10 Things to Know About the 2023 ISA World SUP Championship

SAN DIEGO, California – The 2023 ISA World StandUp Paddle and Paddleboard Championship (WSUPPC) is set to gather the world’s best SUP and Paddleboard athletes in Les Sables d’Olonne, France from September 24 – October 1. Ahead of the event, here are 10 things to know about what you can expect at this year's event.

La Grande Plage. | Photo: Shutterstock 

1. The venue

All eyes will be on the spectacular coast of France, with SUP Surfing set to be hosted at the stunning Plage du Tanchet, and the SUP Racing and Paddleboard divisions held at Les Sables d’Olonne’s La Grande Plage, widely renowned as one of Europe’s most beautiful beaches.

2. ISA SUP Instagram

For the latest event content and live updates follow the ISA on their new SUP account @isasupok

3. Will France go for the third title in a row?

After years of dominance from Australia and the United States, France has won the Team Gold Medal for the previous two ISA WSUPPC’s back-to-back. With a team that includes four former gold medalists, could this be the host nation’s chance to make it three-in-a-row on home soil?

2022 Surfing Champ, Luiz Diniz. | Photo: ISA / Pablo Franco

4. Returning Champions

The competition promises to be intense, with multiple gold medalists returning, including Justine Dupont (FRA), Titouan Puyo (FRA), Julen Marticorena (FRA), Claudio Nika (ITA), Michael Booth (AUS), Christian Andersen (DEN), Esperanza Barreras (ESP), and Tarryn King (RSA), along with defending 2022 World Champions Lucia Cosoleto (ARG), Shuri Araki (JPN), Judit Verges (ESP), Duna Gordillo (ESP), Yurika Horibe (JPN), Vaic Garioud (FRA), and Cecilia Pampinella (ITA). 

5. The Disciplines

The World Championship features eight medal-awarding disciplines, including:

• Men’s and Women’s SUP Technical Race
• Boy’s and Girl’s Under-18 SUP Technical Race
• Men’s and Women’s Paddleboard Technical Race
• Men’s and Women’s SUP Distance Race
• Men’s and Women’s Paddleboard Distance Race
• Men’s and Women’s SUP Sprint Race
• Team Relay Race
• Men’s and Women’s SUP Surfing

Shuri Araki, 2022 champion. | Photo: ISA / Sean Evans

6. The Races

The World Championship will feature four separate race courses for the Technical Race, Distance Race, Sprint Race and Team Relay Race. The courses are designed to challenge the world-class athletes with various conditions while displaying the beauty of the coast of France.

7. The ISA’s global leadership of SUP and the Olympic Games

The ISA has been committed to the global leadership, development and promotion of SUP for over a decade, including having organized the World Championship for SUP and Paddleboard since 2012. Through development programs, scholarships for young SUP athletes, and promoting Championships at the national level, SUP has experienced explosive growth under the ISA’s leadership and governance.

The ISA has presented SUP Technical Racing to the IOC and LA28 Organizing Committee for inclusion in the 2028 Olympic Sports Program. Achievements such as inclusion of SUP in the 2019 Pan Am Games in Lima and the upcoming 2023 Pan American Games, under the ISA’s leadership, add momentum to the ISA’s push for inclusion in LA28 and beyond. In a landmark decision in August 2020, the Court of Arbitration confirmed the ISA’s authority and governance of SUP at an Olympic Level.

2022 Opening Ceremony. | Photo: ISA / Pablo Franco

8. Where to Watch

The live webcast will be streamed on www.isasurf.org from September 24 - October 1. Visit isasurf.org for results, team rosters, photos, videos, and the latest news pertaining to the competition. 

9. The Schedule

• September 23 – Press Conference, 10:00am (La Grande Plage Hospitality Area)
• September 24 – Opening Ceremony, 5:00pm (La Grande Plage)
• September 25-27 – SUP Surfing (Plage du Tanchet)
• September 28-29 – Technical Racing (La Grande Plage)
• September 30 – Long Distance Racing (La Grande Plage)
• October 1 – Sprint Races, Relay Races, Closing Ceremony (La Grande Plage)

10. The ISA and France

The ISA is excited to host this championship in such an incredible location that is steeped in surfing and SUP culture. As the home of the reigning Team World Champions, the choice to host this event in Les Sables d’Olonne reinforces France’s reputation as a powerhouse surfing nation that celebrates the sport’s SUP and surfing heritage.

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