From Waters to the World Championships

There’s something rather special about watching people paddle a board. It might be someone heading out for a gentle Sunday morning paddle, a group of friends exploring a new stretch of river, or athletes lining up to race for their country at the World Championships. 

Different people, different ambitions, but the same love of being on the water. 

This October, the world of stand-up paddleboarding descended on Sabaudia, Italy, for the 2026 Paddle Worldwide (formerly ICF) SUP World Championships. Paddlers travelled from around the world to compete in Sprint, Technical and Long Distance events, with Great Britain among the nations represented. 

Now, I know that the words World Championships can sound a little intimidating. Images of athletes pushing themselves to their limits with incredible skills might leave some of us thinking that competitive SUP is a world away from our own paddling. 

But here’s the thing: you don’t have to be a world-class athlete to be inspired by one. 

THREE WAYS TO TAKE ON A PADDLEBOARD 

One of the great things about SUP racing is that it isn’t just one type of challenge. 

The Sprint is all about explosive speed over a short course. The Technical race adds turns, buoy manoeuvres and tactical decisions to the mix. And then there’s the Long Distance event, where pacing, endurance and determination become increasingly important. 

Each discipline asks something different of the paddler, and each gives us a reminder of just how much there is to learn, enjoy and discover on a paddleboard. 

Of course, these athletes train hard, and the standard at a World Championships is exceptional. But you don’t need to match their speed, distance or training schedule to take something positive from watching them. 

Perhaps it’s the confidence to try a new technique. Perhaps it’s the motivation to get out on the water a little more often. Or perhaps it’s simply the realisation that there are opportunities to challenge yourself, whatever your age or experience. 

It was great to see British paddlers taking on the challenge in Sabaudia, competing alongside athletes from across the world. 

FLYING THE FLAG FOR GREAT BRITAIN 

Among the results from the events were: 

Ginnie Betts brought home two Gold medals in the Sprint and Distance and a Silver in the Tech all in the Masters 50+. 

Sarah Perkins finished 7^th in the Sprint Masters 50+ Final A and 4^th in the Tech Masters 50+ Final B. 

Sara Maxey finished 7^th in the Sprint Masters 50+ Final B and 4^th in the Tech Masters+ Final B. 

Blue Ewer finished second in the Technical Open Men’s Final C. 

Annabel Page finished fourth in the Technical Open Women’s Final C and 18^th in the Long Distance. 

Alexandra Tyrer-Lomas came fifth in the Long Distance Masters 40+ Women. 

Alfred Barbeito finished ninth in the Long Distance Junior Men. 

These are just some of the British performances from the event, and every paddler will have their own story behind getting to the start line. For some, it will have been years of racing and training; for others, a chance to test themselves against an international field and gain valuable experience. 

There is a lot to celebrate in simply taking that opportunity. 

YOU DON’T HAVE TO RACE THE WORLD TO FIND YOUR OWN CHALLENGE 

One of the things I love about paddleboarding is that there’s room for everyone. 

You might be happy pottering along a sheltered river, enjoying the wildlife and the peace and quiet. You might love a social paddle with a club, where the chat is just as important as the distance covered. Or you might be curious about racing but have convinced yourself that you aren’t fast enough, fit enough or experienced enough to give it a go. 

If that last one sounds familiar, perhaps it’s time to rethink what a race can be. 

Not every event needs to be about winning. It can be about trying something new, learning from other paddlers, finding out what you’re capable of or simply enjoying the atmosphere. You don’t have to finish on a podium to come away with a sense of achievement. 

And if racing really isn’t your thing, that’s absolutely fine too. There are plenty of ways to enjoy SUP, and no single version is more valid than another. 

BE INSPIRED! 

Watching the World Championships is a reminder of what’s possible when people put time, effort and enthusiasm into something they love. But inspiration doesn’t only come from the fastest paddler on the water. 

It can come from the person who finally feels confident enough to paddle without worrying about falling in. The beginner who turns up to their first club session. The friend who persuades you to try a new route. Or the paddler who keeps coming back, week after week, simply because being on the water makes them happy. 

Those moments matter just as much to the wider SUP community. 

So, whether you’re dreaming of competing on the international stage or are perfectly content with a gentle paddle and a coffee afterwards, there’s a place for you in this sport. You don’t need a race board, a training plan or a finish-line photograph to call yourself a paddler. Sometimes, all you need to do is get out there. 

And who knows? Watching someone else give something a go might just be the nudge you need to try it yourself. 

We’d love to give a shout out also to ALL the athletes who took part in the competition:  

Andrea Richardson, Drew Barber, Lydia Clifton, Paul Drake, Ginnie Betts, Glen Sloss, Al Hughes, Sarah Thornely, Jo Jones, Sara Maxey, Annabel Page, Sarah Perkins, Selwyn Pritchard, Alfred Barbeito Gregory, Tom Moran, Kirsty McSeveney, Andrew T Smith, Alex Tyrer, Leanne Bisson, Matilda Cadby, Blue Ewer, Chris Freeman, Wendy Lloyd 

Please check out all our photos of the event which will be uploaded onto our website over the next week here: www.supjunkie.co.uk 

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