Carlo Arias is heading back to the SUP 11-City Tour to take on the Non-Stop, this time with a familiar face and proven 11-City experience in his corner. The Blackfish Team rider will be backed by Marco Teodosio, the man who smashed the 2025 Non-Stop in just 29 hours to claim the title. 

Having lived the challenge from start to finish, Marco now returns in a very different role - bringing his experience, knowledge and hard-earned lessons to support Carlo through one of SUP’s ultimate endurance.

Peter Allen, General Manager of Blackfish Paddles, endurance paddler and racer, said:

“This coming together of Blackfish riders is the epitome of the SUP community that the Blackfish brand stands for - sharing knowledge, experience and everything we can to support fellow athletes.”

In chat with Marco Teodosio, endurance racer, Coach at Lakeside SUP Club in the Netherlands and 2025 SUP 11-City Tour Non-Stop Race Winner: 

Hi Marco, in 2025, you wrote your name into SUP 11-City Tour history, winning the 12th edition of the gruelling Non-Stop Challenge in 29 hours. Looking back, what stands out most from that experience?

The SUP 11-City is a unique event, considered by many the queen of the ultra distances. Taking part in it had been on my bucket list for a very, very long time. I think it’s a must-do for any ultra paddler. For me, it’s all about overcoming yourself. It’s not even a race; it’s a you-against-you challenge.

Finding out what you can achieve with the right preparation, mindset and the right people next to you is an amazing feeling. Winning the event was just a bonus. The emotions you go through over the 220 km are not even explainable. I still get goose bumps just talking about it. To feel it, you have to do it.

What do you think people underestimate most about the SUP 11-City Tour Non-Stop until they actually take it on?

I think planning and nutrition are the most underestimated things. You should come to the Non-Stop with a tested plan and stick to it. Planning is one of the most important things in an ultra like this; it’s what keeps you on track when your mind tries to “play” with you. The difference is all in the details.

Also, having the right person on the support team is very, very important, so you don’t drift from your plan. The Non-Stop is teamwork ;) I was lucky to have my girlfriend Ghislaine by my side, which worked just perfectly.

This year you’ll be supporting Carlo Arias rather than racing the Non-Stop yourself. What did that experience teach you that you can now bring to Carlo as he takes on the challenge?

When Carlo reached out to me to help him with the support, there was no way I could say no. He is a good friend, a Blackfish teammate and an ultra-crazy-minded guy just like me :)

Being there myself will make it easier to understand what Carlo is going through and what “buttons” to push if needed. Ghislaine will also be with us, and she has been on the outside supporting me, so logistically it will be a big advantage.

Having experienced the full route yourself, are there particular sections where you know Carlo will need the most support - physically, mentally or tactically?

It’s a very personal experience; nobody will feel it the same way, and there are variables that you simply can’t control. But I know that if you are well prepared physically and your nutrition is on point, the only thing that can mess with you is your mind. 

And for that, there is no special section - it can come anywhere. But if it comes, we will be there for it.

You’ll also be bringing the Blackfish paddle quiver with you this year. Can you tell us a little about the different paddles you’ll have with you and why you choose to use more than one?

Yes, I will take some Blackfish paddles with me, so if someone is curious to try them during the event, just let me know.

I will have the Noumea 500, my absolute favourite and my go-to paddle for any type of race. It’s very light, stable and powerful. I will also take the Yukon 520, the weapon of choice for most ultra paddlers - very strong and forgiving in the catch, ideal when you start to get more tired from all the kilometres.

And the Crozon, the Swiss Army knife of paddles: racing, touring, foiling, SUP surfing - you name it.

You’ll have the opportunity to let other paddlers try the Blackfish range during the SUP 11-City Tour. Why is it important for people to actually get on the water and feel the difference for themselves rather than simply choosing a paddle on paper

A paddle is a very personal tool. We all have slightly different ways of paddling. What fits me might not fit you, so the best way is to feel it. Having the opportunity to test different models is just great.

After going through the Non-Stop yourself, what does it feel like to watch someone else - especially Carlo - take on the same challenge, knowing exactly what lies ahead?

Ohhh, I am as excited to support Carlo as I was when I did it myself. I will live it all as if I were there on the water. Carlo is a very strong and experienced ultra paddler, so I am sure he is more than up to it.

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In conversation with Carlo Arias, endurance SUP racer and 2025 SUP King Marathon – Salaca 100 winner. A three-time SUP 11-City Tour participant, Carlo already has two finishes and a podium to his name - and now he’s back for another shot at the Non-Stop: 

Hi Carlo, you mentioned in our previous conversation about an unfinished business with the SUP 11-City Tour, and this year you’re coming back for the Non-Stop - but this time, you won’t be doing it alone. You’ll have Marco Teodosio supporting you, who knows this challenge better than most after winning the 2025 Non-Stop in 29 hours. What does it mean to have someone with that experience by your side, and what are you hoping to learn from Marco?

I feel fortunate to have Marco by my side. He not only has the experience in this race and this type of challenge but he is also my friend. I know I can trust him to say things that I would not want to listen and I can trust his will. 

I’m grateful that he said yes when I asked him, because he and Ghislaine were my only options due to the type of person I need for this challenge.

I am hoping to not only learn from him but to know how to execute well, and I know we will have a great time doing it.

What will your Blackfish paddle setup look like for the Non-Stop, and how have you decided which paddles to use for the demands of the challenge? 

I will be using my YUKON 520 and as always a backup attached to my board just in case, and that one will be the NOUMEA 500. This has always been my setup for long, gruelling races, not only because anything can happen but in case I want to change paddles just to feel something different is good. Mentally it's a really good strategy. 

The Non-Stop pushes you far beyond racing into endurance, strategy and the mental battle of keeping going when things get difficult. What will you do differently this year, and what will success look like when you reach the finish?

I think everything has been so different from the past years. I’ve been part of the 5-day event three times already, so first I had to take off that fast racing mentality and move into a more chill survival mode. Then it’s just about being with yourself, cherishing the moment and smiling.

We’ll see what success looks like at the end. For now, I’m happy I’m able to say I’m going to try it. 

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With Marco Teodosio on the ground throughout the event, bringing his Blackfish gear expertise and racing experience, a selection of Blackfish Paddles will be available for paddlers to try - giving participants the opportunity to get on the water, test the range and find the setup that works best for them. 

Registrations for SUP 11-City Tour close on 1 September. Find out more and register here 

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*Images by Edwin Wekstra | Courtesy of SUP 11-City Tour