Blackfish Paddles has been named the Official Paddle Partner of the SUPER Festival and the historic first-ever ICF SUP World Cup to be held on British waters - and there’s already another exciting addition to the event, with Blackfish Team Rider Bruce ‘Ironsmith’ Smith officially confirmed for the start line. 

Blackfish Paddles has been named the Official Paddle Partner of the SUPER Festival and the historic first-ever ICF SUP World Cup to be held on British waters - and there’s already another exciting addition to the event, with Blackfish Team Rider Bruce ‘Ironsmith’ Smith officially confirmed for the start line. 

From 24 - 28 June 2026, Torquay in Devon, UK, will become a buzzing hub for the global stand-up paddleboarding community. Combining elite racing, coastal lifestyle and community paddling, the Paddle UK SUPER Festival alongside the ICF SUP World Cup is set to mark a landmark moment for the sport in the UK.

The Blackfish crew will be active throughout the event, delivering gear demos and hands-on paddle support and guidance both on and off the water. 

For many paddlers, it will be a rare opportunity to line up alongside some of the world’s best athletes - with Bruce now among the growing list of names set to hit British waters next summer.

Bruce “Ironsmith” Smith, based in County Durham in the north of England, is one of the UK’s leading endurance paddlers and an emerging force on the international SUP scene. A former elite Ironman and ultra-marathon runner, he now targets some of the sport’s toughest challenges, including Last Paddler Standing.

Beyond racing, he is a respected instructor, coach, and co-founder of the Northern SUP Race Club and Northern SUP Race Team, helping grow paddle sport and community participation across the UK.

We caught up with Bruce ahead of the historic ICF SUP World Cup and SUPER Festival 2026, which he believes could become a major catalyst for the future of competitive SUP in the UK. 

Bruce, who will line up in both the Distance and Sprint formats using the Blackfish Noumea 500 paddle, sees the event as far more than just another race weekend. The arrival of the ICF SUP World Cup on the English Riviera represents a rare opportunity to elevate the sport nationally and inspire a new generation of racers.

“The ICF SUP World Cup and SUPER Festival 2026 is unmissable, helping push the sport in the UK and be a part of something special,” he said.

While Britain has long had a strong recreational paddling culture, Bruce believes events like this can help bridge the gap between leisure participation and competitive racing.

“We have so many leisure paddlers in the UK - and this is the opportunity to show there’s another option to get involved in the sport - a more competitive.”

He points to a growing appetite for racing across the country, with more paddlers making the transition from casual SUP sessions into organised competition. Junior development, in particular, is becoming an increasingly important focus.

“There are more people taking up SUP and converting to racers; we’re pushing junior division with more boards being secured. The event is definitely giving the exposure and driving the sport forward.”

Despite the world-class international field expected to descend on Torquay in June, Bruce is keen to encourage everyday paddlers not to feel intimidated by the scale of the event.

“The key thing is about recreational paddlers achieving their goals! Don’t get intimidated by the international field, and see what’s possible as anything is – but you won’t know what you can achieve until you try it.”

When asked about his own mindset and expectations, he responded with his characteristic humility: 

“I have no expectations but I’ll do what I always do - give it my all.”

The ICF SUP World Cup & SUPER Festival 2026 Schedule:

Wed 24 June 2026 - Registration & practice sessions

Thu 25 June 2026 - Opening ceremony 

Fri 26 June 2026 - ICF Sprint Racing

Sat 27 June 2026 - ICF Technical Racing & SUPER Festival races

Sun 28 June 2026 - ICF Distance Racing & SUPER Festival races

To find out more about the event, visit superfestival.paddleuk.org.uk 

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