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Stand Up Paddling

Stand Up Paddling

Stand Up Padlling, also known as SUP, is a sport which the Hawaiian kings practised centuries ago. It has increased in popularity over the last years and has found its ideal destination in the world of canoeing.

People of all ages can enjoy it, standing up on a board with a paddle with unbeatable views of the rivers and the nature.

Advanced paddlers and experts of this more and more popular sport find endless places to measure themselves against the wild forces of the sea, the rivers and other competitors.

Typical race formats are long distance events, in which distances stretch between 8 and 12 kilometres, as well as sprint events organised on a short course marked with buoy where 4 to 6 athletes are fighting head to head.

Children and amateur races are usually included in these events. And you can find plenty of other competition formats even for experts in wildwater.

Most common boards are 14" hardboards for elite paddlers and 12'6" hardboards and inflatable boards for younger and amateur classes.

DOCUMENTS can be found here.

ECA Competitions

2026 ECA Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe ...
June 10. - 14. 2026, Montemor-o-Velho
2026 ECA Canoe Freestyle European ...
June 10. - 13. 2026, Lieksa, FIN
2026 ECA Canoe Marathon European ...
June 22. - 28. 2026, Pitesti, ROU
2026 ECA Junior and U23 Canoe ...
July 23. - 26. 2026, Szeged, HUN
2026 ECA Junior and U23 Canoe ...
August 6. - 9. 2026, Epinal, FRA
All competitions

NEWS

New EOC Athletes’ Commission: stronger representation with a major role for paddle sports
New EOC Athletes’ Commission: stronger representation with a major role for paddle sports
The second day of the 8th European Athletes Forum, held in London, marked an important milestone for the continental sports movement with the election of the new European Olympic Committees (EOC) Athletes’ Commission. Paddle sports including canoe and kayak will hold a particularly visible role within this new mandate. Read more
ECA Board Meets in Slovenia for a Two-Day Strategic Working Session
ECA Board Meets in Slovenia for a Two-Day Strategic Working Session
The European Canoe Association (ECA) held its Board Meeting last weekend in Slovenia, hosted with the support of the Slovenian Canoe Federation and the Slovenian Olympic Committee. Board members gathered for two productive days focused on key organisational topics and the long-term strategic direction of canoeing in Europe. Read more
ECA opens up to recreational sports, “Paddle sports for all” as a new guiding principle
ECA opens up to recreational sports, “Paddle sports for all” as a new guiding principle
The European Canoe Association (ECA), the umbrella organization for European canoe associations, was founded in Rome in 1993 and today brings together more than 40 national organizations. Its goal is to promote canoeing in all its facets. In recent decades, however, the focus has mostly been on competitive sports on European championships, cups, and youth programs. Read more