Top SUP Stories of 2021

SAN DIEGO, California - As we saw in 2020, 2021 was a year that was unpredictable and in limbo for the standup paddling world. While we did see some of our favorite events come back to life much stayed the same in terms of limitations due to the global pandemic. Despite its challenges, 2021 still had a lot to cover. So before we head into the new year, we're taking a look at a few of the biggest SUP stories from 2021.

1. Casper Steinfath Becomes First to Cross the Kattegat Sea by Hydrofoil

After months of training and patiently waiting for the perfect conditions to arise, Casper Steinfath set off to cross the Kattegat Sea on his Jet HA 1400, 85 cm mast, and 95 L Hover board, with only a paddle in hand. The six-time SUP World Champion has many accomplishments under his belt already and constantly seeks his next challenge. This year, Casper decided he would embark on his #VikingCrossing 3.0, which would take him from Denmark to Sweden — a remarkable 128 kilometers across the rough Kattegat Sea.

Read more on this story HERE.

Casper Steinfath on his historic crossing. | Photo: Jakob Gjerluff Ager

2. Molokai 2 Oahu Cancelled Again for 2021

For the second year, the Molokai 2 Oahu (M2O) race has had to cancel their event due to the global pandemic. See the statement below from event organizers:

We had hoped that the July race date would be unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic allowing all of you to train and travel safely in the lead up to the event, but we sadly, need to announce the cancellation of the 24th Annual Moloka'i 2 O'ahu Paddleboard World Championships. The M2O team has shifted gears and is currently exploring a shorter downwind 2021 race option on the July 25th weekend for island residents and those athletes who can still make a viable trip to Oahu under the current restrictions.

Read more on this story HERE.

Sonni Honscheid at the 2017 M2O. | Photo courtesy: M2O

3. Paddle Boarder Has Close Encounter With Florida Gator

Silver Springs State Park is a wonderful place in Florida to stand up paddle. The clear turquoise-blue waters of the river mixed with the scenery and animal life make for a great time. Recently however, a woman documented her somewhat aggressive encounter with a large alligator that was not happy with her presence there. The woman, identified as Vicki Reamy Baker through her post on Facebook after the encounter, can be seen through a video courtesy of Fox 35 pushing the gator with her paddle as it gets too close and later claims it tried to bite her paddle board. The encounter has drummed up quite the controversy with some claiming that Baker was in fact the aggressor in the situation.

Read more on this story HERE.

Alligator basking in the sun on a log on the Silver River in Silver Springs State Park in Florida. | Photo: Shutterstock

4. Wylde, Puyo, Prokhorova & Garioud Win ICF World Titles

Fiona Wylde, Noic Garioud, Titouan Puyo and Elena Prokhorova all made history as they earned themselves 2021 ICF World Titles in SUP Racing. Wylde and Garioud won not one but two titles at the event. Wylde with a Gold Medal in both the Distance and Technical races and Garioud, in the Technical and Sprint races.

Puyo won his Gold medal in the Distance Race and Prokhorova won hers in the Sprints. Prokhorova also made history by ending a 20-year world championship drought with her win at the International Canoe Federation’s stand up paddling titles in Hungary.

Read more on this story HERE.

Fiona Wylde, 2021 ICF World Champion. | Photo courtesy: International Canoe Federation

5. Chris Bertish Begins Solo Wing Transpacific Crossing

Chris Bertish, internationally acclaimed speaker, author, big-wave surfer, Guinness SUP World Record holder and Conservationist, has embarked on the Transpacific Wing Project, a solo and unassisted 2,750-mile journey by wing foil across the Pacific Ocean from Half Moon Bay, California to Oahu, Hawaii. Unfortunately though, 5 days into his trip Bertish had to halt the crossing due to gear issues.

Read more on this story HERE.

Chris Bertish leaving San Francisco, California. | Photo: Quin O’Hara

6. APP Cancels 2021 Tour

After several months of working tirelessly with local partners, stakeholders and global sponsors to deliver a legitimate World Tour in 2021, we are disappointed to announce that it has been deemed necessary to postpone the APP World Tour's return to competition until February 2022 to protect the legitimacy of the Tour and deliver the best possible product for both Athletes and Partners.

Read more on this story HERE.

Photo courtesy: APP World Tour

7. 2021 Supconnect Awards Winners Announced

After more than six weeks of deliberations and intense evaluations we are pleased to announce the winners of the 12th Annual Supconnect Awards. After nominating 30 or so men, women, groms and blogs per category, and an abundance of brands and shops in the stand up paddle industry we've finally narrowed down the extremely talented pool of nominees to the final chosen winners.

Read more on this story HERE.

8. Zilg and Ching Win 2021 Carolina Cup in Grueling Conditions

Danny Ching and April Zilg sweep the field in the Graveyard Race, as taking an alternative line to the rest of the pack proves triumphant for team USA. Then, for the APP Ocean Sprints, Connor Baxter and April Zilg were crowned Champions after stepping up to the challenge in unprecedented conditions at Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.

Read more on this story HERE.

Danny Ching (left) and April Zilg (right). 2021 Carolina Cup Graveyard Race winners. | Photo courtesy; Carolina Cup

Well there it is - a few of the biggest stories of 2021. Which stories of 2021 were most memorable for you? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

© Supconnect.com Copyrighted Exclusive Content