Getting back into racing after a long break is more than just a sporting step in SUP – it’s also an emotional journey back into a community that is constantly evolving.
Anna Tschirky, an athlete we have been following at Stand Up Magazine for many years, has returned to the starting line. Whether in international competitions, strong results on the EuroTour or her consistent performances – Anna was one of the defining faces of the sport over the years and was always part of our coverage.
Anna had decided to take part in the World SUP Festival in Spain and finished 8th in the long distance race. This was a great achievement and we were very curious to find out what motivated Anna to make her move.
Aloha Anna, it’s great to see your name in an international ranking again. How was it to be at a SUP race again for a long time?
Special! The last SUP race for me was at the ICF World Championships in Pattaya 2023, so a very long time ago, and it’s crazy what’s happened in the meantime. I was really happy to see the people again, but I also quickly realized that I didn’t know many of them anymore and the vibe has changed a bit (I’m only speaking from my perspective!). There were quite a few clubs and loners were a rarity. This resulted in a little less interaction with each other, which is something I used to really appreciate about our sport. I’ve also changed as a person over the years, and yet the comparison to the past was often in my head, which doesn’t always make things so easy. But it was great to see how many young athletes enjoy our sport and are right at the forefront!
How did you prepare for this?
I only really started doing sport for longer than an hour and incorporating interval or structured strength training from time to time this winter. I haven’t done any proper training sessions for the last two years to give my body enough time to recover from my RED’s (Relative Energy Deficiency Syndrome). I had also only been on the water for 3.5 weeks before the race, as all the lakes in the Engadin are frozen in winter. But I was able to do a lot of cross-country skiing there, which I also love! And although I did some training again, I honestly didn’t have the same motivation and discipline for a structured season build-up that I used to have. The sport often simply served as a balance outside in nature after a full working day inside in the cheese dairy.
Why did you decide to go to Spain?
I really missed traveling, both paddling on the sea and the SUP community. So it made perfect sense for me to take part in the World SUP Festival, especially as this 2018 event was my first international competition. Dani Parres and the whole organizing team have really built up a highlight race in SUP sport over the years, with everything that goes with it. I was really pleased to be back on the starting line where so much took its course a few years ago…
Were you nervous at the start?
Yes and no. It was amazing how quickly everything got back into its routine and place before the race. Packing, preparing, strategizing, warming up and even some of the race itself felt like I’d never been away. And yet I was nervous because I didn’t know how the whole thing would affect me and also because I hadn’t felt too comfortable the day before on the board I had rented for the race, which was unfamiliar to me.
Do you think you will do more races?
Yes, I’m planning to do a few more races in the first half of the season! After that, I will move to my second home, the Alps. It’s always a difficult decision: you can either spend the summer paddling and competing, or you can spend it up on the alp. Both are simply not possible. You can’t just quickly go down from 2,000 m above sea level to train on the lake, because the animals and work have to be done seven days a week and are also physically demanding. As farming has become a great passion of mine and I can no longer imagine a summer without an alpine pasture, I have decided to divide up this summer so that I can have a bit of both.
Thank you Anna for your time, hope to see you in Zurich in June.
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