Paris Replaces Brazil As The APP World Tour Final For 2019

Paris replaces Brazil as the APP World Tour Final for 2019, but remains as an important and integral part of the APP program. | Photo: Aloha Spirit Festival

ERICEIRA, Portugal - We have been very much looking forward to returning to Brazil for this widely anticipated stop of the 2019 season, and while it will not serve as the APP World Tour Finals as planned (due to logistical and sponsorship challenges), it will be a premier APP World Qualifying Series Race as we lead into an exciting new era for the APP in 2020.

With regional Cup Series to provide a more structured pathway to the World Championship Tour and to celebrate regional events at a global level (as has been started with the US Cup in 2019), the APP is excited to unveil its built-out global strategy over the coming months.

In South America, the Aloha Spirit Festival Series has been delivering World Class events for many years, as the APP looks to work hand in hand with Joao Castro to develop a well structured future for the sport in Brazil.

While the Aloha Spirit Festival will not be an official stop on the APP World Tour in 2019, it will be a premier APP Qualifier Series event that will provide vital ranking points, fierce competition and a great experience for paddlers from all over the world. The event will take place from the 22nd - 24th November, in Cabo Frio, RJ and more information can be found at alohaspirit.com.br

Photo courtesy: APP World Tour

As the world's single largest SUP race with 1,000 participants in 2019, the Nautic Paddle in Paris will celebrate its 10th anniversary this year with the return of the APP World Tour to Paris for its prestigious final stop of the season.

From the iconic and now legendary race down the River Seine, to the dramatic and revamped sprint racing that will take place in the world-renowned Salon Nautique, the APP World Tour's presence will not only bring a world-class sporting spectacle to Paris, but provide a unique opportunity for the sport's icons to engage with the sport's largest gathering of enthusiasts for a truly memorable weekend.

“The APP World Tour is proud to announce its return to Paris in 2019 in conjunction with the 10th edition of the Nautic Paddle. We are excited to bring the final racing showdown of the year to Paris, crowning the Sports World Champions for both Men and Women. It is a great honor and privilege for the sport’s champions to be able to immerse themselves into this bucket list experience alongside the 1000 participants that will take part in the Nautic Paddle in 2019. We are also excited to deliver an exceptional show in the pool in the unique amphitheater that the Salon Nautique provides” said Tristan Boxford, CEO of the APP World Tour.

The Pool in the Salon Nautique will be transform into a sports stadium, while the River Seine provides the most magical backdrop. | Photo: APP World Tour

Building on the success of the 2018 edition of the Paris SUP Open and celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Nautic Paddle, the World's Best will once again take to the magical River Seine in the early hours of Sunday morning, the 8th of December, with 1,000 passionate enthusiasts all gathering to partake in one of the most memorable courses in the World.

"Like last year, the 2019 Nautic Paddle is extremely proud to welcome the APP World Championship Tour Final to Paris. Bringing together professionals and amateurs is an incredible moment for the 1,000 participants who will take part in this unique crossing of Paris. This unique celebration of SUP allows the Nautic Paddle to add a professional sporting component to the already popular SUP get-together. Once again, we look forward to welcoming the champions of the APP World Tour," said Alain Pichavant, Director of the Salon Nautique (Nautic Festival).

Meanwhile, the pool in the Salon Nautique will be transformed for the 2019 edition into a dramatic stadium for the world's best, where the action packed, final sprint race elimination of the season will go down in front of a packed crowd in Paris on Saturday, December 7th. Full details of what to expect in the Pool this year will be announced soon at appworldtour.com and @appworldtour, but it will be a show not to be missed, so make sure to stay tuned.

Photo Courtesy: APP World Tour

About the APP World Tour and 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.