More than 200 athletes from 22 countries took part in an edition marked by extreme weather conditions, a high competitive level and strong organisational performance
Santa Pola, Alicante, Spain. The European SUP League opened its 2026 circuit in Santa Pola with the World SUP Festival, an event that once again confirmed its status as one of the leading international Stand Up Paddle competitions.
The event brought together more than 200 athletes from 22 countries, including some of the top riders on the international scene. Despite challenging weather conditions, the competition was successfully delivered thanks to the work of the organising team, the safety operations in place and close coordination with institutions and partner organisations.
From the first days of setup, the festival faced a complex scenario. Wind conditions intensified midweek and reached their most critical point on Thursday, with gusts close to 40 knots, significantly complicating logistics and delaying part of the setup. Nevertheless, the organisation managed to keep the event running as planned while maintaining the quality standards expected of the circuit.
Demanding competition and international spectacle
Friday’s programme was marked by a particularly demanding sprint race, shaped by strong winds that created a dynamic and exciting spectacle for both athletes and spectators.
After the sprint competition, the Downwind Foil race was held over a 10-kilometre course, with 12 riders taking part. Conditions of around 25 knots of wind and waves of up to 1.5 metres provided an ideal setting for this discipline, adding intensity, technical difficulty and innovation to the sporting programme.
On Saturday, after an unstable start to the day, the 5.5-kilometre middle-distance race was held, open to Open and U16 categories, as well as disciplines such as SUP Foil and prone.
Later in the day came one of the most eagerly awaited moments of the festival: the flagship 15-kilometre long-distance race around Tabarca Island. With moderate winds of between 8 and 10 knots and a ground swell, the race took place in a spectacular setting, further enhancing the international appeal of this course.
The demanding conditions required several safety procedures to be activated. The GPS tracking system enabled real-time incident detection through SOS alerts, allowing immediate intervention by rescue teams in coordination with the Red Cross and support boats.
On Sunday, the event concluded with the technical race. The day began in relatively stable conditions, but easterly winds gradually increased to 12–13 knots, creating a highly technical racecourse. The result was an intense and dynamic competition, with numerous changes of position, falls and a high level of sporting demand.
Santa Pola: sport, culture and community engagement
The World SUP Festival stood out not only for its sporting programme, but also for its social and cultural dimension. Throughout the weekend, children’s races, free yoga sessions, introductory SUP activities and inclusive SUP experiences were held, reinforcing the event’s commitment to grassroots sport and participation for all audiences.
The Feria Marinera, organised by the Santa Pola Traders’ Association, added further value to the festival with exhibitors, activities, concerts and a vibrant cultural atmosphere, becoming a meeting point between sport, maritime tradition and the local community.
The awards ceremony, initially postponed due to rain, finally took place on Saturday alongside the Parade of Nations, in which athletes from more than 22 countries paraded together with children carrying their national flags.
A sporting, business and institutional platform
During Saturday’s programme, international networking activities were also held, promoted by sponsors such as Convotis Iberia. A group of guests and clients had the opportunity to follow the long-distance race from a boat, enjoying a privileged perspective of the competition, before continuing the experience in the VIP area with networking and relationship-building activities.
The Fundación del Deporte Ilicitano also played an active role by promoting a business breakfast that brought together representatives from the business and sports sectors, strengthening the links between sport, enterprise and institutions.
These initiatives consolidate the World SUP Festival as a platform that goes beyond competition, generating opportunities for professional connection, territorial promotion and international visibility.
Commitment to sustainability
The event once again integrated actions aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, including the use of medals made from recycled materials such as wood and metal, T-shirts made with recyclable materials and electric boats to help reduce emissions.
The use of single-use plastics was also eliminated through the installation of filtered water stations in collaboration with Manantial, encouraging responsible consumption among participants and attendees.
Support for local commerce, inclusive activities and the promotion of grassroots sport further strengthened the festival’s social impact.
Key podium results
In the sprint race, the elite winners were Bianca Toncelli in the women’s category and Sergio Cantoral in the men’s category.
In the long-distance race, elite victories went to Espe Barreras and Shuri Araki.
In the technical race, the elite winners were Alba Alonso and Shuri Araki.
The event also featured broad participation across junior, master and kahuna categories, reaffirming its inclusive, competitive and multigenerational character.
Organisation and partners
The World SUP Festival is organised by Club Deportivo Parres, in collaboration with the Santa Pola Town Council, the Alicante Provincial Council and the Generalitat Valenciana.
The event is supported by sporting bodies including the Spanish Surfing Federation, the European SUP League and the International Surfing Association.
Main sponsors include Convotis Iberia, NSP and Omoda & Jaecoo Alimotor, alongside other collaborating brands.
With this edition, the World SUP Festival reaffirms its position as one of the leading events on the international calendar and consolidates Santa Pola as a key venue for European and world Stand Up Paddle.