European SUP League Lido Gandoli Results

Pampinella and Freens Dominate at Lido Gandoli SUP Race

The European SUP League delivered another high-quality weekend of racing as the 2026 tour stopped in southern Italy for the Lido Gandoli SUP Race in Taranto. With crystal-clear waters, strong local organization, and a highly competitive field, the second stop of the season confirmed both Italy’s growing importance in the sport and the league’s momentum across Europe.

Strong Start in Southern Italy

Taranto, located in the deep south of Italy, provided a stunning backdrop with almost unreal blue water more reminiscent of the South Pacific than the Mediterranean. Hosted by Club SUP Academy, the event combined elite racing, grassroots participation, and community engagement, highlighting the multidimensional appeal of modern stand-up paddle racing.

Following the season opener in Santa Pola, the Taranto stop played a key role in shaping early rankings and performance benchmarks within the 2026 circuit.

Freens and Pampinella Set the Standard

At the top of the results, two names stood out across both disciplines: Donato Freens and Cecilia Pampinella.

Freens was the standout performer on the men’s side, securing the overall victory and taking home €750 in prize money. He dominated the Long Distance race with a decisive 20-second lead over Nicolò Vincenzo Ricco, while also claiming the win in the Technical Race ahead of Ricco and Filippo Mercuriali.

On the women’s side, Pampinella lived up to expectations as Italy’s top favorite, delivering a commanding double victory in both the Technical and Long Distance races. However, the women’s Long Distance podium was far tighter, with Pampinella winning by less than five seconds over Sveva Sabato, followed closely by Claudia Postiglione just four seconds behind. Notably, both Sabato and Postiglione are still competing in the U18 division, underlining the depth of young talent in Italy.

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Rising Youth Talent Signals Strong Future

One of the standout observations from Taranto was the significant presence of U18 athletes across the top rankings. The Italian SUP scene continues to produce promising young talent, particularly in the women’s field, where junior athletes are already competing at elite level.

In the men’s division, Benyam Bossak delivered a strong international performance, traveling from Germany to secure an impressive fifth place against a predominantly Italian field.

Challenging Conditions and High-Level Racing

The event featured both Technical and Long Distance formats, offering a complete test of skill, endurance, and race strategy. While the beach conditions provided fast and clean racing for the Technical discipline, the Long Distance race presented a tougher challenge.

Strong easterly wind gusts added complexity to the course, forcing athletes to adapt their pacing and tactics. The combination of favorable sea state and demanding wind conditions created a well-rounded and physically taxing competition across all categories.

Inclusive Event with Strong Community Focus

Beyond elite racing, the Lido Gandoli SUP Race showcased a broad participation base, including youth, masters, kahuna, inflatable, and ParaSUP categories. This inclusive approach continues to be a defining feature of the European SUP League, reinforcing its commitment to accessibility and long-term sport development.

The event also benefited from the support of the Italian Surfing Federation, helping to strengthen the role of SUP within the national sporting framework.

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Blue Race Adds Charitable Dimension

A highlight of the weekend was the Blue Race, a charity event that brought the competition to a meaningful close. The initiative emphasized the social impact of stand-up paddle, promoting community engagement, awareness, and participation beyond competition.

Taranto Strengthens Its Position on the European Calendar

With strong local collaboration, professional event management, and high-level competition, Taranto has firmly established itself as a key venue on the European SUP circuit. The efforts of Club SUP Academy, together with partners and sponsors including Convotis, NSP, Black Fish, Quickblade, Treasure AI, and Muller Property, contributed to a successful and well-executed event.

As the European SUP League continues its 2026 season, the Taranto stop stands out as a benchmark for how competitive racing, youth development, and community values can come together to elevate the sport.

Women Longdistance Top 10

Men Longdistance Top 10

Tech Race Women Podium

Tech Race Men Podium

More Results

Technical Race — highlighted categories

U18 Men

1. Giulio Lazzarini — ITA
2. Benyam Bossack — DEU
3. Matteo Pernisco — ITA

U16 Women

1. Preziosa Chiarelli — ITA
2. Giulia Basciano — ITA
3. Silvia Della Chiesa — ITA

U16 Men

1. Leonardo Montanari — ITA
2. Alessandro Scarcia — ITA
3. Jekabs Abele — LVA

M40 Women

1. Vira Lemekha — ITA
2. Samantha Migani — ITA
3. Stefania Laico — ITA

M50 Men

1. Fabrizio Gasbarro — ITA
2. Reza Nasiri — ITA
3. Eleftherios Maroulakis — GRC

M50 Women

1. Silvia Carletti — ITA
2. Anna Occhiogrosso — ITA
3. Carolina Bustamante — CHL

ParaSUP Technical

1. Andrea Santucci — ITA
2. Eugenio Maluberti — ITA

Long Distance — highlighted categories

U18 Men

1. Giulio Lazzarini — ITA
2. Benyam Bossack — DEU
3. Matteo Pernisco — ITA

U18 Women

1. Sveva Sabato — ITA
2. Claudia Postiglione — ITA
3. Sara De Stefano — ITA

M40 Men

1. Nicola Masci — ITA
2. Simone Tugnoli Peron — ITA
3. Angelo De Gregorio — ITA

M40 Women

1. Vira Lemekha — ITA
2. Samantha Migani — ITA
3. Roberta Mariani — ITA

GM50 Men

1. Reza Nasiri — ITA
2. Fabrizio Gasbarro — ITA
3. Eleftherios Maroulakis — GRC

GM50 Women

1. Anna Occhiogrosso — ITA
2. Silvia Carletti — ITA
3. Carolina Bustamante — CHL

U16 Women

1. Preziosa Chiarelli — ITA
2. Giulia Basciano — ITA
3. Silvia Della Chiesa — ITA

U16 Men

1. Leonardo Montanari — ITA
2. Alessandro Scarcia — ITA
3. Leonardo Russo Scognamiglio — ITA

Inflatable Women — LD +3K

1. Samantha Migani — ITA
2. Vira Lemekha — ITA
3. Teresa Di Palo — ITA

Inflatable Men — LD +3K

1. Alex Stefan — ITA
2. Reza Nasiri — ITA
3. Leonardo Rosso — ITA