EURO TOUR World SUP Festival Santa Pola Results

The World SUP Festival in Santa Pola: A EURO TOUR of Surprises and Top-Level Competition

The World SUP Festival in Santa Pola was one of the most anticipated SUP events of the year. With €10,000 in prize money—€2,300 awarded to each long-distance winner—the stage was set for high-caliber competition, and the reception for the athletes reflected just that. The lineup included some of the sport’s most recognizable names, and the results delivered both excitement and surprises.

Women’s Long Distance: Espe Reclaims the Throne

Marie Carmen Rivera led the women’s long-distance race for most of the way, but eventually ran out of steam and was overtaken by none other than Esperanza Barreras. The 16-second gap between the two cost Rivera €1,000 in prize money, as Barreras secured a solid win and a nice payday.

Just 38 seconds behind the leader came Alba Frey, followed by Duna Gordillo another 15 seconds back. This race marked the first time we’ve seen all four top contenders—Barreras, Rivera, Frey, and Gordillo—competing head-to-head in the same event. The outcome was difficult to predict, especially considering Barreras’ slow season start, including her unexpected result in Melilla. Meanwhile, both Frey and Rivera have shown consistent strength, and Gordillo had a powerful early-season performance. Right now, it’s anyone’s guess who will dominate the rest of the season—it’s shaping up to be an open battle among these four elite paddlers.

A Great Appearance: Jenny Kalmbach

Perhaps the biggest surprise on the women’s side was the return of Jenny Kalmbach, who claimed a phenomenal 5th place. Kalmbach, one of the sport’s pioneers with a strong legacy, has been “semi-retired” for years, only appearing at select events. This result marks one of her best performances in recent history—especially impressive given that she finished ahead of accomplished paddlers like Melanie Lafenetre, Iona Rivet, and Susak Molinero.

The women’s field was impressive and international, though two names were notably absent: Cecilia Pampinella and Csillag Kocsis. Their absence was a real disappointment, as many had looked forward to seeing them race against the current top field. Perhaps we’ll see them at upcoming events in Barcelona or the Lake Rocks Festival at Faaker See. If not, we might have to wait for Abu Dhabi or the ISA Worlds. Some in the community are beginning to wonder—are athletes deliberately avoiding each other? That’s the word on the street.

Men’s Long Distance: Shrimpy Dominates Again

On the men’s side, all eyes were on Shuri “Shrimpy” Araki, and once again, he delivered a commanding performance, dominating the field from the start. He finished 23 seconds ahead of Aaron Sanchez, who edged out Arthur Arutkin by just 14 seconds.

While Shrimpy remains in a league of his own, the race behind him is becoming increasingly difficult to predict. The last time we saw Aaron Sanchez and Ethan Bry compete was in Melilla—but that was a technical race, won by Christian Andersen. With each new event, the podium contenders seem to shift, keeping fans guessing.

A surprising result came from Donato Freens, who had a fierce battle with Shrimpy in Greece. Expectations were high for another podium performance, but he finished far behind in 19th place—more than seven minutes off the lead. What happened remains unclear, but it certainly wasn’t the Donato we’re used to seeing. Hopefully, he’ll bounce back in Barcelona next weekend.

Legends Return: Boothy and Ti2 Make an Appearance

Two notable names also returned to the scene: Michael Booth and Titouan Puyo. It was great to see these legends back in action. Booth hadn’t competed since the ICF Worlds in Sarasota, and Puyo had been absent since last year’s SUP World Fest in Barcelona.

Back in 2016, it would have been these two battling for the top podium spots. But times have changed. With careers, families, and changing priorities, it’s clear that both athletes are transitioning into new phases of life. Puyo now works full-time in New Caledonia, making a serious comeback unlikely. Booth, however, remains deeply involved in the paddling world as a coach and surfski/OC1 competitor.

There were many more notable performances from both women and men, but covering every name would go beyond the scope of this report. What’s clear, though, is that the 2025 World SUP Festival in Santa Pola delivered on its promise: top-tier racing, global talent, and stories worth remembering.

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Women Results TOP 20

Men top 30 of 79

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