The Eliminator Year 2: The World’s Only Team SUP Endurance Race Raises the Stakes
The Stand Up Paddling race scene is about to witness one of its most demanding and innovative formats return: The Eliminator – Year 2, a high-intensity endurance showdown that blends speed, strategy, and survival over a brutal 12-hour battle.
Billed as the only team-based SUP endurance race in the world, The Eliminator pushes athletes beyond traditional long-distance formats. With alternating laps, strict time cutoffs, elimination rounds, and tactical game elements like Life Lines and wildcards, the event delivers a race concept that is as much about decision-making as it is about paddling power.
A Race Format Built on Pressure and Precision
At its core, The Eliminator is a 24-lap race over 12 hours, with each lap measuring 2.5 km. Teams of two paddlers alternate laps, meaning only one athlete is on the water at a time while the other recovers.
But recovery time is never guaranteed.
Each lap must be completed within a 28-minute cutoff, and from Lap 13 onward the slowest team in each category is eliminated every round, turning the second half of the race into a survival contest.
The format rewards:
- Consistency over raw speed
- Smart pacing across the day
- Tactical use of race tools
- Seamless team coordination
One missed cutoff by either paddler means instant elimination for the entire team.
Team Categories and the Fight for the Overall Title
Teams compete in three divisions:
- Male / Male
- Female / Female
- Mixed
Each category crowns its own champion at Lap 22, but the race continues to Lap 24 for the overall Eliminator title, awarded to the last team standing or the fastest finisher of the final lap—winner-take-all regardless of category.
With 20 teams per division, the field is deep enough to create constant elimination drama as the day unfolds.
Tactical Gameplay: Life Lines, Wildcards and the Re-Entry Lottery
Year 2 introduces new strategic layers rarely seen in SUP racing:
Life Line Card (Teams)
Each team receives one Life Line for use during the first 12 laps.
If a partner is late returning, the available paddler can still start their scheduled lap, preventing a time-based elimination—provided they complete their lap within the cutoff.
Wildcards
Teams get two wildcards to swap paddling order (top-of-the-hour vs bottom-of-the-hour starts).
This allows tactical adjustments for fatigue, changing conditions, or head-to-head matchups.
Re-Entry Lottery
After Lap 17, eliminated teams have a one-team-per-category chance to re-enter via lottery and fight for the category win—though only teams that never left the race remain eligible for the overall title.
These mechanics turn the race into a hybrid of endurance sport and tactical elimination game.
Solo Category: Earn Your Way Into the Team Finals
A major innovation for Year 2 is the Solo Eliminator division, where paddlers race every lap alone under the same 28-minute cutoff.
Key elements:
- Solo paddlers receive one Life Line to skip a lap before eliminations begin (up to Lap 12)
- Lap 16 serves as the Solo Final, crowning the top three men and women
- Remaining solo athletes are then paired into new teams and re-enter at Lap 18
These newly formed teams:
- Receive one wildcard
- Compete for category wins
- Can even contend for the overall Eliminator title
This pathway creates a unique progression from individual endurance to team strategy within the same race.
Rules That Define a True Endurance Test
The Eliminator is designed to reward durability and preparation:
- PFD and leash mandatory at all times
- Hydration and a phone required on every lap
- One board per athlete for the entire race—no equipment swaps
- Standing paddling only (kneeling allowed only for brief starts or rest without forward progress)
- Open drafting permitted
With no food, music, or external aids allowed on the water, success depends on pacing, fueling strategy between laps, and mental resilience.
Why The Eliminator Matters for the SUP Race Scene
In an era where many traditional SUP formats struggle to innovate, The Eliminator offers a fresh, spectator-friendly concept:
- Continuous action with hourly starts
- Built-in elimination drama
- Team dynamics rarely seen in SUP
- Strategic gameplay elements
- A clear, easy-to-follow race narrative
It bridges the gap between endurance racing and head-to-head competition, making it highly adaptable for live coverage and digital storytelling.
For athletes, it demands a complete skill set: speed, recovery management, tactical awareness, and psychological toughness over an entire day.
The Ultimate Question: Do You Have What It Takes?
With limited entries—20 teams per category and 20 solo spots per gender—the race is expected to fill quickly.
The Eliminator is not just about winning a category.
It is about surviving 24 laps, mastering strategy, and outlasting every rival.
In a sport built on endurance, this event raises the bar.
One missed lap. One bad decision. One moment of weakness—and you’re out.
Join the action
📍 Milton, United Kingdom
📅 Saturday, 11 July 2026
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