SUPAA Lashes Out Over Non-Payment For Athletes

SAN DIEGO, California - Yesterday the Stand Up Paddle Athletes Association released an article titled, 'The ugly Truth About Prize Money,' addressing the issue of payment (or lack thereof) of competitive racers. More specifically, it was a targeted discussion over "non-payment, late payment and reduced payment of prize money at SUP events."

More than simply being a rant, the piece is intended to highlight and resolve hard feelings between athletes, event organizers and sponsors. Now in its first year of operation, the SUPAA has been established to specifically target issues like this, so that the sport can grow and ultimately flourish. "The issue has been looming large for many years and it is time that something is done to make it better. While most of us may never win prize money at stand up paddle events, payment problems can become a black eye for the sport we love." 

"SUPAA is trying to affect positive change in many areas of the sport. Ethical payment of athletes is an important part of continuing to build a healthy and sustainable sport… We all paddle because we love paddling, not because we want to get rich. We race for the competition, camaraderie, to push our limits and many other reasons. Beginner and sponsored athletes train hard to perform at their best and sometimes travel around the world to compete. However, for race organizers and sponsors to condone non-payment and underpayment should not be accepted in stand up paddling."

While there is definitely another side to this argument (as there is with ANY argument - and we welcome race organizers to weigh in), but we can also see how badly handled financial issues can hurt athletes and deter future athletes from wanting any part of a profession that doesn't make sense.

We'd love for you to read the article and hear wow you think this issue can be resolved, so that stand up paddle can continue to grow for athletes and race organizers?