Paddlers racing against the backdrop of Gwangan Bridge and supporters cheering from the sand. The 2026 Suyeong District Mayor’s Cup National SUP Competition takes over Gwangalli SUP Zone on September 12. Young athletes and seasoned pros share the same sea from different start lines.
Four divisions, racing at every level
The event brings together 122 SUP athletes of elementary-school age and above. Youth, Beginner, Open and Pro divisions are divided into 13 subcategories.
The Pro division races a 300 m sprint and a 3 km distance course. Other divisions generally race a 200 m sprint, plus a 1 km distance race except for the younger elementary Youth category. Heats, finals and race counts vary, so read the rules for your own category first.
What to check in the draw
Find your category and race number in Appendix 2 of the PDF, then check your seed and race order. For A and B groups, athletes were sorted by date of birth and divided according to numbers; seeds and race order within each group were assigned by random draw.
Overall placings are decided by combining scores across disciplines. Watch for distance pacing as well as fast sprint starts. See page 3 of the PDF for the exact scoring and tie-break rules.
A competition day at Gwangalli
Morning registration and course briefing lead into sprint and distance races. The main schedule follows and may change with weather and on-site operations.
- 09:00~09:50
- Athlete registration and opening ceremony
- 09:50~10:00
- Course briefing and inspection
- 10:00~12:30
- Sprint races
- 12:30~13:30
- Lunch and break
- 13:30~16:00
- Sprint and distance races
- 16:00~16:30
- Four-person BIG SUP event
- 16:30~16:45
- Break and score calculation
- 16:45~18:00
- Awards and lucky draw
Four paddlers, one rhythm: BIG SUP
After the individual races, a BIG SUP race is scheduled for teams of four. Each team consists of two men and two women, with no more than one Pro division athlete.
Interested event competitors can register on site for KRW 40,000 per team. The race requires at least five teams, so check the on-site registration information.
Together all the way to the finish
First through third place are awarded in each of the 13 subcategories, and every finisher receives a medal. Cash prizes and tourism gift certificates total KRW 5.89 million.
Review the course and rules before starting and listen carefully to the briefing. Follow Suyeong District’s official announcements and on-site instructions for any changes.