APP & WPA Form SUP’s First Qualifying Series

ERICEIRA, Portugal - The Association of Paddlesurf Professionals (APP) and the World Paddle Association (WPA) announce their newly formed partnership to unify the sport of stand-up paddling. APP and the WPA bring a combined 19 years of event management in the sport along with decades of water sports experience and knowledge to combine efforts for the best growth of the sport.

The APP World Tour events will continue to feature high profile races across the globe that ultimately crown the sports Professional World Champions for both Men and Women, Surfing and Racing, while the WPA will continue to support the Open and Juniors to crown the “Champion Paddlers of the Year” at the Pacific Paddle Games on October 12 & 13, 2019.

The APP and WPA are proud to introduce the APP Qualifier Series supported by the WPA, that in the US, features WPA National races where competitors will earn valuable points towards qualification for the APP World Tour and ultimately, points toward crowning a world champion. The WPA will manage the Qualifier Series points as competitors can earn the most points being offered by the Series’ at Prime and marquee events that are as follows:

• Carolina Cup (April 27th)
• Salt Life Columbus Cup (May 4th)
• Olukai Ho’olaulea (June 9th)
• SIC Columbia Gorge Paddle Challenge (Aug 17th)
• Battle of the Bay (Oct 6th)

Photo Courtesy: APP World Tour

Outside of North America, the Qualifier Series will also feature global events in Asia, Europe and Central & South. America, with more details to follow shortly.

“The APP is proud to combine efforts with the WPA at a regional level, to provide further structure and a unique pathway for athletes to work their way towards a career in the ever-growing sport of Stand Up Paddling. Through this partnership and the APP’s sanctioning by the ISA, we can provide a unified front for the sport, that stems from grass roots participation, to World Tour competition, not to mention the potential future prospect of Olympic integration”, adds Tristan Boxford, CEO of the APP World Tour.

“The WPA is excited to combine efforts with the APP World Tour and to provide one unified platform for the sport”, states Byron Kurt, President/Co-founder of the WPA. “With the experience that both associations bring to the sport, this will create more opportunity for competitors, the events in 2019 and the future”, continues Kurt.

The APP and WPA will work together to grow the sport at every level. This will include increased marketing for events, sponsors and competitors to give us the best opportunity to expand event coverage, grow our audience and increase participation. More details will be announced in the next weeks with the APP World Tour Qualifier Series supported by the WPA, its points structure and the Open/Juniors “Champion Paddler of the Year”.

Stay tuned for more on the APP Qualifier Series supported by the WPA at www.appworldtour.com and www.worldpaddleassociation.com

About the APP World Tour and the WPA

About the World Paddle Association

Since 2009, the WPA’s mission is to provide a comprehensive voice, fair and equal access and organizational structure to paddle sports and Stand Up Paddling (SUP) and its participants in a manner that benefits the collective paddling community. More information on the WPA can be found at www.worldpaddleassociation.com

About the APP World Tour & Waterman League International

The APP World Tour is the Professional World Championship Tour for the Sport of Paddlesurfing (also known as SUP / Stand Up Paddling / Paddleboarding), officially sanctioned by the IOC recognized Federation for Surfing Sports, the ISA (International Surfing Association). Re-branded in 2017 as the APP World Tour (previously known as the Stand Up World Tour and Series) the APP has been crowning the sport’s World Champions for both Men & Women across Racing and Surfing since 2010.