A race looks different when you know the names. Beyond the leader, you begin to notice last year’s runner-up closing the gap, positions changing at a buoy, and the final strokes towards the line. Before switching on the 2026 ICF SUP World Championships, get to know the key stories from Abu Dhabi 2025.
The 2025 ICF SUP World Championships took place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, from October 29 to November 2. Every result below is from 2025. The 2026 edition takes place in Sabaudia, Italy, on October 14–18: keep this retrospective separate from this year’s live results.
Start Here: The 2025 Open Podiums
Sprint puts acceleration in the spotlight, technical racing highlights direction changes, and long distance reveals pacing and tactics. Rivera swept the Open Women titles; the Open Men titles went to three different champions.
Check the division as well as the name. Open, Junior, 40+ and 50+ have separate podiums.
Open Men
Sprint
- Sergio Cantoral · Spain
- Vadim Korobov · Lithuania
- Andrii Kraitor · Bulgaria
Open Women
Sprint
- Mariecarmen Rivera · Puerto Rico
- Alba Alonso Frey · Spain
- Sey Chelle · USA
Open Men
Technical
- Aaron Sanchez Quetglas · Spain
- Shuri Araki · Japan
- Rai Taguchi · Japan
Open Women
Technical
- Mariecarmen Rivera · Puerto Rico
- Duna Gordillo · Spain
- Alba Alonso Frey · Spain
Open Men
Long Distance
- Shuri Araki · Japan
- Aaron Sanchez Quetglas · Spain
- Rai Taguchi · Japan
Open Women
Long Distance
- Mariecarmen Rivera · Puerto Rico
- Duna Gordillo · Spain
- Alba Alonso Frey · Spain
Rivera: Three Disciplines, One Champion
Mariecarmen Rivera of Puerto Rico won Open Women gold in sprint, technical and long distance. Her triple crown combined short-course speed, buoy-turn racing and an endurance contest lasting more than an hour.
Remember the challengers, too. Alba Alonso Frey took sprint silver and bronze in technical and long distance. Duna Gordillo took silver in technical and long distance. Following the gaps between these paddlers adds depth beyond watching the leader alone.
Viewing tip: watch who reaches the first buoy ahead, then notice when the leader opens a gap.
Sanchez vs Araki: Two Races, Reversed Roles
Aaron Sanchez Quetglas of Spain won the 2025 men’s technical final. He overtook Shuri Araki after the penultimate buoy and finished in 5:12.60. Araki took silver and Rai Taguchi bronze.
Their roles reversed in long distance the next day. Araki won in 55:45.95, Sanchez finished 3.26 seconds behind for silver, and Taguchi took bronze. Taguchi recovered from a fall near the final buoy to secure his medal: even a long race can remain unsettled at the last turn.
Viewing tip: buoy entry → acceleration out of the turn → the final overtake. Follow all three moments.
Cantoral: Gold by 0.07 Seconds
Sergio Cantoral of Spain won men’s sprint in 23.92 seconds. Vadim Korobov took silver in 23.99, just 0.07 seconds behind. Andrii Kraitor completed the podium.
For a short race, watch from the start rather than jumping to the result. Follow the first strokes, the board’s straight-line travel and whether speed holds to the finish. Camera angles can be misleading; confirm the final order in the official results.
Viewing tip: focus from the start signal. Do not miss the last stroke before the finish.
Korean Gold: Sujeong Lim’s 40+ Double
Sujeong Lim won women’s 40+ gold in technical and long distance in 2025. These are Masters results, distinct from Rivera’s Open Women triple crown—a reason to follow the age divisions as well as the Open races.
Japan’s Tatsuma Nishikawa won Junior Men gold in technical and long distance. Buoy turns and pacing remain worth watching across generations and divisions. Inclusion in this article does not confirm every athlete’s 2026 entry or qualification; check the actual heat lists.
Name + discipline + division: knowing all three makes the broadcast graphics easier to follow.
Sabaudia 2026: Take the Story into the Live Races
This year’s storylines include Rivera’s title defence, another Sanchez–Araki contest, and Cantoral’s bid for back-to-back sprint crowns. Also watch Cecilia Pampinella and Manuel Hoyuela, who have shown strong form in 2026. Last year’s podium order is not a prediction for this year.
Find the official broadcast on the Planet Canoe YouTube channel. Full live coverage and video on demand are channel-member content, advertised at €9.99 per month. Check the actual price and terms on YouTube. Broadcast sessions and race times can change; use the latest schedule link below.
Your 30-second warm-up: pick a name → check the division → follow the start, buoy turns and final acceleration.
