World Stand-Up Paddling Championships -- Photodesk

(ATR) The nine-day 2016 World Stand-Up Paddling Championships kicked off Sunday as athletes took on the world-renowned Cloudbreak surfing mecca off the coast of Fiji.

The SUP showcase event marks the first time that an International Surfing Association (ISA)world championship has been contested in the South Pacific nation comprised of 333 islands. Nearly 250 male and female athletes are in Fiji for the individual and team competition.

Cloudbreak’s reputation precedes it. It is a world class left reef pass that is widely considered one of the 10 most challenging waves in the world. Watching SUP surfers navigate its swells, where waves can tower 20 feet high, is awe-inspiring.

Under the auspices of the ISA, SUP is considered the fastest growing water sport worldwide.

Surfing is one of five sports approved by the IOC for inclusion in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, however the SUP discipline was denied. ISA president Fernando Aguerre and aspiring Olympic SUP Paddlers are optimistic that the relatively new surf discipline will make the cut for 2024.

Around the Rings correspondent Brian Pinelli is in Fiji for the Championships and has compiled a photo montage for us to enjoy here.

Written by Brian Pinelli andGerard Farek

Homepage photo: ISA

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