As the competitive year winds down and many federations ease into their winter break, the Belgian SUP Tour (BST) is preparing for one final highlight. On Sunday, 14 December, the community will gather in Ghent for SUP4Life – a now iconic end-of-season event that blends high-level competition with festive, family-friendly spirit. Far more than a race, SUP4Life has become a signature moment on the BST calendar: elite athletes tackling the last long-distance challenge of the year, while recreational paddlers take to the canals in the afternoon for a joyful Christmas-themed parade.

This year’s edition also concludes the seven-stop 2025 Belgian SUP Tour (BST), providing the natural stage to unveil the provisional 2026 calendar and an important update for athletes: the new qualification criteria for the 2026 ICF European and World Championships.

To reflect on a transformative year and discuss what lies ahead, TotalSUP sat down with the Belgian SUP Tour (BST) Founder Vincent Claeskens – offering insight into a season that marks a true turning point for the sport of stand-up paddleboarding in Belgium.

Hello Vincent, the season is coming to an end. How would you summarize the 2025 Belgian SUP Tour (BST)?

The 2025 season marks, in my eyes, the end of our “immaturity phase.” During the last three years, the Belgian SUP Tour has grown rapidly, structurally and community-wise. Not everything was perfect along the way, but evolution always comes through learning.

Today, the Belgian SUP Tour (BST) has reached a level of credibility on the international scene, even if we remain a small organisation compared to major European circuits. Most of our foundational investments have now been made, and we can finally present a clear vision and long-term ambition to partners, federations and sponsors. Above all, I want to highlight the importance of our community: their support, patience and expertise have been invaluable.

Looking back at this season, what were your personal highlights or most memorable moments?

Several innovations made the year truly special. First, the Two-Heat Technical Race, combining a Mass Start and a Pursuit format, created exciting, spectator-friendly racing with suspense from start to finish.

Then the Longest Day offered ten hourly starts over a 5.6 km course, forming the international Double 10 Challenge, a unique tactical race concept.

Our lane sprint format with electronic gates, developed with the Canoe-Kayak Federation, was another milestone. And of course, the spectacular Rabbit Start at the Battle of the Yser – a moving “hare boat” controlling the rolling start – added strategy, tension and showmanship never seen before in Belgian SUP. These innovations show our commitment to combining athletic integrity with creativity.

You have been a driving force in helping Belgian SUP athletes shine at international events. On the federal level, is there any news or developments to share?

Yes. We have strengthened cooperation with both federations, and this unity is essential. For 2026, the events marked with a “P” in our provisional calendar will serve as pre-selection races for the ICF European and World Championships in Sardinia and Crete.

Our goal is clear: provide Belgian athletes with real, structured support. Discussions around high-performance pathways, national team assistance and long-term athlete development are progressing well. This is a very encouraging step for the future of Belgian SUP.

There’s still one event left, the annual SUP4Life in Ghent on 14 December. What is special about this event, and why should paddlers come?

SUP4Life is unique because it blends a serious long-distance competition with a warm, community-driven festive gathering. It’s the last race of the year, with strong international attendance, and for many athletes it is a symbolic moment: one last opportunity to fight for ranking points before closing the season.

In the afternoon, the atmosphere turns magical with a fun Christmas paddle on the canals – an event open to everyone, creative costumes highly encouraged! So it’s both a competitive milestone and a joyful celebration of the sport.

SUP4Life is more than the final race of the season. It represents everything the Belgian SUP Tour (BST) stands for: competitive excellence, community spirit, innovation and inclusiveness. As the Belgian SUP Tour (BST) steps confidently into a new phase of its development, the foundations built these past three years are beginning to bear fruit.

With new formats, international recognition, stronger federation ties and an increasingly engaged community, Belgian stand-up paddleboarding is entering 2026 with ambition and momentum. Ghent will be the closing celebration – and the perfect starting point for what comes next.

Can you tell us about the schedules and race courses for SUP4Life 2025?

The full details are described in the Notice of Race. The day starts with confirmations from 08:00 to 09:20, followed by the skippers’ meeting at 09:30.

The morning competition follows the official framework described in the Notice of Race , with starts from 10:00 and distances of approximately 11.5 km for Elites and U16, and 6.5 km for Kids and Recreational paddlers. International participation remains strong, welcoming athletes not only from Belgium but also the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Norway, Estonia and the Czech Republic. Pre-registration for the competitive morning events is available now via our website.

The awards ceremony takes place at 15:00 will deliver both the SUP4Life day rankings and the final 2025 BST annual standings. While this year’s Elite champions are already known, tension remains high for the following positions and age-group classifications.

In the afternoon, recreational paddlers take to the canals for a group ride filled with holiday spirit. Registrations for this part are handled separately. Pre-registration is strongly recommended, especially for anyone renting equipment.

Beyond the race itself, the Christmas atmosphere in Ghent in December must be special. What can you tell us about it?

The setting is truly unique. Ghent in December has a warm, fairy-tale ambience: the Christmas market, the decorated streets, the winter lights over the canals…

This transforms the recreational paddle into something magical. Families, newcomers and seasoned paddlers alike can enjoy the experience together. It’s not just a paddle session – it’s a festive journey through a historic city dressed for Christmas.

You usually use the SUP4Life event to announce the podium winners of the year. Are they known yet, or will SUP4Life be a decisive event?

The Elite champions are already known, but many of the following positions and several age-group categories remain undecided. SUP4Life will therefore determine the final standings for a number of competitors. It adds a real competitive edge to the day – athletes know they have everything to play for.

How is 2026 shaping up? Do you already know the dates for the Belgian SUP Tour (BST) next year?

The provisional calendar is almost ready. We will kick off the season with Kempen SUP, featuring all three disciplines (Sprint, Technical Race and Long Distance).

The Belgian Championships Technical Race (TR) will once again be held at sea, using the Mass Start / Pursuit format.

We are still evaluating which Long Distance event will become the 2026 Belgian LD Championships – several candidates are being reviewed.

The Longest Day, the Belgian Sprint Championships with the Canoe Federation, and the Battle of the Yser (with its Rabbit Start) return as key events.

We are also designing a brand-new race with the city of Antwerp on the renovated docks, with strong potential to grow into a major European stop.

Finally, a new ULD race on the Lys will be launched in cooperation with Nord Paddle Club. 2026 will be a very strong and ambitious year.

We’re excited to watch the Tour grow even further in 2026 — and to be there to capture all the highlights!