The Carolina Cup has consistently been a major paddle boarding event that attracts both elite and amateur athletes from around the globe. Attendance records are broken year after year and the event has become the place where standup paddlers come to test their grit and compete against the best in the World. 2017 is expected to be another record-breaking year and with the caliber of athletes in attendance there will be no shortage of excitement. Here are our predictions for how the event will unfold in 2017.

World-class competition with excellent weather and surf conditions ruled this weekend’s 2017 Hobie and Salt Life SUP Surf Pro-Am in Wrightsville Beach. After back-to-back qualifying heats and intense finals competition, Martin Letourneur from Saint-Malo, France, captured the coveted and overall performance trophy, the Haywood Newkirk, Sr. All Waterman Award.

After personally paddling, weighing, and thoroughly testing 70+ boards, our expert staff has selected the best stand up paddle board 2017 models. These are designated by the "A" grade and organized by categories (inflatable, all-around, touring, etc).

With just three events remaining and 498 points separating the top four, athletes in The Ultimate Waterman will spend the next day preparing for a big final weekend of competition in Southland, New Zealand.

Fiordland has turned on spectacular conditions on day four of The Ultimate Waterman, resulting in plenty of change in the overall standings after five of eight events.

Eight world-renowned international watermen were welcomed to Invercargill by Ngai Tahu tangata whenua today (Friday 31st March) marking the start of the 2017 Ultimate Waterman.

About the board: The Air Glide Flow from SIC Maui is an inflatable, all-around board, perfect for beginner paddlers and is at an affordable price point under $1,000. The board has a very clean look and takes a simplistic approach with graphics and colors. The packaging that the board comes in is stunning and has a very high-quality, premium feel to it. The board is lightweight thus making it easy to carry and has FCS II tool-less fin compatibility giving it a great value for its price. The high-quality packing and materials combined with the premium look and feel make the board merit the Supconnect “A” grade. Read more HERE.

Athletes will put preparation for the start of The Ultimate Waterman briefly on hold on Friday, March 31st, as they team up with Cystic Fibrosis New Zealand, the Mauli Ola Foundation from Hawaii, and the Southland Boardriders Club to offer a unique experience for children living with CF.

SIC Maui announces the release of their new recreational surf / cruisers in its Agent, Feelgood models. For the surfer looking for higher performance, this call has been answered in the Triton and Venus Surf Series boards. These sure to be classics are the latest additions to the SIC Maui paddleboard lineup.

About the board: SIC Maui’s award-winning Bullet is a multi-purpose, non-inflatable board great for intermediate and advanced paddlers. The graphics are simple yet stunning and give the board a premium look. Because the board is 27 lbs it’s borderline-difficult to carry however the EZ grab handle makes carrying much easier because you’re able to fully grip the handle. The board is great for downwinders, touring and even racing, making it very versatile and fun. Premium looks and feel combined with a variety of conditions that it works in warrants the Bullet Supconnect’s “A” grade. Read more HERE.

The sun is starting to shine, ice is melting and spring is starting to peek it’s head around the corner. With temperatures rising and waterways defrosting into lakes and rivers again, it’s time to start getting geared up and ready to get back on the water and out of the winter hibernation. Here, we’ve put together a list of SUP gear, accessories, and of course boards for everyone from a beginner to the advanced SUP'er for the 2017 Spring paddle boarding season, so there's sure to be something in this guide for everyone!

The eighth and final athlete has been confirmed for The Ultimate Waterman, which will take place in Southland, New Zealand from April 1-9.