of three gold medals at this year’s ISA World Championships.
Thank you so much for the past two years.
I will continue to support the development of STARBOARD.
This feels more like a farewell than Rai moving on to bigger and better things. It seems he achieved his peak performance under Starboard’s patronage—a dream he had nurtured for a long time—and now that dream has come to an end.
Amid the ongoing economic crisis in our industry, one has to wonder if Rai is a casualty of this recession and whether others may follow. Conversations with many at the recent ICF SUP World Championships in Sarasota brought a sobering reality to light: there is simply no money left in our sport.
As we look ahead to 2025, we can only hope that we’ve reached the lowest point and that an upswing is on the horizon.