The 2026 ICF SUP World Championships in Sabaudia, Italy, are shaping up to be one of the most interesting gatherings of international SUP Racing talent in recent years. With 927 athletes listed across 60 nations and delegations, the entry list is impressive not only in numbers but also in the names appearing on it.
From October 14–18, the world’s SUP Racing community will gather at Lake Paola in Sabaudia, south of Rome, for the Sprint, Technical and Long Distance World Championships.
After another seasons of fragmented competition calendars and the absence of many leading athletes from major championships, the 2026 entry list offers something that SUP Racing fans have been missing: a potential showdown between the legends of the sport and the generation that has emerged in recent years.
And three names immediately stand out: Connor Baxter, Noïc Garioud and Michael Booth.
The Reunion: Connor Baxter, Noïc Garioud and Michael Booth
For longtime followers of SUP Racing, these three athletes need no introduction.
Connor Baxter is one of the most successful athletes in the history of the sport. The Maui-born racer helped define modern SUP Racing through his explosive Sprint performances, Technical Race victories and years of dominance on the international circuit.
After spending less time on the international SUP Racing circuit, Baxter’s appearance on the Sabaudia entry list is particularly exciting. His return to a major World Championship brings back one of the sport’s most recognizable personalities.
Noïc Garioud is another athlete whose name has become synonymous with elite SUP Racing. The French paddler has repeatedly won championships and was one of the very best in Sprint, Longdistance and Technical Racing. His return to SUP Racing adds another legendary contender to an already competitive men’s field.
Then there is Michael “Boothy” Booth.
The Australian is one of the most accomplished Long Distance racers in SUP history. His combination of endurance, race intelligence and tactical experience has made him a benchmark for an entire generation of athletes.
For Boothy, Sabaudia is less about a comeback and more about a reunion with familiar rivals.
Baxter, Garioud and Booth represent three different racing strengths, but together they bring back memories of a period when the world’s leading SUP athletes regularly faced each other on the same starting line.
The question now is whether they can still dictate the pace against a new generation of world-class competitors.
Shuri Araki and the Next Generation
While the reunion of the established stars will attract attention, Shuri Araki of Japan may be one of the most exciting athletes to watch.
Araki has established himself among the world’s elite and represents a generation that grew up racing at an exceptionally high level. His speed, technical ability and international experience make him the favorite in Sabaudia.
Japan also brings additional talent, including Nagito Hirata and other emerging racers.
Christian Andersen the Polarbear of Denmark is another major name. After being absent for most of the season He surprised the SUP World with his outstanding performances at the 2026 European SUP Championships in Agios Nikolaos, where he won both Sprint and Long Distance gold. The Polarbear will be certainly capable of surprising everybody once again.
The prospect of Andersen, Araki, Baxter, Garioud and Booth competing at the same championship is exactly the kind of storyline international SUP Racing needs.
Spain: One of the Strongest Teams on Paper
Spain has developed into one of the most successful nations in modern SUP Racing, and its representation in Sabaudia is substantial.
The entry list includes 116 Spanish athletes, although not all are members of the official national team.
Among the leading names is Manuel Hoyuela, who has enjoyed an excellent 2026 season. His clean sweep of Sprint, Technical and Long Distance victories at the ICF World Cup in the United Kingdom demonstrated just how competitive he has become.
Sergio Cantoral is another athlete to watch, particularly in the shorter racing formats.
On the women’s side, Spain brings exceptional depth.
Esperanza Barreras, one of the most successful female Long Distance racers of recent years, remains a major name whenever she enters an international championship.
Duna Gordillo has established herself as one of the strongest all-around competitors, while Alba Alonso Frey arrives following her successful European SUP League season, which culminated in the 2026 women’s overall title.
Spain’s combination of established champions and rising talent makes it one of the nations to watch in both individual races and the Nations Cup.
Netherlands: Donato Freens Leads the Charge
The Netherlands may not have the largest delegation, but with Donato Freens the Netherlands has one of the strongest and most talented paddlers in 2026. His victory at the ESL underlines that strongly.
The big question is how he will perform against an international field that includes Baxter, Garioud, Booth, Araki and Andersen.
For Freens, Sabaudia represents an opportunity to measure his progress against some of the biggest names in the sport.
Italy: Home-Water Advantage and the Largest Delegation
With 136 registered athletes, Italy has the largest delegation in the entry data.
The host nation also has genuine medal contenders.
Cecilia Pampinella has been one of the standout female racers of the 2026 season. Her performances on the European circuit, including a clean sweep at the ICF World Cup in the United Kingdom, establish her as one of the leading contenders.
Filippo Mercuriali and Nicolò Ricco are also worth watching in the men’s competition.
Italy’s large participation numbers demonstrate the strength of its domestic SUP Racing community, while racing on home waters could provide additional motivation for its leading athletes.
Women’s Racing: An Exceptionally Competitive Field
The women’s Open competition deserves just as much attention as the men’s reunion.
Among the top names on the entry list are:
- Esperanza Barreras (Spain) – an established Long Distance benchmark.
- Cecilia Pampinella (Italy) – one of the strongest all-around performers of the 2026 European season.
- Duna Gordillo (Spain) – a proven international contender.
- Alba Alonso Frey (Spain) – the 2026 European SUP League champion.
- Marie-Carmen Rivera (Puerto Rico) – an outstanding competitor who dominated the women’s racing at the EuroTour stop in Royan.
- Juliette Duhaime (Argentina) – an experienced international racer with strong performances across the international circuit.
This combination of established champions and athletes enjoying successful seasons could produce some of the most closely contested women’s races of the year.
927 Athletes: A Closer Look at the Participation Numbers
The Stand Up Magazin analyzed the Memosoft registration data to better understand the size and international distribution of the championship.
Our analysis identified 927 unique athletes representing 60 nations and delegations, with 3,350 registration records in the supplied dataset.
The largest delegations are:
| Nation | Registered athletes |
|---|---|
| Italy | 136 |
| Spain | 116 |
| Greece | 72 |
| Hungary | 53 |
| Germany | 52 |
| Poland | 50 |
| France | 43 |
| Czech Republic | 27 |
These figures cover the broader championship program, including Junior, Open, Masters and additional participation categories. They should not be confused with the number of athletes competing in the elite Open divisions.
The entry list is also subject to changes and does not guarantee that every registered athlete will start.
Nevertheless, the participation numbers show the growing international reach of organized SUP Racing.
More Than Just the Elite World Championships
One important aspect of the ICF format is its broad participation structure.
Alongside the Open competition, Sabaudia offers Junior and Masters divisions, youth categories, Inflatable SUP races, Foil Sprint and additional recreational racing opportunities.
This creates an event that brings together elite competitors, ambitious younger racers, Masters athletes and recreational paddlers.
For the sport, this is an important distinction.
World Championships are not only about awarding medals. They are also an opportunity to bring the international SUP community together, develop future talent and create connections between different generations of athletes.
A World Championship That Matters More Than Ever
The 2026 championships arrive at an important moment for international SUP Racing.
With the ISA World Championships called off for 2026, the ICF event in Sabaudia has become the principal international World Championship gathering of the season.
The entry list includes many of the sport’s established stars, successful European racers and emerging international talents.
The return of Connor Baxter, the presence of Noïc Garioud, the reunion with Michael Booth and the challenge from Shuri Araki, Christian Andersen, Manuel Hoyuela and Donato Freens could produce the kind of international competition SUP Racing has been waiting for.
If you read this to the end you evidently value our content. With enough subscribers at EUR 5.- per month the Stand Up Magazin would be on location providing exclusive content the ICF is hiding behind their paywall.
Online Subscription
Are you enjoying the content of the Stand Up Magazin?
With a subscription, you help secure the future of Stand Up Magazin.
Become a patron and supporter with your subscription.
Your subscription is an annual contribution and renews automatically.