Blackfish Paddles has just announced its official support of the 2026 European SUP League (ESL) race circuit, reinforcing its growing presence across Europe.

The European SUP League (ESL) returns in 2026 as a structured step toward building a unified professional racing circuit in Europe, officially sanctioned by the European Surfing Association. The upcoming season marks a significant expansion, with six events scheduled across five countries, reflecting both the rapid development of the league and its focus on delivering a consistent, high-quality competition platform.

The ESL continues to develop an international circuit designed to support athlete participation, increase visibility for the sport, and contribute to the steady growth of stand-up paddling across Europe. Beyond competition, the league aims to connect the European SUP community, offering opportunities for athletes at different levels while promoting sustainable and environmentally responsible practices.

Peter Allen, Sales Director at Blackfish Paddles and racer, commented:

“It’s a natural fit for us. Many of our team riders are based across Europe - including French athletes Ethan Bry, Anaïs Guyomarc’h and Boris Jinvresse; Bruce ‘Ironsmith’ Smith (UK); Marco Teodosio (Portugal/The Netherlands), Elin van der Sar (Netherlands) and Selwyn Pritchard; as well as Loranne Vlemincx (Belgium), Jojo Karst (Germany) and Emma Freja Pedersen (Denmark). Many of them are already confirmed for the circuit or individual events. 

We’ve also built a strong distribution network, working closely with rider-owned shops throughout the region. 

We’re strong supporters of initiatives that bring the community together and push the sport forward, creating an environment where both athletes and brands can engage and grow more easily.” 

Blackfish Paddles will provide paddles for youth racing across the European SUP League tour, supporting young athletes at every stop. The brand will also host demo sessions throughout the events, giving paddlers the opportunity to test equipment on-site. 

Daniel Parres, Technical Director of the European SUP League (ESL) said: 

“For the European SUP League, it is very important to have the support of brands like Blackfish, who understand the importance of continuing to grow the sport from the grassroots level. Their involvement, especially in supporting the next generation with high-quality technical equipment, is fully aligned with one of the league’s main objectives: to facilitate access, development, and progression for young athletes within SUP across Europe.” 

European SUP Tour (ESL) Calendar 2026:

Spain - Santa Pola | April 24–26

Italy - Taranto | May 1–3

Switzerland - Zurich | June 19–21

Poland - Rybnik | June 26–28

Spain - Huelva | September 5–6

Portugal  - Sesimbra | September 11–13

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