International Canoe Federation double world champion Olivia Piana has been announced as one of three coaches who will help oversee a stand up paddling development camp ahead of next month’s world championships in Hungary.
QINGDAO, China – American Connor Baxter posted the fastest ever time for a men’s 200 metre sprint and France’s Olivia Piana won the women’s gold at her first ever sprint event in a thrilling day of competition at the ICF stand up paddling world championships in Qingdao, China, on Saturday. Baxter shocked even himself with his speed in the semi-final, officially stopping the clock at an incredible 46.38 seconds – the first athlete to ever go under the 47 second mark. “It felt fast, for sure,” Baxter said.
At the start of September, French rider Olivia Piana said farewell to her then sponsor 425 Pro, thanking the brand and giving them her well wishes. Her unexpected departure had many guessing as to what would ultimately be her next move.
After a frustrating week in Hossegor athletes traveled to Scharbeutz, Germany for a fresh start at the 2018 Mercedes-Benz SUP World Cup, the 7th stop of The Paddle League World Tour and week 9 of the EuroTour.
We are deep in the midst of racing season and things continue to get more interesting. Last weekend the elite SUP field took over the southern commune of Hossegor in France for the Hossegor Paddle Games - stop #6 of the Paddle League World Tour and week 8 of the Euro Tour.
With a record field of 272 athletes across all divisions (kids, juniors, elite, amateurs) the 6th annual Iberdrola Bilbao World SUP Challenge in the Basque Country of Spain was the fifth stop of The Paddle League World Tour and week 7 of the 2018 EuroTour presented by Rogue.
The Air France Paddle Festival took Tahiti by storm, with one of the most intense races the sport has seen. Around 300 paddlers came out to participate in the 8k Lagoon Race, 24k Elite Race, and 4k Fun Race, alongside a huge crowd of local supporters from the community that joined in on the action.
France’s Olivia Piana is one of France’s leading ladies on a SUP. Olivia holds a background in windsurfing which led her to discovering stand up paddling in 2011. Check out this video interview with Olivia and get to know her a bit better.