2024 SUP World Championships to include 100m sprint event. ICF

Sarasota, Florida will host the Stand Up Paddling (SUP) World Championships from 19-24 November, where the 100m sprint event will make its debut. In an effort to increase the spectacle, this new event will replace the current 200m sprint. Competitors will earn their places through a ranking system.

The International Canoe Federation (ICF) announced this week that a 100 metre sprint event will be added to the SUP World Championship calendar in 2024. The event will take place in Sarasota, Florida from 19-24 November. This decision will replace the current 200 metre event.

With this change, the ICF aims to increase the spectacle by bringing together the world's best athletes. They will compete over 25 to 30 seconds, compared to almost a minute for the 200 metres, making the event more exciting for the spectators.

A new course will be created, with athletes competing in lanes marked by buoys on either side. A photo-finish system will also be installed to ensure fair judging.

The 100m event will bring excitement and spectacle to the championships. ICF
The 100m event will bring excitement and spectacle to the championships. ICF

"This (100m event) is really for sprint paddlers. It's a great platform for sprinting paddlers to showcase their talent," said Noemi Horvath, Chair of the ICF SUP Commission. With such an explosive and fast event, the finishes will be close and spectacular.

"Sarasota is the perfect place to host the 100-metre sprint, with its flat water surface and professional equipment, where true sprinting skills can finally be put on display," added Horvath.

Participation will be based on the world rankings, where athletes have already started to accumulate points. This will be the first time that the junior and master categories will be included in the competition.

For the first time, there will be a world ranking for qualification.ICF
For the first time, there will be a world ranking for qualification.ICF

Athletes started collecting points in the 2024 ICF SUP World Ranking Series. The series started in April this year in Lago delle Nazioni, Italy, before moving on to Villach and Lake Faak in Austria.

SUP has grown in popularity around the world, and the ICF World Cup in Agios Nikolaos, Crete, Greece, from 27-29 September will be the final opportunity to earn points before the World Championship, following the event in Falkenberg, Sweden, from 9-11 August.

SUP has been the fastest growing water sport in recent years.Its exclusion from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games has not hindered its enormous support and growing number of practitioners. However, it is also not included in the programme for Los Angeles 2028. However, it is seeking a place in Brisbane 2032.