Supconnect Awards 2026 Winners Announced
SAN DIEGO, California - After weeks of deliberation and careful evaluation, we’re proud to announce the winners of the 17th Annual Supconnect Awards. This year’s nominations brought together an outstanding field of athletes, young competitors, brands, and shops from across the global stand-up paddleboarding community, making the final selections as competitive as ever.
As always, the winners were determined using Supconnect’s core criteria of Ambassadorship, Involvement, Performance, and Support. Public voting played an important role in the process, but it was one of several factors considered. To arrive at the final selections, we consulted our experienced advisory board, considered feedback from fans and the broader SUP community, gathered perspectives from retailers and industry professionals, and incorporated insights from the Supconnect editorial team.
After reviewing the nominees and their contributions to the sport over the past year, we’re proud to recognize the individuals and companies whose achievements, leadership, and continued commitment are helping move stand-up paddleboarding forward. Without further ado, here are the winners of the 2026 Supconnect Awards.
Man of the Year
Campbell Carter
Campbell Carter has been named the 2026 Supconnect Man of the Year, recognizing a breakout season defined by exceptional performance, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to the sport of stand-up paddleboarding. At just 18 years old, Campbell continued his rapid rise on the international racing scene, earning selection to the 2026–2027 USA Surfing National Team, finishing runner-up in the Men's Open 10K at the USA Surfing Championships, and capturing the overall Men's SUP Distance and Technical titles in the inaugural USA Surfing SUP Series.
Beyond his results on the water, Campbell has become a respected ambassador for the next generation of paddlers through his sportsmanship, professionalism, and active involvement in the SUP community. Combined with overwhelming support from fans during this year's voting, his accomplishments embody the values of the Supconnect Awards—ambassadorship, involvement, performance, and support—making him a deserving recipient of the 2026 Supconnect Man of the Year award.
Runner Ups
Woman of the Year
Maddie LeBlanc
Maddi LeBlanc has been named the 2026 Supconnect Woman of the Year, recognizing a year defined by competitive excellence, leadership, and a lasting commitment to the growth of stand-up paddleboarding. Throughout the past season, Maddi continued to represent Canada on the international stage while competing among the sport's elite athletes, building on an already impressive résumé as a two-time Canadian National Champion and respected competitor.
Beyond her accomplishments on the race course, Maddi has become one of the sport's most recognizable ambassadors, inspiring paddlers through her positive attitude, sportsmanship, and dedication to the global SUP community. Coupled with overwhelming support from fans during this year's voting, she exemplifies the values of the Supconnect Awards—ambassadorship, involvement, performance, and support—making her a deserving recipient of the 2026 Supconnect Woman of the Year award.
Runner Ups
Grom of the Year
Matei Barbu
Matei Barbu has been named the 2026 Supconnect Grom of the Year, recognizing an exceptional season from one of stand-up paddleboarding's brightest young talents. Over the past year, the Romanian standout continued his rise on the international stage by capturing two U18 titles at the 2026 ICF SUP Junior International Cup, building on his success as the reigning ICF Junior World Champion and further establishing himself as one of the world's premier junior paddlers.
Beyond his impressive competitive achievements, Matei has become a respected ambassador for the next generation of the sport through his determination, sportsmanship, and consistent presence at major international events. His outstanding performances, active involvement in the global SUP community, and growing influence among fans made him a standout choice for this year's honor. Notably, Matei also earned the 2026 Supconnect People's Choice Grom of the Year award through public voting, underscoring the widespread support he has earned from paddlers around the world. Together, these accomplishments embody the values of the Supconnect Awards—ambassadorship, involvement, performance, and support—making him a deserving recipient of the 2026 Supconnect Grom of the Year award.
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Brand of the Year
Starboard
Starboard has been named the 2026 Supconnect Brand of the Year, recognizing another outstanding year of innovation, performance, and leadership within the stand-up paddleboarding industry. Throughout the past season, Starboard continued to set the benchmark across multiple disciplines, delivering award-winning products while supporting elite athletes, grassroots events, retailers, and paddlers around the world.
From earning top honors in the Best Race SUP and Best All-Around SUP categories to receiving consistent praise from retailers for the strength of its product lineup and dealer support, Starboard demonstrated excellence across every level of the sport. Combined with strong backing from the paddleboarding community during this year's voting, the brand exemplifies the values of the Supconnect Awards through exceptional product quality, industry leadership, and lasting contributions to the growth of stand-up paddleboarding, making Starboard a deserving recipient of the 2026 Supconnect Brand of the Year award.
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Shop of the Year
Riverbound Sports
Riverbound Sports has been named the 2026 Supconnect Shop of the Year, recognizing its outstanding commitment to serving paddlers, supporting its local community, and helping grow the sport of stand-up paddleboarding. Since opening in Arizona in 2013, Riverbound has developed into a true paddle sports hub, combining an extensive selection of equipment with rentals, demos, instruction, guided experiences, and community events that give paddlers opportunities to learn, connect, and spend more time on the water.
What sets Riverbound apart is its commitment to going beyond simply selling equipment. Its knowledgeable team of active paddlers helps customers find the right gear while providing opportunities to try equipment firsthand and develop their skills through education and on-water experiences. Combined with strong support from the SUP community during this year's voting and years of involvement within the paddle sports industry, Riverbound embodies the involvement, expertise, support, and quality at the heart of the Supconnect Awards, making Riverbound Sports a deserving recipient of the 2026 Supconnect Shop of the Year award.
Runner Ups
See more winners from the 2026 Supconnect Awards:
