With a large number of athletes participating, the Costa Rica 2024 National SUP Circuit began

Last weekend the 2024 National SUP Circuit began with the first event held at Playa Mantas in Punta Leona with a large number of athletes participating.

This is an excerpt from the interview with ASUP Race Director Marcel Holmberg Cummins, who gives us a general overview of how the event unfolded and shares his impressions of athlete participation and the impact the ISA World Championships have had in these categories:

The first SUP event held at Playa Mantas in Punta Leona appears to have been a resounding success, marked by an exceptional and joyful atmosphere. The participation of people from all over the country was excellent, indicating great interest in and support for the sport. The event's coordination, based on teamwork, organization, transparency, and a focus on the sport itself, was fundamental to its success.

The sea conditions were excellent, with calm weather and no winds that could have affected the competition. The participation of more than 30 runners across the three categories, with a good balance between men and women (20 men and 10 women), demonstrates the diversity and fairness of the event.

The Elite, Touring, and Recreational categories allowed athletes of varying skill and experience levels to participate, making the event inclusive and accessible to everyone interested in the sport.

With five more dates scheduled in places like Herradura, Limón, Quepos and Lago Arenal, the calendar promises more opportunities for SUP enthusiasts to participate and enjoy this sport throughout the year.

The impact of last year's ISA events appears to have generated increased interest in this sport in the country. The international exposure and local buzz contribute significantly to the rise in participation and the development of SUP in the region. Undoubtedly, these kinds of international events inspire more people to join and explore the world of stand-up paddleboarding.

The winner of the first round in the 6km Technical Race and 200m Sprint categories was the experienced athlete Marcel Oliveira:

I was fortunate enough to win the 6km technical race, which was very fast and explosive. It was a great event, and ASUP is doing a fantastic job. There are five more events coming up, and I hope to continue participating and training, and with dedication, I hope to achieve a national championship title. The organization was also interesting, especially seeing SUP athletes from rivers, which are a different type of water, joining in. A group from Turrialba joined this event, and it definitely adds a lot of excitement and flavor to the competition. It's helping the country's SUP community grow, which has had its ups and downs. There have been times when many people participated, and then the numbers fluctuated, but right now it's going through a good period.

One of the athletes who participated in this first event was the experienced extreme kayaking and kayak slalom athlete Arnaldo Céspedes, who has stood out for his participation in Pan American events under this modality, and also practices SUP on river currents:

Last year I participated in the Touring category, and this time I decided to compete in the elite category with a race board. It was my first time competing in this discipline. It was a great event. The physical effort is significant, the level of competition is very high, and the competitors are very good. The goal is to compete in all the events of the national circuit. My personal objective is to see how I improve during the upcoming events, to see how much I can grow in the sport, and to enjoy it, which is the most important thing.

These were the official results of the first date of the 2024 National SUP Circuit: