Santa Pola (Alicante, Spain) hosted the opening event of the 2026 European SUP League, with a new edition of the World SUP Festival, once again bringing together some of the best international Stand Up Paddle athletes.

More than 200 riders from 22 countries took part in an edition marked by challenging weather conditions, which added an extra level of difficulty to every race and tested the athletes’ ability to adapt throughout the weekend.

Competition began on Friday with an intense Sprint Race, held in strong winds that forced riders to rely on their technique and explosiveness from the opening heats. In the elite division, Bianca Toncelli claimed victory in the women’s category, while Sergio Cantoral took the win in the men’s event.

Saturday featured one of the most iconic races on the calendar: the Long Distance around Tabarca Island. Over a demanding 15-kilometre course, athletes faced a spectacular route where strategy and endurance proved decisive. In the elite categories, Espe Barreras secured the women’s win, while Shuri Araki triumphed in the men’s race.

The event concluded on Sunday with the always spectacular Technical Race, on a course heavily influenced by increasing wind throughout the day. The changing conditions created constant position changes and a physically demanding contest for all competitors. In the final discipline, Alba Alonso took victory in the women’s category, while Shuri Araki once again stood on top of the podium in the men’s event.

Beyond the elite divisions, the championship also saw strong participation across the junior, master and kahuna categories, once again highlighting the international and multi-generational character of the European circuit.

With this opening event of the calendar, the European SUP League begins a new season that once again reflects the growth of European Stand Up Paddle and the high competitive standard that will define the 2026 tour.