One-third of the registrants are international participants

The qualifying rounds for the 2024 ETB event in Tenerife will begin on Friday, September 27.

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Spain won its first-ever ISA Team Gold Medal on an exciting final day of the 2024 ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship (WSUPPC). A full day of SUP Sprint Races on the steps of Copenhagen’s iconic Royal Library saw Alba Frey(ESP) and David Leão (BRA) crowned as brand new World Champions.

Frey’s win came in the final race of the event and put a bow on her team’s decisive victory. After taking the Team Silver Medal for the past three consecutive events, the Spanish team were ecstatic; most jumped into the water in their clothes to celebrate Frey’s win and the team’s victory. A Silver Medal finish in the men’s race for Manuel Hoyuela (ESP) brought the team’s overall count to 13 individual medals, along with their Silver Medal in the Team Relay Race.

The women’s SUP Sprint Race Final was extremely tight and packed with talent. Featuring three of the four medalists from 2023, Frey was the sole finalist not to hold a medal from the previous event. Defending World Champion Mélanie Lafenetre (FRA) and two-time SUP Sprint medalists Mariecarmen Rivera(PUR) and Cecilia Pampinella (ITA) brought strong competition to a fast Final, but Frey had the confidence that if she was the first to the buoy that she would win, and that was exactly how it played out. Pampinella pushed hard to win her first Silver Medal in the race, while Rivera collected her second Bronze and Lafenetre took Copper.

“This is a dream come true,” Frey said. “I've been working so hard the last year, and when I knew I was going to do sprints in ISA I trained hard and sacrificed a lot of time. I'm so happy because I knew that was going to happen. It's incredible being part of this team, we've been working so hard the last two years, winning the Silver Medal, and we were fighting to get the Gold Medal. We are like a family, and we are all friends, and we're working towards the same goal. We're so happy to be part of this, it's a dream.”

Similar to the women’s Final, three of the four men’s medalists had previously shared a Final, theirs in 2022. Denmark’s own Christian ‘Polar Bear’ Andersenwas one of those three, along with defending champion Noic Garioud (FRA) and David Leão (BRA), with Manuel Hoyuela (ESP) the sole new finalist. Andersen managed a strong win over 2019 World Champion Claudio Nika (ITA) in the Quarterfinals but ended up matching his 2022 Copper Medal. Garioud fought hard but was outpaced by Leão and Hoyuela, who both started well and had clean buoy turns. Leão kept the lead throughout and finished strong. Putting all of his focus into the single race paid off for the 23-year-old, who was extremely excited to win his first World Title.

“This moment is really special,” Leão said. “We work a lot, so many years. My first World Championship was here in Denmark. It was my first international trip when I was young. So, to come back here seven years later and be a World Champion. For sure, it's the confirmation and the process to make it happen. Everything, you know, just keep it, motivation, just keep it, work hard in our dreams. And when is the day, it's the day.”

Heading into the day, Japan had the opportunity to take the lead from Spain, and all was looking good as Rai Taguchi (JPN) and Rika Okuaki (JPN) advanced into the SUP Sprint Race Semifinals with strong performances. Unfortunately, both narrowly missed out on making the Final, but the team has improved every year since their first WSUPPC team medal in 2022, winning Copper that year, Bronze in 2023 and now the Silver Medal in 2024. 

After winning the Gold Medal for three consecutive years, France earned the Team Bronze Medal, while Pampinella’s Silver Medal delivered Italy the Copper, just 18 points ahead of England.

Speaking by video, ISA President Fernando Aguerre said:

“I’m so excited that we had such an amazing competition all these days. Incredible racing, amazing hosts. I hope that all of you had an amazing time refreshing old friendships, making new friends, and are ready to go home as ambassadors of that beautiful country of Denmark and Copenhagen. 

“Congratulations to all the medalists. If you're not going home with medals, still big congratulations. You're a hero in your country. You represented your flags, your national colors. You should be proud of it for the rest of your life.”

RESULTS

Team

Gold – Spain

Silver – Japan

Bronze – France

Copper – Italy

Women’s SUP Sprint Race

Gold – Alba Frey (ESP)

Silver – Cecilia Pampinella (ITA)

Bronze – Melanie Lafenetre (FRA)

Copper – Mariecarmen Rivera (PUR)

Men’s SUP Sprint Race

Gold – David Leão (BRA)

Silver – Manuel Hoyuela (ESP)

Bronze – Noic Garioud (FRA)

Copper – Christian Andersen (DEN)

41 national teams join Parade of Nations, including eight first-time countries

Competition to begin tomorrow with SUP Technical Racing

Today, competition was officially declared open for the 2024 ISA World SUP & Paddleboard Championship (WSUPPC). The streets of Copenhagen rang out with cheers and chants from around the world during an energetic Opening Ceremony that took in many sights of the city.

Over 180 athletes, representing 41 national teams, marched along Copenhagen’s stunning harbor and picturesque canals for the Parade of Nations, flying their flags high as they proudly represented their countries. The flags of eight teams, from three continents, featured for the very first time in a WSUPPC parade; Latvia, Lebanon, Norway, Scotland, Senegal, Slovakia, South Korea and Thailand.

Upon arrival at the Royal Public Library, the ISA’s traditional Sands of the World Ceremony started. A flag-bearer and sand-pourer from each national team poured sand from their local beach into a single container as a symbol of the peaceful gathering of the nations through surfing.

In a cultural display unique to the sport, ‘The SUP Drummers’ roused the crowd by creating music entirely based on using SUP boards as instruments.

The athletes gathered were represented on stage by 2023 SUP Sprint Race Gold Medalist Noic Garouid (FRA), who swore an oath of good sportsmanship alongside ISA Race Official Andreia Silva. Also present on stage were Jens Kristian Lütken, Mayor of Employment and Integration of the City of Copenhagen, Jakob Færch, President of the Local Organizing Committee and ISA Executive Committee Member, and Robert Fasulo, ISA Executive Director.

Mayor Lütken said: “This championship actually captures the spirit of Copenhagen. It was a very strong move when the ISA chose Copenhagen as a destination for the world cup. Here in Copenhagen, we might not have the big waves of Hawaii, but we do have one of the cleanest harbors in the world, and some of the nicest people as well.”

Speaking by video, ISA President Fernando Aguerre said:

“Thanks to Jakob Færch, our friends at Sport Event Denmark, and of course everybody in Denmark for welcoming us once again to this beautiful country and beautiful city. I wish all of the competitors the best time. I know you’re going to remember this event for the rest of your life. 
Let’s continue to push SUP into the Olympic Games. I know it’s been frustrating. We asked for SUP to be included in the Tokyo Games, we were turned down. We asked for SUP, of course, to be included in the Paris Games, and in LA. We will continue to support and work with all of you to see SUP as a part of the Olympic Games, as it deserves to be. Enjoy the competition and have a good time.”

 👉 Live from Denmark ISA WORLD SUP GAMES 2024

The European Tour of BodyBoard (ETB) 2024 holds one of its events at El Socorro beach in September

The Canary Islands Surfing Federation organizes this event "in tandem" with the ETB Gran Canaria Pro

The sporting event scores points in three competitions, supported by the Los Realejos Town Hall, the Tenerife Island Council, and the Canary Islands Government

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The ETB Gran Canaria Pro celebrates its third edition from September 18 to 22 at the La Cícer wave in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, positioning itself as one of Europe’s top events.

The ETB GRAN CANARIA PRO 2024 returns to the Canary Islands, specifically to Playa de Las Canteras on the island of Gran Canaria, showcasing the full spectacle of an international bodyboarding competition at the highest level. This event has already become a key stop on the European Tour of Bodyboard calendar, organized by the European Surfing Federation, and is one of the most prestigious competitions on the tour.

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Huge congratulations to the new Olympic Surfing Champion of Paris 2024, Kauli Vaast who won the gold medal in an amazing final against Australian CT surfer Jack Robinson.
At the same time, another French athlete, Johanne Defay, secured the bronze medal after defeating Brissa Henessy.

Beyond these incredible performances by Johanne and Kauli, the European Surfing Federation extends its congratulations to all the European surfers who participated in #Paris2024 and who continue to elevate the level of surfing, Leo Fioravanti, Anat Leilor, Camilla Kemp, Nadia Erostarbe, Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri, Andy Criere, Tim Elter Vahine Fierro, Joan Duru, Yolanda Hopkins and Teresa Bonvalot.

Bravo to the hard work of the volunteers and European clubs and federation for making surfing accessible to a wider audience !

Pictures: @isasurfing