Hailing from Costa Rica, Carlo is the newest addition to the Blackfish Paddles Team – a multisport athlete with a serious love for SUP racing and a lifelong competitor with roots in surfing and running. 

Hi Carlo, welcome to the Blackfish Team! Could you tell us about yourself and how you got into competitive paddleboarding, and what have been your top moments in the sport so far?

I’m Carlo (without the s). Costa Rican. And a bit in love with suffering in a board. I’m a SUP Racer but also a multisport athlete. SUP Racing is my main sport but I’ve spent my life doing lots of sports. I often do Surf, SUP surf and Run too. This is actually what drew me to competitive paddleboarding: my spirit around competition. This sport is quite new for me, I started surfing when I was 11 years old and a couple of years back, circa 2020, I started to learn about SUP, but then the pandemic hit... In 2022, I started competing nationally for real and had a couple of good results that ended up giving me a chance to go to my first International Race: ISA Worlds in Puerto Rico. After that, I started training with SEPA and the rest is history. 

My best moments around this sport might be Qualifying for the 2023 PANAM Games, that was one of my dreams, I got 6th there. My two finishes in the SUP-11 City Tour are by far my favourite ones. In 2023 I did it in the Tour Category, not knowing what to expect I got 16th overall Men and in 2024 I got a 3rd Place in the Open Men division. Also in 2024 I ended the year 9th in the Ultra Distance Ranking by SUP World Ranking. There is also a moment at The 2024 Paddle Skedaddle in Norfolk, UK. I won the race in a spectacular 27km scenery. Little controversy on that one but, I loved it. 

How does joining the Blackfish Paddles team resonate with you, and in what ways does their brand reflect your approach to paddling?

Well, I think been part of the Blackfish Team is an honour for me and also I’m happy to be partnering with a brand that has the same values as me. This is a really important thing to me. Once I had the first contact with Peter, he opened me the doors and I think the vision from the brand resonated in my mind and made me feel that we can grow together. I think of it more of a lifestyle, of being Pura Vida, as we say in my country and taking that to the rest of the world. 

Also, we have in common the art and love of Ultra Racing and I think you just can’t find that everywhere. That crazy stuff connects human beings. 

What’s your go-to Blackfish paddle model and gear set up, and how does it enhance your performance on the water?

Right now I’m into the Yukon 520. I love how catchy and perfect it is on the water and for long hours of training and endurance. The shaft is perfect for my stroke and to keep a good rhythm throughout every workout. 

I’ve been using the WS fin also. Tracking is perfect and is a weed fin, this is a problem I have had in the past where stuff gets stuck in my fin but the WS works really good. And I’ve tried it in the waves at home so it works for me.  So far, this gear is carrying me through some pretty big distances - and holding up strong 

What are your SUP racing plans for this season?

This season I’m making my year full of Ultra Racing. And maybe a couple of short races.

So far I will be participating in The SUP Twelve, The Salaca 100, The 11-City (3rd time), The Chattajack and closing it with The Last Paddler Standing. 

We’ll see how the year goes, and how I feel after the first three, but so far it looks like that.

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