The Third Annual ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship will take place May 3 to May 11, 2014 on Lake Nicaragua in Granada for the SUP and Paddleboard Racing, and on the waves of La Boquita for SUP Surfing.
In this third edition of the ISA World Championship, the best men and women from around the world will gather in Nicaragua to determine the individual Gold Medalists in SUP Racing, Paddleboarding, SUP Surfing, and the coveted Club Waikiki-Peru World Team Champion Trophy.
The 10 things you need to know about the 2014 ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship are:
1. The Event
The ISA World StandUp Paddle and Paddleboard Championship (WSUPPC) will gather the world’s best SUP Racers, SUP Surfers, and Paddleboarders to compete in a National Teams competition.
It is an “Olympic Style” event – teams compete for medals and the honor of representing their countries. The excellence of competition reaches its highest level as each participant defends his or her flag.
2. The Venue
For the first time in an ISA WSUPPC event, the competition is taking place in two different locations. SUP Surfing will take place in the ocean at La Boquita on the Pacific coast of Central Nicaragua, while the SUP and Paddleboard flatwater Racing portion will be held on the northwest area of Lake Nicaragua in Granada, which is the oldest colonial city of the country.
Lake Nicaragua is the largest lake in Central America and the 19th largest in the world.
3. The Competition
The ISA WSUPPC is an annual competition that will visits Nicaragua for the first time, and will feature defending Gold Medalists and up-and-coming athletes from around the world.
4. The History
The ISA is Surfing’s World Governing Authority as recognized by the International Olympic Committee since 1995. The ISA first held the World SUP and Paddleboard Championship in January 2012 idue to the increasing popularity and growing talent level participating in these disciplines on a global level.
During last year’s ISA WSUPPC that took place in Lima, Peru, the Australian National SUP and Paddlebord Team earned 9 out of the 12 possible Gold Medals, awarding them the overall World Team Championship and the Club Waikiki-Peru Team Trophy for the second consecutive year.
5. The Mission
With the goal of developing all wave riding sports around the world, the ISA has returned to Nicaragua for the third year in a row for the World SUP and Paddleboard Championship, produced by Liv Nicaragua.
This country hosted the ISA World Masters Surfing Championship in 2012 at Playa Colorado and the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship in 2013, which took place at Playa Jiquiliste.
6. The Numbers
Over 200 SUPers and Paddleboarders from 30 countries will compete in the event. It will feature the following divisions with the maximum number of competitors per country in parenthesis:
SUP Surfing: Men (2), and Woman (1)
SUP Racing Technical: Men (2), and Woman (1)
SUP Racing Distance: Men (2), and Woman (1)
Paddleboard Racing Technical and Distance: Men (2), and Woman (1)
Paddle Team Relay (4 athletes per team)
SUP Racing Man (1) and Woman (1)
Paddleboard Man (1) and Woman (1)
7. The Schedule
The ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship Opening Ceremony will officially take place on May 3rd, 2014 at Granada, Nicaragua, with the Parade of the Nations and the Sands of the World Ceremony.
During the Sands of the World Ceremony, the participating countries will carry sand from their local beach and pour it into a glass container on stage symbolizing the peaceful gathering of nations through the love of surfing.
Full Schedule Below:
Day | Location | Schedule |
Wednesday, April 30th | Granada | 9:00am – 5:00pm On-Site Check-In |
Thursday, May 1st | Granada | 9:00am – 5:00pm On-Site Check-In |
Friday, May 2nd | Granada | 9:00am – 3:00pm On-Site Check-In
10:00am Official Press Conference 7:00pm Managers Meeting |
Saturday, May 3rd | Granada | Opening Ceremony |
Sunday, May 4th | La Boquita | 8:00am to 5:20pm SUP Surfing Competition – Men and Women |
Monday, May 5th | La Boquita | 8:00am to 4:10pm SUP Surfing Competition – Men and Women |
Tuesday, May 6th | La Boquita | 8:00am to 4:00pm: SUP Surfing Competition – Men and Women |
Wednesday, May 7th | Granada | Travel from La Boquita to Granada
7:00pm-Managers Meeting (Racing) in Granada |
Thursday, May 8th | Granada | Heat 1 Semifinal Tech Race Prone Women
Heat 1 Semifinal Tech Race Prone Men Heat 2 Semifinal Tech Race Prone Women Heat 2 Semifinal Tech Race Prone Men Heat 1 Semifinal Tech Race SUP Women Heat 1 Semifinal Tech Race SUP Men Heat 1 Semifinal Tech Race SUP Women Heat 2 Semifinal Tech Race SUP Men Heat 1 Round 1 Relay Heat 2 Round 1 Relay Heat 3 Round 1 Relay |
Friday, May 9th | Granada | Lay Day
5:00pm- Managers Meeting (Racing) in Granada |
Saturday, May 10th | Granada | Distance Race- SUP and Prone Paddleboard, Men and Women |
Sunday, May 11th | Granada | Final Paddleboard Technical Race Women
Final Paddleboard Technical Race Men Final SUP Technical Race Women Final SUP Technical Race Men Final Relay Closing Ceremony |
Please note: the schedule below is subject to change at the ISA’s discretion depending on the conditions
at the event site. |
Please note: the schedule below is subject to change at the ISA’s discretion depending on the conditions at the event site.
8. The Expectation
Traditional SUP and Paddleboarding powerhouses like Australia, France, and Brazil have confirmed their participation in the event.
In addition, new countries will have a presence in the Championship including Latvia.
9. The Support
This event wouldn’t be possible without the support of the President’s Office, the Nicaraguan Tourism Institute (INTUR), the Nicaraguan Olympic Committee, the Mayor of Granada, and the Mayor of Diriamba. The hosts have been working very hard in preparing a warm welcome for all the delegations to the beautiful and culturally rich region of Granada and La Boquita, Nicaragua.
10. Past Champions
2013 ISA WSUPPC Gold Medalists:
Overall Team Champion – Australia
Men’s SUP Surfing – Sean Poynter (USA), Gold Medal and Hector Velarde E. Men’s SUP Surfing Perpetual Trophy
Women’s SUP Surfing – Nicole Pacelli (BRA), Gold Medal and Hector Velarde E. Women’s SUP Surfing Perpetual Trophy
Men’s SUP Technical Race – Casper Steinfath (DEN), Gold Medal
Women’s SUP Technical Race – Angela Jackson (AUS), Gold Medal
Team Relay – Australia
Men’s Paddleboard Technical Race – Lincoln Dews (AUS), Gold Medal
Women’s Paddleboard Technical Race – Jordan Mercer (AUS), Gold Medal
Men’s SUP Long Distance Race – Jamie Mitchell (AUS), Gold Medal
Women’s SUP Long Distance Race – Angela Jackson (AUS), Gold Medal
Men’s Paddleboard Distance Race – Brad Gaul (AUS), Gold Medal
Women’s Paddleboard Distance Race – Jordan Merce (AUS), Gold Medal
2012 ISA WSUPPC Gold Medalists:
Overall Team Champion – Australia
Men’s SUP Surfing – Antoine Delpero (FRA), Gold Medal and Hector Velarde E. Men’s SUP Surfing Perpetual Trophy
Women’s SUP Surfing – Emmy Merrill (USA), Gold Medal and Hector Velarde E. Women’s SUP Surfing Perpetual Trophy
Men’s SUP Technical Race – Travis Grant (AUS), Gold Medal
Women’s SUP Technical Race – Brandi Baksic (USA), Gold Medal
Team Relay – Australia
Men’s Paddleboard Technical Race – Brad Gaul (AUS), Gold Medal
Women’s Paddleboard Technical Race – Jordan Mercer (AUS), Gold Medal
Men’s SUP Long Distance Race – Jamie Mitchell (AUS), Gold Medal
Women’s SUP Long Distance Race – Brandi Baksic (AUS), Gold Medal
Men’s Paddleboard Distance Race – Brad Gaul (AUS), Gold Medal
Women’s Paddleboard Distance Race – Jordan Merce (AUS), Gold Medal