This page is a summary of our most recent posts about Stand Up Paddleboarding in the Olympics?

OPINION: The “ICF / ISA” Olympic saga has become a propaganda war, and the real loser is the sport.

posted by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

We awoke this morning to news that the ICF’s upcoming championship event in Portugal has been canceled after a successful legal challenge from the ISA’s national affiliate in the country. It’s a disappointing outcome that has been met with a mix of disbelief and ambivalence from a SUP community that is now thoroughly sick and tired of the political saga being waged between these two Olympic federations.

The battle between the ICF (International Canoe Federation) and ISA (International Surfing Association) has been well publicised over the past 18 months ever since the canoe world launched a late bid to become the Olympic governing body of stand up paddleboarding. But while politics are a natural (though unfortunate) part of any sport, this saga is becoming utterly ridiculous.

What started out as a political dust-up between two organisations on the fringe of our sport has become an all-out propaganda war that risks engulfing the community. And the first casualty is going to be the sport itself.

The ICF and ISA are acting like selfish parents going through a messy divorce and arguing over custody of an adopted child. Nobody is asking what the child actually wants, and neither parent realises that their “child” moved out of home years ago anyway.

It’s classic paddletics, and enough is enough…   → READ MORE

Olympic Tug of War: International Canoe Federation Challenges ISA’s Role as Stand Up Paddling’s Official Governing Body

posted by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

ISA stand up paddleboarding

In a major development that could drastically alter the future direction of our sport, the International Canoe Federation (ICF) has challenged the long-standing assumption that the International Surfing Association (ISA) is the Olympic-level governing body of stand up paddling, staking a rival claim and forcing a gridlock that has left SUP communities in limbo and blocked a potential inclusion in the 2018 Youth Olympics.   → READ MORE

And the Winner Is… Denmark — ISA Worlds Heading to Europe for the First Time in 2017

posted by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

ISA Stand Up Paddleboarding World Championship Denmark 2017

After months of speculation and anticipation, it’s official: Denmark is set to become the first European nation to ever host the ISA Worlds, with the land of Vikings confirmed as the location of the 2017 ISA World Stand Up Paddle and Paddleboard Championship in a major announcement today.

In a clear nod to its Olympic ambitions, the ISA chose to announce Denmark 2017 during the Rio Games, and even went as far as sending Denmark’s most famous paddling export and ISA Vice President, Casper Steinfath, to Brazil for an Olympic-themed photo opp to coincide with the big news.   → READ MORE

Germany’s “Lost Mills” Becomes First SUP Race to Be Sanctioned by the International Canoe Federation (ICF)

posted by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

Lost Mills stand up paddling race in GermanyIn a major and very interesting announcement, the Lost Mills, one of Europe’s premiere SUP events, has become the first stand up paddle race in the world to be sanctioned by the International Canoe Federation (ICF), instantly elevating its status at home in Germany while setting up an interesting debate about the future of governing bodies within our sport.

The Lost Mills, which will see its 5th annual edition run from May 26th-28th this year, has established itself as one of Europe’s largest and most elite stand up paddle races over the past few years…   → READ MORE

SUP Racing a Likely Starter in the 2017 World Beach Games

posted by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

World Beach Games OlympicsStand up paddle racing is on the shortlist of sports for the inaugural World Beach Games, an event that’s designed to be the “Beach Olympics” when it launches in 2017. The event will be held at San Diego’s Mission Beach.

While this will be the first ever World Beach Games, meaning it’s hard to really judge how significant this news is (or how prestigious the event will be), it does seems like another vote of confidence for SUP’s Olympic ambitions.   → READ MORE

History! Sort Of… Surfing Recommended for 2020 Olympic Games but No Room for SUP (at Least Not Yet)

posted by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

Surfing in the Olympic GamesHistory has been made today, with surfing one of five sports officially recommended for inclusion in the 2020 Olympic Games. However the news is bittersweet for the stand up paddling community: Only shortboarding has been approved for inclusion, with no room for SUP racing on the program.

Click through for the full story…   → READ MORE

The ISA Lands Stand Up Paddling on the Doorstep of the Olympic Games

posted by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

Olympics stand up paddling
Will stand up paddling ever become an Olympic sport? The answer is, potentially, much closer than you think.

The long, slow crawl up the Olympic mountain has become a steady walk in recent months, with a flurry of activity turning the prospect, which only a year ago seemed like a fanciful dream, into a genuine possibility. While there are still many obstacles to overcome, the International Surfing Association (ISA) is a lot further along the mountain path than most paddlers realise.

So with that in mind, I thought it well past time for SUP Racer to post an update on the ISA’s bold quest for Olympic acceptance, and their support for the development of stand up paddling in general.   → READ MORE

Racing In Lanes: Video/Results From The Australian Flatwater SUP Fest

posted by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

Stand Up Paddling in rowing lanesThe 2nd annual Australian Flatwater SUPFest was held in Sydney this weekend, with competitors from across the country (and a few from overseas) racing down the Olympic rowing/kayak course at Penrith. The 200m, 1,000m and 5,000m SUP races were held as a sideshow during Australian Canoeing’s National Sprint Titles event…   → READ MORE

Casper Steinfath Looks Ahead To Season 2015 (The Worlds, The Olympics And More)

posted by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

Casper-Steinfath-interviewGreat interview with everyone’s favourite viking, Casper Steinfath, looking ahead to the 2015 season and beyond.

Some interesting comments about the ISA, the Olympics and unity among the athletes. I believe this last point in particular is hugely critical right now. The sport entering a new phase of growth that could bring a lot of excitement and potential but also the risk of splintering groups taking the sport in differing directions.    → READ MORE

Laird Hamilton: SUP Racing Will Be An Olympic Sport; “It’s A No Brainer.”

posted by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

Laird Hamilton Stand Up PaddlingThere’s been quite a bit of chatter about SUP in the Olympics over the past twelve months. Some see it as a great idea, others think it doesn’t belong, while many believe it’s simply inevitable if the sport keeps growing the way it is. One of those is the guy who pretty much invented modern stand up, Laird Hamilton.

Laird doesn’t actually do any SUP racing himself (probably not enough adrenaline in it for him), however he’s very active in promoting the sport in general, particularly on the SUP surfing side of things. And during a recent promo tour of Australia, where he was touting his new range of Laird StandUp boards, Laird offered his views on the future of SUP. That includes his take on SUP as an Olympic sport…   → READ MORE

The ISA (And Casper Steinfath) Pitch SUP To The Olympic Movement In Turkey

posted by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

International Surfing Association ISA SportAccord Stand Up PaddlingRemember how we mentioned that the ISA was off to Turkey, Casper Steinfath in tow, to promote SUP to the Olympic world at some big sports conference? Well that happened yesterday.

Along with International Surfing Association President Fernando Aguerre, Casper showed the gathered Olympic dignitaries what stand up paddling actually is with a brief but enthusiastic demonstration during the SportAccord convention. Granted it was held in a luxury hotel pool, which is a long way from the Ka’iwi Channel or the beach at Dana Point, but I’m sure the novelty value alone would have made everyone in attendance stop and take notice. And no doubt that was the main point of the whole exercise: Spread some basic awareness to those in power.   → READ MORE

An Anonymous Response To The Board Restrictions Debate

posted by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

stand up paddleboard measurementsSo last week the SUP Athletes Association said we should have more board restrictions. And the internet subsequently went into melt down… Many are for the idea of limits on board design, however many are also against it. And some of those who are against it are REALLY against it. Judging by some of the responses, it was almost as if the Association’s President, Chase Kosterlitz, had walked into an NRA meeting and said “Hey guys, how ’bout some gun restrictions?”

But now that we’ve all had a few days to cool off, the Mullet has come through with a timely guest post that seems to have a pretty good take on the whole affair.   → READ MORE

With Casper Steinfath As Ambassador, The ISA Continues Push For Olympic SUP At Major Sporting Conference

posted by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

Jamie Mitchell wins Gold ahead of Casper SteinfathRemember that big article we posted last week about Stand Up Paddling in the Olympics? And about how the International Surfing Association (ISA) was doing a lot of work behind the scenes to push for surfing and SUP racing to be in the Games one day?

Well, here’s a specific example… Early next month, reigning ISA Gold Medalist and modern-day viking, Casper Steinfath, will join ISA President Fernando Aguerre in Turkey, where they’ll be pushing the cause of surfing and SUP racing to the head honchos of the Olympic movement at the big SportAccord conference.

But what exactly is SportAccord? And why should fans of SUP racing even care?    → READ MORE

Meet The Man Who Wants To Make SUP An Olympic Sport (And Then Ask Him A Question…)

posted by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

Olympic Stand Up Paddling
How long have you been working to get surfing in the Olympics?

“Well… my whole life actually.”

And with that comment Fernando Aguerre, the International Surfing Association (ISA)’s charismatic President and promoter-in-chief, recounts the full story of his childhood in Argentina and the early influence of surfing on he and his brother.

At age 11, after five years of bodyboarding on plywood bellyboards, the Aguerre boys discovered and were able to try one of the very first surfboards in Argentina. It was ugly, heavy and didn’t have a particularly good shape, but they convinced their dad to allow them to sell one of their bicycles so they could buy the board. They were instantly hooked.   → READ MORE

Mondays With The Mad Scientist: SUP Racing @ The Olympics…?! [Part 1]

posted by Jim Terrell, The Mad Scientist

On this week’s “Mondays With The Mad Scientist!” you can find out what Quickblade’s Jim Terrell thinks about Stand Up Paddling in the Olympics. Should SUP racing ever make the Olympic Games? If it did, what would it look like? And when would it get there?!

Click through to watch…   → READ MORE

Golden Day For SUP @ The London Olympics

posted by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

Stand Up Paddle racing may not be an Olympic sport (not yet anyway…) but it was still a golden day for SUP at the London Olympics.

Krisztina Fazekas Zur has just won GOLD in the Women’s K4 500m @ the London Olympics. Zur, who represents Hungary but is based in California, is a well-known SUP racer. She won several races earlier this year and is part of the elite Team Quickblade. Her husband and coach Rami Zur (an Olympian himself) is also a well known SUP racer.   → READ MORE

SUP Athlete Krisztina Zur Racing At The Olympics

posted by Christopher Parker, Boss Man

Stand Up Paddle racer Krisztina Fazekas Zur is competing at the London Olympics this week. The Hungarian (who spends much of the year in California) is representing her home nation in the Women’s K-4 500m event.

Hungary is one of the favourites for the gold; the women’s team won silver at the past two Olympic Games before taking the World Championship last year. In this morning’s heats, K-Zur helped her team to victory, meaning they get to skip the semis and go straight into Wednesday’s final.   → READ MORE