As the global social and sporting shutdown caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus continues, we’re beginning to see more and more SUP races affected. Europe is increasingly under lockdown, while virtually all countries are enacting draconian restrictions on travel and public gatherings that have made most stand up paddle events impossible to run.
Here are the latest updates as of Monday 17 March. This story is quickly evolving so check back for regular updates… → READ MORE
In brief: The spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to affect the world of stand up paddling, with the beginning of the international season all but on hold after several events were forced to cancel or postpone.
The United States, China, Japan and several countries in Europe including Spain and France have confirmed event cancellations/postponements. And now two of the biggest races in the world have joined that list.
Today, the Air France Paddle Festival in Tahiti and Brazil’s massive Aloha Spirit Festival in Ilhabela both announced they were postponing their upcoming events. → READ MORE
Here’s your breakfast briefing for Tuesday, November 6. → READ MORE
Check out this amazing aerial video from the Aloha Spirit Festival, which was held in Ilhabela, Brazil a couple of weeks ago.
Is it just me, or were drones invented solely for the purpose of making SUP racing look awesome? → READ MORE
How’s this for a race? Check out this drone footage of the mass start at a recent SUP race in Brazil.
This is from the ‘Aloha Spirit’ Paddle Festival, which, as the name suggests, is a combination of all types of paddling but with a pretty strong focus on stand up. → READ MORE
The Aloha Spirit festival was held just north of Rio de Janeiro on the weekend and, in another sign that SUP is growing very strong in Brazil, attracted over 200 paddlers despite the uncharacteristically gloomy skies.
Brazil’s best-known international paddler, Vinnicius Martins (who podium’d in Nicaragua earlier this month and is a regular on the World Series) took out the win for the local Art In Surf team. While in a sign of things to come, the junior division was won by Mistral team rider Kainoa Texeira. → READ MORE
