APP Crowns SUP Surfing Longboard, Junior & Masters Champions

Benoit retains his Longboard SUP Surfing World Title with a dominant performance at the 2025 Gran Canaria Pro-Am. | Photo: APP World Tour

GRAN CANARIA, Spain - As defending Champion in the Longboard SUP division, Benoit Carpentier returned to Gran Canaria this year refreshed and ready for action. His surfing was explosive and incorporated all the elements that the Longboard SUP discipline celebrates, from progressive to traditional, from hard carving turns and off the lips to graceful nose rides.

On his way to the final, Benoit posted the single highest wave score of the event so far (9.17) as well as the highest heat score total of 15.84 in the semi final against Moritz Mauch. In the final against the Italian, Leonard Nika, Benoit once again delivered, notching up a pair of 7's to take a convincing win.

Leonard Nika posted his best result yet on the APP World Tour, finishing in 2nd place in the Longboard SUP final, after overcoming the 2023 World Champion in Round 3 and an on form Kilian Burac from France in the semi finals.

Kaede Inoue makes it two, defending her 2024 Longboard SUP Crown here at this year's Gran Canaria Pro-Am | Photo: APP World Tour

The Inoue family continued their incredible record on the APP World Tour with another World Title for elder Sister Kaede in the longboard division of the 2025 Gran Canaria Pro-Am. As expected, despite the challenging conditions on offer at La Cicer, Kaede navigated her way through to take the convincing win ahead of her sister Sakura in 2nd, Camille Dubrana in 3rd and Enola Lucossol in 4th. Kaede now has a performance SUP World Title and two Longboard World Titles to her name, as she continues to assert herself as a dominant force in the SUP Surfing world.

With the Women's Performance SUP Surfing division to kick off on Friday at El Lloret, we are excited at what she will bring to a stacked field of the top SUP Surfing women in the world, from 2024 World Champion Luchy Cosoleto and multiple times World Champion Iballa Moreno, to the returning talent Vania Torres from Peru who is fresh off her ISA Gold Medal in El Salvador along with many more.

Felipe Marden from Brazil takes victory in the all new Masters division of the 2025 Gran Canaria Pro-Am | Photo: APP World Tour

Newly introduced in 2025, the Masters division is opening the door to new participation opportunities on the APP World Tour, and was celebrated by a solid field of athletes stepping up to take part. The division is open to all athletes over 40 to step up and be counted, further celebrating the inclusive nature of the sport.

Felipe Marden is no stranger to the APP World Tour, having competed in performance SUP Surfing for many years now here in his adopted home in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. He has been a phenomenal support to all the Brazilian athletes making the annual pilgrimage to the Gran Canaria Pro-Am, but also a great talent at the event itself. It was therefore fitting that Felipe should take victory at this inaugural edition of the Masters edition with a great performance in extremely challenging conditions.

Finishing in second was the Portuguese powerhouse, Carlos Fidalgo, also a regular here at the Gran Canaria Pro-Am, putting on a solid performance in the process. Both Carlos and Felipe will be back in action tomorrow for Performance SUP's Main Event at El Lloret.

Sakura Inoue completes the Inoue's dominance across Junior and Longboard SUP divisions for the girls with the U21 victory | Photo: APP World Tour

Following on from her Sister's success in the longboard SUP division, Sakura Inoue was able to stamp her mark on the 2025 Gran Canaria Pro-Am, with victory in the U21 Junior division, taking the title from her Sister, the 2024 Champion in this division.

As we have witnessed over the past few years, Sakura surfs well beyond her years and continues to improve with each and every event. There is no doubt that both Sakura and Kaede will continue to be forces to be reckoned with for years to come, with Kaede finishing in 2nd this year, and France's Prune Guerin in 3rd.

The Inoue Sisters will be back in action Friday at El Lloret, as they will both be vying for victory at the powerful right hand point break of El Lloret. Despite the potential for some challenging winds, there is an impressive series of long period swells hitting over the weekend, so whatever happens, we are in for a show!

Make sure to join the APP Tour LIVE Friday morning at 8am GMT at www.appworldtour.com.