Agios Nikolaos opens Paddle Europe SUP Championships with 100m sprint races
The competitive program of Agios Nikolaos on SUP 2026 – Paddle Europe SUP Championships opened on Friday, September 18, at the EOT beach in Agios Nikolaos, with the 100m sprint races producing the event’s first winners.
Organizers described the sprint as the fastest and most intense discipline on the program, with the day running from qualifying heats through to afternoon finals. A total of 143 athletes from 19 countries took part in the racing categories, with the largest national delegations coming from Greece, Italy, Germany, Portugal and Romania.
Second edition of the European championship
This year’s event is only the second running of the Paddle Europe SUP Championships, following the inaugural edition in Szeged, Hungary, in 2024. The sprint distance has now been set at 100 meters, with European titles awarded across Junior, Open, Masters 40+ and Masters 50+ categories for both men and women.
Wind conditions affected the racing at times, making starts more difficult and requiring competitors to maintain concentration and board control throughout the heats, organizers said.
The Agios Nikolaos on SUP championships are one of several sporting and cultural events held in the town this month, alongside the Agios Nikolaos cliff diving competition and the upcoming Cretan Cooking Festival at the harbor. More information on upcoming events in Crete and outdoor experiences in Crete is available on Crete Locals.
