LongSUP Portugal

When I first saw Laird Hamilton on a Long SUP in 2006 while I was windsurfing at the famous Hookipa break, I remember freaking out. My desire to do SUP comes from this day. Because at this time, if you wanted to do this sport, it was with a Long SUP…there were no other options. It can be noticed that some longboard machines like Bonga Perkins were already making their Long SUP boards, as were watermans Laird and Dave Kalama. The long, in this sense, is the essence of modern SUP, although the origins of SUP are very old and varied.

A short time later, I made my debut in small waves and I remember that I liked paddling to the peak from the beach so much…This feeling of standing up, with the vision that it gives you, and in a much more beneficial and healthy position than regular surfing. I found it incredible. Even now when I take a Long SUP type board to go paddling, the shape it has and the feeling of sliding that it gives me even in flat water seems very special to me. To be honest, if I had to have only one SUP board, it would be a Long SUP for sure, due to the versatility that such a board gives us.

When I go on a trip, preferably by van (it’s usually too big for the plane), I like to take my Long SUP with me, which ensures that I have the right toy, for all types of waves and conditions.

A trip to Portugal in the middle of summer can be synonymous of small waves...But it is Portugal! The waves are strong and can surprise you, and there is always the possibility of a powerful swell coming in, even in the middle of August. For that reason, having one board that covers everything saves me headaches and ensures good sessions. Also, Portugal has rivers, swamps, lakes, estuaries, and bays to visit. The fact that a Long SUP board is long and narrow makes it less slow than other wave SUP boards; and although it is not his speciality, he offers enough to take crossing.

Another advantage that it has is that, unlike modern SUP boards that can be very unstable, the Long SUP allows you to rest your legs, especially on days when the sea is very rough, or with wind. Portugal usually has a lot of “Nortada” wind in the afternoons, especially in some specific areas like Sagres, Lisbon, Viana do Castelo...In these “bad” conditions, it is when you are also interested in having a heavier and longer board, to absorb the bumps that can form in the wave. Personally, I love going from a short SUP board to a long SUP board depending on the conditions and my fitness level.

Another thing that I love is the possibility that it offers you to go from a classic style to an evolutionary style, depending on your desire, the type of wave, and your knowledge of the longboard style. What is clear with this type of board is that you NEVER STOP LEARNING, because even being a good surfer, you will always have to improve your style, your steps, your longboard type manoeuvres, your shortboard type manoeuvres...

I personally love simple cutbacks with a long Sup. They are a mix of commitment and finesse. I also love everything that is nose 360 longboard type manoeuvres, although most of them are still very bad for me !! But that is the essence of long Sup: Go to the water every day, whatever the conditions, learn something new every time, and have a good time, whatever your level and the height of the waves.

When the waves are bigger, the Long Sup allows you to have enough speed to catch them earlier, so you can get set up and positioned well before they break completely. However, you have to know your limits well, and be very careful with the other surfers: a 10’ board with a 10’ leash is 20’ long in total. You have to keep it very present. Also, keep in mind that being dragged under the water by a big and heavy board is not the most pleasant! Thus, with larger waves, it is advisable to look for a wave that has a “channel” to skirt it and thus avoid foam... and above all, peaks with fewer people are recommended. And just like for all other surfing disciplines, respect the rules of courtesy and priorities!

Portugal never disappoints, in search of the tranquillity and serenity that this country gives you, for its waves, which you will always have even in summer, the people, the food...I am not a city person but I have to admit that I love the Lisbon area, because it offers the best compromise between urban life and the sea, and allows me to mix wind and wave sports. It is an area that has many waves, some very good, and some winds, like the famous Nortada.

On this trip with my photographer friend Alex, we only had 2 and a half days to shoot Long SUP videos for Fanatic, and even in the height of summer, we had all kinds of waves. Beach breaks, point breaks, waves of all sizes. The truth is that when you have to record something with very little time, time flies by. Even so, Alex’s true passion is photography, having taken advantage of the first light of dawn and the last light of sunset to take great photos. I remember that I was exhausted because I had had two big swells in a row before this photoshoot, and on top of that I only slept 4 hours a night because he was still working on the Tricktionary book before sending it to print. Waking up in the middle of the night to get the sunrise footage was torture. But when I look at them now, I realize that it was so worth it!

he Triple ESE Festival took place from August 10 to 15, T where SUP classes, material exhibition and photography were held at the Real Club Marítimo de Melilla. We enjoyed the talks by Antonio de la Rosa and Guillermo Carracedo, the Surf Skate Championship and of course the SUP Race competition: the first to be held in this city, which was the Fesurfing Spanish Cup, the Costa del SUP test and with €2,000 of prize money. As you can see, an authentic combo of activities for all audiences.

Up Suping @giner.sportphotography

SUP Race Judges Course was also held under the A direction of Daniel Parres and the support of Julio Pérez, which has had successful participation and we consider it has been very necessary to promote and regulate this sport in future SUP events. in Melilla. And all this under intense heat, with high temperatures and brutal humidity; but that did not detract from the excellent treatment that all the athletes and families received from the local people, their shops and tourism.

he highlight of the event would take place on the last day of the festival with the SUP Race competition. All the attention was focused on the wind forecasts, which were not very favourable and everything could happen until the hours before the races. So it was. Because from early Sunday morning, the wind went from less to more and the race director had to modify all the routes for the sake of the safety of the competitors, who paddled in front of the beach of Cárabos and all the port area. ome 70 participants did not miss the opportunity to enter the history of this sport in Melilla, with the participation of clubs from the peninsula such as Parres Watersports, Paddle Surf Fuengirola and Manilva among others; as well as independent riders and together with the locals of this city. All received high praise for being able to finish their runs taking into account the harsh wind conditions. The youngest, as always, offered us a great show and showed the audience the future of this sport. We highlight the Amateur category, with a great participation and where we have been able to see boards of all kinds of sizes and construction, but with some very enthusiastic and motivated competitors who did not stop paddling at any time.

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ut the great show of technique, hardness and physique would come with the SUB 18 and Elite B categories. They completed a course with all kinds of conditions: upwind, downwind, sidewind and doing real juggling to avoid falling into all the buoy turns. Thanks to the proximity to the beach, the breakwaters and live streaming for the whole world from the Up Suping YouTube channel, no one took their eyes off what was happening during this competition; which also had many boats in the water before any mishap. erónica Sánchez from Paddle Surf Manilva took a great 2nd position from Melilla and the praise of many participants who gave her an ovation at the finish line. Several participants could not withstand the intensity of the wind and had to leave the competition; which we also highlight for their courage in every minute of paddling during the day.

rom the first minute of the competition, we could F see Iván de Frutos full of energy and with great firmness in each stroke, very close to Fernando Pérez and Antonio Morillo from Cádiz, who did the entire competition together. Daniel Parres was not far behind them, demonstrating the great level that the world champion Kahuna is having. Finally, Iván, who had never given up his arms, managed to take the first position in Elite and SUB 18 thanks to his great race and also taking advantage of a mistake on the part of Antonio and Fernando when they made a different line of the route, crossing the finish line. in 2nd and 3rd position correspondingly.

As for the girls, the young Alexia Soto withstood the storm thanks to her technique and great physical condition. And just like her clubmate, she managed to cross the finish line in 1st position in Elite and SUB 18.

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e cannot fail to mention the great work of the entire A Mar Surf Club team and volunteers who have W been together with the needs of the competitors, not only in the races but also throughout all the days of the Triple ESE festival. To end the day, the corresponding trophies and prizes were given together with the local entities that have shown us the great support they give to the sport in the city of Melilla; which concentrates the largest federated population per km2 in all of Spain.

lso thank all the companies that supported this festival and especially those that were on the beach A offering fruit and drinks to all the participants, in addition to Decathlon and the Melilla Skating Club that offered material for the raffles. All of us “SUPers” have lived a great experience in and out of the water in this little corner of another continent that makes you feel like being at home. We hope that this edition of the Triple ESE Festival is the first of many and that Stand Up Paddle continues to grow in Melilla. Congratulations to all!