Search Results for: Stand up world series

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Fiona Wylde wins Engadin Wind 2023

Winning must be in Fionas DNA, the multible SUP World Champion as once again proven that she can also win in other sports. We know she had to sit out an entire SUP season due to a shoulder surgery and when she had her comeback in Alicante the APP Race she got first. Now she was back in Europe but not to compete in SUP but to be at the Wingfoil Racing World Cup in Silvaplana Switzerland and… she won.

IWSA media / Sailing Energy

This is the Wingfoil Race World Cup press release:

No wind on the final day of competition on Silvaplana
Fiona Wylde wins a World Cup at her first attempt
Alessandro Tomasi wins his first World Cup of 2023
Italy and France dominate the men’s top 10

Fiona Wylde (USA) and Alessandro Tomasi (ITA) respectively have become the women’s and men’s champions at Wingfoil Racing World Cup Silvaplana.

With no wind for the final day, the results all hung on the 10 races from the first two days. Tomasi, the 2021 World Champion, earned two crucial wins in the long distance races of the opening day. The dominant performer of the past six months or more has been Mathis Ghio (FRA) who battled hard with Tomasi on that first day but finished runner-up in both long distance heats.

The results from day one proved to be the decisive difference in the eventual outcome because from there the men’s fleet was split into two qualifying groups, yellow and blue. Day two brought the best breeze of the competition with eight short-course races completed in winds ranging from 10 to 20 knots. Tomasi was the master of yellow group, winning seven of the eight heats, conceding victory only to Luca Franchi (ITA), one of the other strong riders in the ever-improving Italian squad.

Meanwhile over in blue group Ghio was proving even more dominant, winning all eight heats. However, this still wasn’t enough to close the gap to Tomasi. The Frenchman would have to wait until the gold fleet finals to be able to take the fight directly to Tomasi and the other Italians. 

Unfortunately for Ghio, and all the other competitors, those much-needed races would never materialise. The wind had evaporated from the Swiss Alps. This means Tomasi takes his first World Cup gold of the season, with Ghio in silver and Franchi taking bronze. French and Italian riders dominated the top 10, with 10th-placed Rafferty Read (GBR) being the exception.

Tomasi commented: “I have been working hard, training hard to improve my winging and it feels great when all the work pays off. This week is a reminder that you need to push every moment of a competition, you can never relax and you should never give up because you never know what can happen until the final race is run.”

Fiona Wylde had travelled a long way to see how she would shape up against the proven best in the world. Only recently returned from a shoulder injury and surgery that kept her out of action for almost 18 months, Wylde was keen to get a gauge of the standard in the fleet, which is changing all the time.

Maddalena Spanu’s (ITA) recent victory at the Wingfoil Racing World Cup Campione on Lake Garda is one example of how the women’s fleet is becoming increasingly competitive. A few months ago reigning World Champion Paula Novotna (CZE) had been untouchable but the standard of competition is going up month by month.

Spain’s Montse Sole won the opening long distance race, but victory in the next long distance went to the 16-year-old Spanu. Wylde finished up the first day in third overall, and then on the eight-race day of short-course competition the American rider really came into her own. Out of eight short-course races, the 26-year-old from Hood River, Oregon, took three wins, four seconds and a fourth. This moved her well clear of the chasing pack, which was bunched by just a couple of points. 

It was a pity the wind never allowed the rest of the women’s competition to play out. First-time World Cup competitor Wylde earned a well deserved gold and has shown she is one to watch for the future. Spanu adds a silver to her recent Garda gold, and Orane Ceris (FRA) clinched bronze on a tiebreak with Karolina Kluszczynska (POL) who finished fourth overall.

Wylde commented: “It feels incredible to win here, even if I would have loved to do more racing. I was pretty nervous today, I hadn’t done a Medal Series before and I was looking forward to finding out what that was going to be like. I came here to learn, so more time on the water would have been my first choice, but it’s still been a great week, meeting incredible people and hanging out in beautiful Silvaplana. The two days of racing we had were phenomenal. I’m going to keep thinking about those days, they will excite me and motivate me to come back for more World Cup racing in the future.”

There were 10 races completed for the men’s and women’s fleets and while the riders would have enjoyed more, they never wasted their time. Instead they threw themselves into alternative contests in balance boarding and pump foiling, always keen to test their competitive instincts.

For the fortunate and talented few, they will meet at the ANOC World Beach Games in a few week’s time in Bali. It will be a great opportunity to showcase this fast-growing and very accessible sport to a global TV audience. The next Wingfoil Racing World Cup takes place in Sardinia in October.

Where is Fiona going next? Maybe Scharbeutz EURO TOUR?

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LIGHTBOARDCORP CARBON HOLLOW CONSTRUCTION

For sure it is the most advanced technology available. The PARADOXA is build in real prepreg autoclave manufacturing process. This is the most environmental friendly, most durable and most lightweight way to build high end aeronautique, formular racing equipment.

PARADOXA UD PREPREG CARBON HOLLOW CONSTRUCTION

The PARADOXA is not wet laminated, the fibers are pure unidirectional carbon layers. There is no fiberglas, gelcoat or lacquer necessary to seal the construction. As a result it is super lightweight, durable with less flex than any other construction bringing all your paddle power to drive you forward.

But this is not why we claim “is this the most sexiest SUPRACEBOARD in the world?”. It is the magic shape! The entry is sharp and finds the right golden ratio in the front 3rd part to release into fast and stable stance area. It subtles from a round part into slight concave, into a plan area with sharp edges to release the water with less turbulences. The wide tail offers lot ́s of stability and ease in handling at buoy turns. The stance area is below waterline and this features gives more leverage to your blade plus even more stability. This works as we have invented a drainage valve system. The rocker line is unique and you will realize once you can observe. LIGHTBOARDCORP® is well known for very compeNNve boards such as the SIGNATURE models which need skills in handling, but as we always mention:” The longer you use, the faster you get!” Now with the PARADOXA we designed a series of boards that will equipe our pro team to drive results, but also makes the army of amateurs a threat to proven top racers.

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Starboard Dream Team successful 2022

Starboard Teamriders unstoppable


2022 was an outstandingly successful race year for the Starboard SUP Team. The athletes of the Starboard Dream Team paddled the Sprint and Allstar models to the podiums in all important races internationally and nationally. Right from the first important US race of the season, the Carolina Cup, they dominated: Michael Booth won the Long Distance in an outstanding way, Connor Baxter took gold in the Tech Race followed by teammate Noic Garioud. At the ICF SUP World Championships in Poland, Connor Baxter, Michael Booth, Esperanza Barreras and their teammates took seven gold medals, among others. Baxter and Barreras also captured the overall APP Racing World Tour titles and various other podium finishes in other races. Listing Baxter’s many wins is beyond the scope here, as are the many national champions, including Zane Schweitzer, who not only won the longboard and SUP divisions at US Nationals. Leonard Nika paddled the 204km SUP 11 City Tour fastest while his brother Claudio Nika can call himself “The Fastest Sprinter in Europe” by winning the EuroSUP Sprint title. Italian Caterina Stenta showed what the 23 Starboard Sprint Zero board can do. She paddled away from all the ladies at the SUP Alps Trophy and also left the majority of the men behind her, but not the German Ole Schwarz.

Picture: Andy Klotz for SUP Alps Trophy
Caterina Stenta on the new Sprint Zero and Ole Schwarz at the SUP Alps Trophy

Ole Schwarz and his teammates from the German Starboard Team also took off in this first real race year after the Corona Break. The 25-year-old Ole Schwarz from Bonn comes from canoeing and won the gold medal at the multi-sport event “Finals 2022” in Berlin, is German Champion in SUP Sprint (SUP DM Radolfzell), German Champion Long Distance and Tech Race (SUP DM Fehmarn) and second overall in the SUP Alps Trophy.  Team manager Carsten Kurmis, who himself also defended his Sprint title at the Open German SUP Championship, is also focusing on young talent. The Junior U15 team did very well in its first race season and these names should be kept in mind: “Tinca” Thien-Catrin Tusche, Laila and her brother Marlon Daskiran, Lukas Steinwagner and Lasse Sauerteig occupied the podiums at the Open German SUP Championship at Lake Constance.


The boards of the winners are called Starboard Sprint and Allstar

The special feature: These are series models. From spring 2023, the new arrow-quick boards with the red noses will be available for sale to everyone. The Sprint, the fastest flatwater board, has been given a new hull shape with a higher, pointed nose, rounded rails and a new drainage system – all for faster acceleration and top speed. After more than six years of development, the board Sprint also comes in the new Zero construction. Caterina Stenta was already able to use it at the SUP Alps Trophy: “The water was flat, so I chose the new Sprint Zero and tried it despite the many buoy turns. The Zero was amazing, felt super connected and stable – even in the turns!”

The Starboard Sprint Zero is the new benchmark for lightweight race boards and with “zero EPS foam a game changer”. It is three board lengths faster than the carbon sandwich construction at 50 paddle strokes.
Weight comparison for the 14.0 x 25.5 shape: 
Starboard Sprint Zero construction 9.6 kg 
Starboard Spring Carbon Sandwich Construction 12.1 kg

The fastest board for all conditions, the Starboard Allstar continues to come in Carbon Sandwich and Carbon Wood construction. The shape updates for faster acceleration and speed: speed advantage due to the narrower nose and flatter rocker in the underwater hull. Higher rails and drainage system minimize water in the stance area. The Allstar Shape plays its strengths in upwind, downwind and choppy conditions.

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Indiana Produkte Range 2023

Before summer comes to an end Indiana already started planning for the next season. The majority of the collection stays the same for the 2023 season. But don’t worry Indiana still delivers new products and developments of the SUP, FOIL and SURF range.

SUP Highlights

Indiana 12’6 S Touring and Ocean Touring Inflatable

This summer we launcher the 12’6 S Touring and the 12’6 Ocean Touring successfully. The S comes with narrower width of 29” for a sportier paddle style and the Ocean Touring is developed for tours in the ocean or choppy conditions with its rocker. In classic touring manner are both boards equipped with the known SUP 2.0 features. 

Indiana LTD Edition Touring Inflatable

The limited edition is the absolute high end of the whole Indiana Inflatable SUP collection. Limited, unique design and best performance. It doesn’t get any closer to a hardboard feeling than with our limited edition. Check out the detailed board review.

Indiana Race Hardboards

The 14’ Race Hardboard series has also been newly developed and was successfully launched in the competition and high-performance scene. DHC, All Water or Open Water, the series offers the ideal board for every race type and condition. 

Team rider Manuel Lauble already achieved great results and podiums at several competitions with the DHC and even got invited to the finals in Berlin with live transmission on ZDF.

Lookbook 2023 click on the image

NEW: Indiana 12’6 Touring S Carbon Wood

Towards the new season we will launch the 12’6 Carbon Wood S with a sportier width of 27.5”. The board comes in the known and pretty paulownia-wood veneer, as well as carbon fins and offers sporty paddlers great glide in all conditions.

SUP Accessories and Restube

Not to forget. We offer a full range of SUP accessories, such as leashes, battery pumps, paddles, fins, bags and carry-belts and safety equipment from Restube. With our accessory range, we let every paddler heart beat faster.

FOIL Highlights

Wingfoil 81L Carbon

The wingfoil bestseller this season. A truly complete wingfoil machine, that combines design, performance and usability. Watch the detailed board test on gleiten.tv.

Inflatable Wingfoil Boards

The ideal choice for your next foil vacation. Practical, compact yet still high performing. The integrated 10” tracks with extra reinforcement of the boxes and the embedded foot strap appliance in the fiberglass foot base, make our inflatable board range a great deal. 

LeDoigt 3’7 Pumpfoil Board

The best mix of weight, volume and durability, make this board one of the most pumped boards in Switzerland. As an add-on we developed the brand new pumpfoil backpack, that opens up a whole new spectrum of possibilities and makes transportation of the whole equipment a lot easier.

High Performance Foil Series

With the high-performance series to the next level. 

Hydrodynamic optimized fuselages, 7 new frontwings, 3 new stabilizers and the perhaps lightest and still very stiff full carbon masts in 72 and 85cm length will catapult your foil experience to a whole new world.

In cooperation with the Swiss company Carbo-Link AG developed, will the carbon masts and four of the wings manufactured in Europe, Kosovo.

To give you a proper overview of which wing is suitable for which foil sport and level check out our description overview.

All products
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APP 2022 look out

With the Paris event in the books the APP is looking towards their 2022 season. No doubt Tristan Boxford and his team had a difficult 2020 and the recovery in 2021 also seemed not to have gone as planned. Several events had to be cancelled. Before we copy and paste the Newsletter, there are some items here that caught our eye and raised some questions.

The APP announces a EUROPEAN CUP: This seems a bit confusing to us. Why is the APP, in addition to their World Cup, adding a European Cup? We just had the announcement that there will be European SUP Championships by the ESF in Denmark and off course we have the EURO Tour that been going on for years. Are we now going to end up with 3 European SUP Champions? Why not using these regional races a qualifiers for a 2023 World Tour rather than crowning another EURO Champion? For now these are some open questions that might answer themselves next year.

For now here is are the APP News as we received them:

APP will deliver an exciting line up of World Class Racing Events at high profile venues in 2022 for a truly Global Championship Tour

Ericeira Portugal, Thursday 9th December: The APP is excited to announce its 2022 season for Racing that consists of high profile venues across the globe that will deliver World Class action and an unforgettable journey towards the crowning of Men’s and Women’s World Champions. Here is the line up:

  1. Santa Monica, USA: 26th – 28th June
  2. Spain: 5th – 7th August (tbc)
  3. London, UK: 19th – 21st August
  4. Osaka, Japan: 16th – 18th September (tbc)
  5. Busan, Korea: 23rd – 25th September
  6. Maui, Hawaii: 5th – 10th October
  7. Paris, France: 2nd – 4th December
  8. Middle East Finals: 8th – 10th February (2023)

With the return of spectacular venues from past years such as London, Osaka, Maui and Paris complimented by the introduction of exciting new venues in Los Angeles, Spain, Korea and the Middle East, the 2022 APP World Tour will not only challenge the World’s best in a complete cross section of conditions to determine World Champions, it will bring the sport and the spectacle to high profile venues across the globe in a truly inclusive manner.

In addition to the World Championship Tour line up, stay tuned for news on specialty events to take place in the Middle East, the Americas and Asia in the lead up to the start of the season in June, providing a full season of competitive action here on the APP World Tour.

The APP announces its revamped European Cup, celebrating the Sport’s staggering growth on the European Continent

As the sport of Stand Up Paddling experiences unprecedented growth across the European Continent, the APP is proud to re-introduce the European Cup to celebrate this growth and deliver an exciting line up of events for this European Series in 2022.

In addition to the World Championship Tour stops in Spain, London and Paris, Zug, in Switzerland will host a high profile Prime event, to be joined by several other venues to be announced soon.

The goal of the European Cup will be to crown both Official European Champions at the conclusion of the Cup Series in Paris, but also International Champions of this European leg of the Tour.

Here is the current line up for the 2022 European Cup:

  1. Spain: 5th – 7th August
  2. Zug, Switzerland: 12th – 14th August
  3. London, UK: 19th – 21st August
  4. Paris, France, European Cup Final: 2nd – 4th December

As will all APP Events in 2022, the focus will be on bringing World Class performance together with inclusive participation for a unique celebration of the sport in all its forms.

APP World Surfing Tour announcement coming soon with exciting new venues to complement existing favorites for the 2022 season

With incredible venues now locked in, the APP is working with the events to finalize dates for an imminent launch of the 2022 World Tour Surfing Schedule. The 2022 Tour will feature events in Africa, Europe and the Americas, with World Class Conditions to provide a fitting showcase of Stand Up Paddlesurfing at its very best on the APP World Tour.

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boot 2021 Interview with Petros Michelidakis

The news from Messe Düsseldorf quickly made the rounds when it was announced last week that the new date of boot is now in April. I wanted to know a bit more and contacted the PR department of the fair with a few questions about the new date and the impact on 2022 and the trend sports industry.

I myself am very happy about the new date, because we can now present the spring issue with the re-launch of the magazine in April at the boot. The days will be a bit longer and we won’t freeze our hands and feet during the assembly and disassembly.

In this sense, many thanks to Petros Michelidakis Director of boot for his answers and the wise decision to move the boot to April.

Aloha Petros,

Thank you for taking the time to read Stand Up Magazine. The water sports community in Hall 8a has long speculated about what will happen in January. Most of the people I talked to have all already guessed in September that the boot will not take place in January. Many manufacturers in Beach World have therefore not registered.

Why did you wait so long with a final decision at the fair? Or asked in another way: what is so important on the January date that it took so long to reach a final decision?

Aloha Mike. We have always said that we will keep an eye on the January deadline and assess the situation as it stands. With our current decision we offer our exhibitors and of course the whole international water sports community a good planning security. We had and have the support of the boat and yacht manufacturers, of which the market leaders are on board. For the shipyards, the date in January is actually the better one, as they can then present their premieres in time for the start of the new season.

And for many decades, boot Düsseldorf has had its position as the first trade fair in the series of shows. However, since the companies also consider a presence at boot Düsseldorf in 2021 to be indispensable, most of them will be on board at the new date from April 17. to 25.

The situation is somewhat different for surfing. Here, in the current worldwide C19 situation, April is very accommodating to the providers. People will plan their leisure and sports activities in the coming year very close to the start of the season. I believe that we can give surfing a considerable boost with the new date. With warmer temperatures, the longing for water sports will be even greater and we will certainly be able to welcome an enthusiastic audience to boot 2021.

I am sure that many local politicians were involved in the decision process to postpone the date. Despite the security concept, what finally tipped the scales to cancel the January date?

In Germany, as in many other countries, there is currently a regulation that events are completely prohibited, including trade fairs. However, on December 3, the Economics Ministers of the German federal states issued an appeal to the German government to launch an initiative to safeguard and further develop the German trade fair industry. The decisive factor for the postponement of boot 2021, however, was above all the planning reliability towards our boat manufacturers. We had to make this decision by the beginning of December at the latest, since that is when the yachts are sent on their way to Düsseldorf. And we didn’t want to leave any exhibitor sitting on these high transport costs. With the date in April we can now plan and we will be able to welcome the first yachts at the end of March.

Why exactly in Arpil?

When planning the postponement, only this date was actually considered. We expect that the warmer temperatures together with the start of vaccinations will lead to a containment of C19. In addition, the date is ideal for surfing and diving as well as for the travel and charter industry. It falls in the beginning of the travel season and I think that many people are hoping for this start of the season. Furthermore, for many manufacturers a date later in the year is simply not possible due to the deliveries of their boats to private customers and charter bases.

Will this postponement have an effect on boot 2022?

Definitely no! From 2022 on we will go back to the proven date in January. This is what the industry expects from us and we will keep it as “learned”.

If I may I have a few more Beach World specific questions:

We see how Nautique in Paris has established itself as a meeting place for the international SUP elite. But the infrastructure at Beach World seems to be the better one. Beach World has enormous potential to attract more international starts from the trend sports scene and yet we see the activities on the water for active athletes getting smaller every year. What is the philosophy of the fair here?

Petros and Christian Andersen SUP Athlet from Denmark

During the Salon Nautique, Paris has established a SUP race on the Seine with many international stars. This is unfortunately prohibited by the authorities on the Rhine because of the current and commercial shipping traffic. The Beachworld and “The Wave” have been attracting just as many international stars for years, who often stay with us throughout the fair and who visitors can meet. However, I do not agree with the fact that our activities are getting smaller, on the contrary. The Wave, Foilsurfing, Foil-Pumping or also SUP-Yoga have been established at the boot in the last years. We still follow the trends and present them together with the protagonists of the scene at boot. Industry experts like Flo Brunner from Starboard even consider “Wingfoiling” to be a similarly booming sport as windsurfing was in the 1980s. To have extremely much fun on the water with compact and light equipment is certainly a wish that many water sports enthusiasts fulfill. At the next boot in April we will present the topic “Wing-Foiling” especially prominently. Here the community will show great interest in the products and how and where you can experience this fascinating kind of water sports. For this we will deepen our pool and use wind machines. For this purpose, a grandstand is planned, which will allow a larger number of spectators while observing the rules of hygiene.

In any case, I am already looking forward to the new date and I am sure that we will experience a Beach World in April as we remember it from 2020.

Thank you very much for your insight.

Boot Düsseldorf ist from 17. – 25. of April 2021.

Memories to a boot from a pre-corona world.

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APP Tour 2021 Official

We are looking optimistic into 2021 and hope for a great SUP Season. Unfortunately the APP seem to have not been able to get a permit for their legendary Sun Set SUP Surf Contest. Hopes are alive for 2022. The opening of the Season still seems uncertain. We are waiting on a date and location for the kick off event in late May early June. We also see a withdraw of the organizers in Denmark which was a tour stop on their preliminary schedule.

app-world-tour-sup-race-2021

Looking forward to a European Tripple Crown.

The European Triple Crown

  1. London, UK: 31st July – 2nd August
  2. Switzerland: 6th – 8th August
  3. Paris: 3rd – 5th December

This could be great and rumors have the Switzerland race will take in the City of Zürich.

Aside all of our excitement this is the official news release from the APP:

Ericeira, Portugal, Friday 4th December: After a frustrating ‘leap year’ for global sport, the APP is proud to announce its return to action for 2021 with a full line up of events spanning the globe and set to provide the World’s Best Athletes with a phenomenal and well rounded challenge in their quest for the World Title.

2021 sees the most high profile line up of City Events yet for the APP World Tour as its City Paddle Festival approach goes from strength to strength and will provide a welcome return to the outdoors for World Class action and all inclusive fun.

Meanwhile for Surfing, while the timing for Sunset Beach (February) is too challenging for us to move forward with its inclusion in the 2021 schedule, it will be a welcomed return to Tahiti, a new adventure in Portugal and a homecoming for the Grand Final and crowning of the 2021 Surfing World Champions in Gran Canaria.

There have been a few important changes to the schedule since our provisional schedule announcement last month, namely the postponement of Sunset Beach and Denmark to 2022 and the replacement of Barbados with Portugal. We are also awaiting a final decision on which of two venues will host the presitigious World Tour Opener for 2021. More detail is included below, but here is the final line up for 2021:

  1. World Tour Open, location tba (Race 1): Late May / early June (final dates tbc)
  2. London, UK (Race 2): 30th July – 1st August
  3. Switzerland (Race 3): 6th – 8th August
  4. Tahiti (Surf 1): 11th – 18th September
  5. Osaka, Japan (Race 5): 24th – 26th September
  6. San Diego, USA (Race 6): 1st – 3rd October
  7. Maui, Hawaii (Race 7): 14th – 17th October
  8. Portugal (Surf 2): 9th – 14th November
  9. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Surf 3): 20th – 28th November
  10. Paris, France (Race 8): 3rd – 5th December

While all dates and venues have been locked in and all precautions have been taken and possible scenarios planned for as it relates to the global pandemic, we still remain at the mercy of national and global restrictions and other effects of the current global crisis. However, after a frustrating 2020, the APP has taken every step possible to ensure that the show can and will go on in 2021! We look forward to seeing you all there.

Sunset Beach:

The APP has been working tirelessly to figure out a solution for the complex challenges and uncertainty facing delivering a World Tour event in February in Sunset Beach, and is disappointing to have to announce that it will not be possible in 2021.

Given the global surge in Covid-19 cases and uncertainty surrounding global travel for the next few months, coupled with the challenges of hosting an event in a public beach park in Hawaii during this pandemic, we have been forced to postpone our iconic Sunset Beach event until 2022.

However, the APP will be back on Oahu’s North Shore in February of 2022, as one of the most iconic events in the sport’s history will once again take center stage.

Tahiti will open the Tour in style in 2021

            1. Tahiti: 11th – 18th September, 2021

While we have been forced to skip Hawaii for Surfing in 2021, we will remain in Polynesia for the Opening event of the surf season, with the welcomed return to Tahiti in September. With a new venue in the works for 2021, we are excited to be back in this South Pacific paradise, and to include a World Class lefthander into the mix to challenge the World’s very best SUP Surfers.

The timing could not be better for a return to Tahiti, with the reigning World Champion, Poenaiki Raioha hailing from the Islands together with the need to add a World Class left to the mix of spots on the Surfing World Tour.

It is also the return to a venue steeped in heritage for the APP World Tour, where history was made in 2010 with the inaugural and groudbreaking event at Sapinus and a legacy was built over the years in a destination where Paddling and Surfing are so firmly entrenched in the culture.

Portugal replaces Barbados

            2. Portugal: 7th – 14th November

Given the challenging year that 2020 has been for global tourism, we are disappointed to announce that Barbados has been withdrawn from the calendar for 2021. However it is not a goodbye, but a see you soon, as we continue to work hand in hand with Barbados Tourism to bring the APP back to Barbados as soon as is possible.

We are however proud to reinstate Portugal into the 2021 calendar! This is a development that we are extremely excited about, not least because of the incredible run of swell that this wave rich coastline has been blessed with during the month of November this year, with the official dates for the 2021 edition running from the 7th – 14th November.

This also provides an ideal pairing of events with the Final in Gran Canaria, being just a short 2 hour flight from Lisbon and with the two events running back to back. This facilitiates real economies for our travelling athletes and a phenomenal close to the 2021 season.

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria will be a homecoming for the Tour

            3. Gran Canaria: 20th – 28th November

We are once again excited to return to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria for the climactic close of the 2021 season, at a venue that has delivered so much over the past few years of action on the APP World Tour.

From the Island’s laid back vibe, to the incredible surf that we have witnessed over the event’s history, with climactic closes to both the 2018 and 2019 seasons in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

We expect no less in 2021, and look forward to returning to this ideal European Winter escape to wrap another spectacular surf season on the APP World Tour.

The APP World Tour will feature defined regional legs in 2021 in the creation of a truly global and high profile Championship Season

2021 will bring the City Paddle Festival Concept to life across our global program, providing participation opportunities for all and a showcase of World Championship Tour action at the heart of some of the World’s most recognizable Cities.

The 2021 APP World Tour will also provide a regional focus to the global program, with logical legs for the Tour and a manageable schedule for our global Athletes.

World Tour Opener

We have an interesting scenario for the World Tour Opener, where we have two venues vying to host this prestigious event that will kick off the 2021 season. Given the current global environment, this process has taken longer to conclude than we would have hoped, but we expect to be able to announce the location and final dates within the next few weeks.

However, we can confirm that the window for this Opening event will be late May / early June, to allow sufficient time for the World to stabilize and global travel issues to ease.

The European Triple Crown

  1. London, UK: 31st July – 2nd August
  2. Switzerland: 6th – 8th August
  3. Paris: 3rd – 5th December

We are extremely excited to announce the launch of our new European Triple Crown: a series of 3 high profile World Championship Tour stops and City Paddle Festivals held in some of Europe’s most recognizable Cities. This trilogy of events will provide some of the most magical backdrops imaginable coupled with some of the most dramatic race courses the Tour has ever seen, utilizing the natural environment to deliver both technical elements for the racers and a dramatic sporting showcase for spectators.

It should be noted that Denmark has been withdrawn from the 2021 schedule due to sensitivity at a City level of too many events taking place in the metropolitan area too early during the exit from the global pandemic. However, we are happy to report that the multi-year commitment from the venue for the hosting of an official stop on the APP World Tour is set to kick off in 2022.

With a prestigious Triple Crown Title on the line for the World’s Best at the culmination of the 3 events and the Tour in Paris, the competition will be that much more intense, set to the backdrop of some of the world’s most iconic landmarks. It will be a show not to be missed, and there will be an opportunity to participate across all 3 stops, regardless of age, gender or ability: in short, there will be something for everyone.

Asia (September)

  1. Osaka, Japan: 24th – 26th September

It will then be a return to Osaka, Japan for the 5th stop of the Tour, as the APP will build on the foundations laid with the inaugural event in 2019 to deliver another World Class and immersive experience at the heart of this unforgettable City.

With some exciting new changes for 2021, Osaka promises to be one of the real highlights of the APP World Championship Tour and certainly one not to be missed.

US Cup (October)

  1. San Diego, California: 1st – 3rd October
  2. Maui: 14th – 17th October

The Tour will then return to the US for this two venue Cup that will provide some of the most specatcular conditions of the year for the World’s Best.

Reigniting the global pilgrimage to Southern California at the end of September / early October, the APP World Tour has found a new home in San Diego California. The venue is so perfectly suited to the City Paddle Festival concept of getting people out on the water and active, but also to deliver an impressive mix of open ocean, surf and flat water conditions to challenge the World’s very best Athletes.

The Tour will then move onto the Island of Maui for a mix of World Class Downwind Racing and the ultimate Surf Sprint Racing at Ho’okipa Beach. With a 4 day holding period and 2 days of action to be held on the best 2 days for each respective discipline during the holding period, the Maui event will deliver some of the most spectacular racing action of the year held on the sport’s most infamous natural racing arenas

The Final (December)

  1. Paris, France: 3rd – 5th December

It will then be the welcomed return to Paris, France to combine the annual pilgrimage down the River Seine with a supercharged indoor event inside the Salon Nautique to provide a dramatic final weekend of action that will close the 2021 APP World Tour in style and crown the Sport’s Racing World Champions for both Men and Women. And remember, this will also be the closing event of the European Triple Crown, with this new and prestigious Title on the line for the World’s Best.

For thousands of paddlers around the world, 2020 prevented them from their annual pilgrimage to Paris on a cold December morning. However, all the fun and spectacular action will be back in 2021, as the Paris SUP Open will once again come alive and welcome the world in for a show to remember.

Logistics solution integrated for the 2021 APP World Tour

Please also remember that the APP will be adopting a Container solution for the year to transport Athlete’s boards from Europe in May, all the way around the World to each of the events and back to Europe for the Final in Paris. More to follow on this solution by early 2021 to allow plenty of time to plan.

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PADDLEexpo RELAUNCH

Paddle-Board-Expo

We just received the news that the PADDLEexpo will continue under the name PADDLE BOARD EXPO in Kassel and no longer in Nuremberg.

Apparently the original organizer Horst Führsattel retired. Therefore I would like to thank him for the 10 years of cooperation and wish him all the best. This is the message on the website:

Canoe fair, SUP-Expo and PADDLEexpo
2003 – 2019

The PADDLEexpo series is over, the 2019 event was the last PADDLEexpo.There are no plans and no date for another PADDLEexpo

Now we continue with the PBX – PADDLE BOARD EXPO and this is the PR message we received:

(Translated from the original in German)

“

Dear Sir or Madam,
we will hold the PADDLE-BOARD-EXPO trade visitor fair in Kassel from 23.09. -25.09.2021, as a continuation of the PADDLEEXPO
The PADDLE-BOARD-EXPO will be the leading trade fair for the paddle & SUP sport.
The latest products around kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddling, foil boards & boats, folding and inflatable boats, paddle clothing, accessories and equipment will be presented.

As the engine of the industry, the fair is a global marketplace and at the same time an international meeting place for the industry and the scene.

It also functions as a central information and contact point for the rental business, event and incentive travel and water sports tourism.

The venue is the Kassel Exhibition Center in the center of Germany.
We are expecting more than 150 exhibitors from all over the world, including all well-known brands from the canoe and SUP scene.
Additionally, various workshops & lectures will be offered during the fair.

There will be lectures and discussions about useful topics such as marketing, insurance, digitalization, environment, sales, etc. by experts from the respective industry.
We would like to involve you as a strong media partner in print & online magazines of the Kanu & Sup scene.
This cooperation can be successfully implemented as media partner & advertising partner as well as exhibitor at the fair itself.
If you are interested, please contact us and send us in advance your media data and conditions for advertisements in your magazines.


With kind regards

“

The man behind the new fair is Stefan Bretthauer and we will publish an interview with him shortly. Then we will also find out how the canoe industry has reacted to the new name.

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BIC Sport becomes TAHE

Insiders have known for a while that BIC will disappear one day with the acquisition of TAHE. But now it is official:

Tahe-SUP-Boards

With the launch of the new collection for 2021, BIC Sport becomes “TAHE”. This new water sports brand is based on the fusion of BIC Sport and Tahe Outdoors and combines both tradition and innovation. Following the new slogan “Endless Play Time”, TAHE aims to make time on and in the water unforgettable and as easy as possible for everyone.

TAHE’s mission is to offer particularly user-friendly water sports products. These are both reliable and innovative and are largely manufactured in France in a sustainable and resource-saving manner.

TAHE is also heavily involved in the youth sector with the Techno 293 OD and the O’pen Skiff and is committed to developing competition formats for young water sports enthusiasts around the world.

TAHE: new name, new dynamics, proven roots

The TAHE brand stands for a likeable image, innovative new products and exciting projects in the future. Nevertheless, much of what is known about BIC Sport remains. A large part of the products will continue to be manufactured in France and the product categories will be continued. Products such as the Techno-Windsurfboards, the kayak models Trinidad, Borneo and Bilbao, the Cross and Performer SUP-Range as well as the proven ACE-TEC and TOUGH-TEC technologies are all integrated into the new TAHE brand. Together they ensure continuity in connection with new products and technologies. The production facilities will also remain the same: TAHE/ex-BIC Sport will produce at its site in Vannes, France. The original brand Tahe Outdoors continues to produce primarily kayak products in its factory in Tallin, Estonia.

The TAHE brand can look back on 40 years of combined experience of the legendary brands BIC Sport and Tahe Outdoors. BIC Sport’s sports culture, manufacturing expertise and focus on fun for the whole family are now combined with Tahe Outdoors’ dedication to development and craftsmanship.

Exclusive distributor for Germany and Austria is Choppy Water GmbH from Stein near Kiel, which has been responsible for the distribution of BIC Sport products for more than 15 years. Four sales representatives support the specialized trade and a large number of water sports centers. The products are shipped from the 2,500 square meter warehouse within sight of the Baltic Sea.

BIC SPORT

Born out of the windsurfing culture of the early 1980s, BIC Sport built its image on the pursuit of fun, living the Hawaiian dream and searching for the perfect wave. This passion inspired the development of the world’s best-selling windsurfing boards. After numerous successes at windsurfing world championships, BIC Sport expanded into other water sports such as surfing, kayaking, junior sailing and stand-up paddling (SUP). Countless successes in each of these sports have made BIC Sport THE authoritative water sports brand for beginners and enthusiasts alike. This “open to all” strategy also drove the development of water sports with the introduction of two integrative “one-class” regatta sections for young sailors. Fleets of Techno 293 OD windsurf boards and O’pen Skiff dinghies are now found in over 60 countries worldwide. These innovative concepts have turned the sailing world upside down with new, fun-oriented competition formats that are both dynamic and accessible to everyone.

TAHE Outdoors

In the late 1980s, far from the palm-fringed beaches of Hawaii, Tahe Outdoors built its own legend and conquered the cold, inhospitable seas of Northern Europe. A group of hardcore athletes created a series of powerful, super-stable kayaks to enable extreme expeditions into the harsh, icy landscapes of the Great White North. “TAHE” means “the will to succeed” in Estonian. An appropriate principle for the founders of this Estonian company, which in its early days was supported by the Finnish Kayak Federation. From this business idea, two brands have emerged: Zegul and Tahe Marine. Their products were the basis for legendary expeditions to some of the most remote places on earth.