A new generation of SUP talent is on the rise, and Blackfish Paddles is proud to welcome Nagi Taguchi to the team.

At just 14, Nagi Taguchi represents the next generation of race-SUP talent, hailing from OHANA SUP OKINAWA, led by Saya Taguchi. Growing up in Okinawa, Nagi has been immersed in the modern racing scene from an early age, surrounded by the sport and high-level competition, and learning alongside his brother, Rai, an ICF and ISA World SUP Champion.

That foundation is already translating into results. Nagi broke onto the international scene at the inaugural ICF SUP Junior International Cup in Romania, taking two gold medals in the U14 category: 1st in Sprint and 1st in Technical.

Nagi has been paddling with the new Blackfish Crozon 500, putting the paddle through its paces as he continues to develop his racing and build on his early international success.

Peter Allen, General Manager of Blackfish Paddles, endurance paddler and racer, said:  “Nagi is one of those young SUP athletes who has grown up entirely within the modern race-SUP culture, rather than transitioning into the sport from another paddle discipline. He’s already showing incredible versatility across both technique and race formats, and we’re excited to see what he can achieve as part of the Blackfish Team.”

Hi Nagi, welcome to the Blackfish Team! How did you get into SUP racing, and what first got you hooked on competing? 

I started SUP racing when I was in the 3rd grade. Seeing my older brother competing on the world stage made me want to challenge myself at the global level too.

What has your experience been like racing with Blackfish paddles, and what do you particularly like about them? 

When racing with a Blackfish paddle, I noticed I could draft behind other paddlers with much less effort and stay completely relaxed. What I like most about it is its weight - it’s extremely light, which lets me increase my stroke cadence (pitch) and keeps me from getting tired in the second half of the race.

What are your plans for the rest of the year, and what are you most looking forward to?

What I’m looking forward to most this season is the All Japan SUP Championships in October. My goal this year is to finish in the top 10 in Japan for both the Long Distance and Technical races! 

Follow Nagi on Instagram 

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