ISA SUP World Championships Longdistance

Day Four Results: Distance Races Shake Up Rankings at the 2025 ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship in Surf City El Salvador

Day four of the 2025 ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship (WSUPPC) delivered action-packed distance racing in the scenic waves of Surf City El Salvador. Light winds allowed all four distance races to run smoothly throughout the afternoon, but a consistent three-to-four-foot swell at El Sunzal added an extra level of difficulty for athletes in both the SUP Distance and Prone Distance divisions. The challenging surf conditions played a decisive role in shaping the day’s results.

Spain Takes Commanding Lead in Team Rankings

A dominant performance in the women’s distance divisions pushed Team Spain to the top of the overall team leaderboard. France climbed into second place, while Japan and Brazil maintained strong positions in third and fourth.

Duna Gordillo Claims Women’s SUP Distance World Title at 2025 ISA Championship

Duna Gordillo (ESP) delivered a commanding performance in the Women’s SUP Distance Race, securing her second gold medal in the discipline and adding a third ISA World Championship title to her career. The Spanish standout, who previously won the Prone Technical Race in 2024, outpaced long-time rival Mariecarmen Rivera (PUR) and teammate Alba Frey (ESP) in a highly competitive field.

Gordillo, the 2022 SUP Distance World Champion, once again proved her strength in challenging ocean conditions. Rivera took home the silver medal for the second consecutive year, while Frey—already the 2024 SUP Sprint World Champion—earned bronze in her debut Distance Race.

“In 2022, in Puerto Rico, I stayed with two strong women, Mariecarmen and Alba, as well as Esperanza Barreras,” Gordillo said. “Today’s conditions had downwind and big waves. I never have a strategy—once I saw they were behind me at the start, I stopped looking and focused on my own race.”

Challenging Start Shapes the Race

The opening moments quickly separated the leaders from the field. Only Gordillo and Frey managed a clean launch as a breaking wave knocked down most of the 21-woman pack, including Rivera. Despite the setback, Rivera rapidly regained ground and moved back into contention.

Gordillo pulled away decisively on the second lap and maintained her lead to finish over a minute ahead of Rivera and Frey, who fought closely for the remaining podium positions.

Rounding out the top four was Csillag Virág-Kocsis (HUN)—a two-time Junior SUP Technical Race World Champion—who earned her first medal in the women’s division, claiming copper.

Shrimpy Unbeatable

Shuri Araki Makes SUP Racing History

The standout moment of the day came from Shuri Araki (JPN), who cemented his status as the greatest SUP racer in ISA history. After tying the all-time record of five gold medals the previous day, the 19-year-old phenom claimed his sixth title by winning the Men’s SUP Distance Race. Araki remains undefeated in both SUP Distance and SUP Technical Racing, making him one of only two athletes ever to win both events at the same championship—an achievement he has now completed three times.

Only one goal remains: the SUP Sprint title. Araki will attempt to claim that elusive victory tomorrow and extend his legacy even further.

“I’m very happy to get my second gold medal at this event,” Araki said. “It’s very difficult to get three gold medals… but I want to challenge this year.”

Race Breakdown: Araki Dominates From Start to Finish

Araki seized the lead immediately, with Spain’s Aaron Sanchez and Fernando Perez close behind. Ethan Bry (FRA) surged early to take third position. By the end of lap one, Araki had already created a significant gap, leaving Bry, Sanchez, and Perez locked in a tight contest.

On lap three, Itzel Delgado (PER) powered through the pack to move into third, overtaking Arthur Arutkin (FRA) and Nicolò Ricco (ITA). The two Spaniards dropped back after falling on the same wave, shifting the podium battle.

In the end, Bry and Ricco fought hard for silver, with Bry ultimately securing second place. Ricco claimed bronze, while Delgado earned the copper medal.