The ICF Stand Up Paddleboarding World Championships in Abu Dhabi last weekend featured record-breaking performances, first time world champions, and shocking upsets.
Paddling icon and multiple SUP World Champion Michael Booth, of Booth Training and Boothcast, joins Paddlecast to talk all about the racing. Boothy, SUP Racer’s 2019 #1 man in the world rankings, flew to Abu Dhabi to race the long distance race on Sunday. He won world titles for the same event in 2019 and 2022. But in a special treat for everyone spectating, Boothy also hopped into the commentary box on Saturday to cover the technical races.
On this episode of Paddlecast, Boothy, Billy, and Betsy (say that five times fast) talk about the best moments of the tech and distance racing, who stood out and impressed Boothy the most, how Boothy’s long distance race went (6th place!), the biggest gap in his own 2025 training plan (ironically, time on his paddleboard), his plans for WA Race Week, why SUP draft trains look confusing to kayakers, THAT moment between Shuri and Rai, and whether 10 km is really a long distance race. And more.
Then Billy and Betsy talk with Bevan Manson, the recent winner (and organiser) of the world’s longest surfski race: the 100 Miler Harbour to Harbour Challenge from Richard’s Bay to Durban. In its first edition last year, 6 paddlers attempted and finished this immense challenge. This year, 12 attempted and 9 finished. Bevan was the fastest finisher in 10 hours and 43 minutes. The race was inspired by Quinton Rutherford, who competed and organised this year but is better known as the holder of the Guinness World Record for the Longest Distance Paddled on the Ocean in 24 Hours. He achieved that (227 km) in 2020. It was Bevan Manson who went on to then unofficially break the same record, completing 243 km in 2022. Next up for these guys, other than luring more intrepid paddlers to sign up for the 100 Miler Harbour to Harbour in 2026? “Project 300”...
Finally, Billy and Betsy share a brief preview of the Ardèche (International Marathon of the Gorges of the Ardèche). The most likely winners? Team Cooking Candies. That is, if the Cook doesn’t get held up by hippos again.
01:02 Welcome Michael Booth
03:50 Best Moments of the Tech Races
07:46 The Junior Racing Scene (& Age Group Racing)
12:06 ISA Worlds in El Salvador
14:08 The ICF Long Distance Race
18:09 Wash Hanging in SUP / Draft Train Formations
20:24 The End of the Men’s Distance Race (Shuri vs. Rai)
27:45 Is 10km “Long Distance”
33:39 Top End Speed after 35 years old
35:13 Which SUP competitors have impressed Boothy the most this year?
38:41 Shaw & Partners WA Race Week
40:42 When will Boothy start racing the ultras?
42:44 100 Miler Harbour to Harbour Challenge
44:24 100 Miler Interview with Winner & Organiser Bevan Manson
56:00 Previewing the Ardèche Canoe Marathon
#canoemarathon #ardeche #harbourtoharbour #surfski #standuppaddle #supracing #abudhabi2025 #michaelbooth #boothcast
Useful Links:
https://www.surfski.wiki/races/distance_records
https://www.instagram.com/100_miler_harbour_to_harbour/
https://harbourtoharbour2025.maprogress.com/#
https://outdoors-international.com/how-dangerous-are-hippos/