2 
We’ve reviewed inflatable racing SUPs like the Hydrus Elysium Air and the Starboard All Star Airline.
We’ve raced on inflatable racing SUPs (with excellent results).
We’ve talked about the rapidly closing gap in performance between racing inflatables and carbon fiber hard boards.
And now we’re helping bring inflatable SUP racing into the spotlight.
What is USA SUP?
USA SUP is a volunteer-run non-profit organization devoted to paddle board racing in the United States. Their focus is on developing the sport from the ground-up as well as working to see SUP incorporated into the Olympics as soon as possible.
Inflatable Racing and USA SUP
This summer and fall we’ve been working directly with USA SUP to develop ideas on how to promote and grow paddle board racing. One of the many ideas we agree with is to promote inflatable SUP racing.
Inflatables are far more affordable, durable, easier to transport and store, and the latest generations of iSUP technology have closed the gap in performance for the majority of SUP racers.
So, USA SUP asked us to write an article for their newsletter about how inflatable paddle board technology can benefit the sport of SUP racing. Check out our article on Growing SUP Racing by Increasing Accessibility at the USA SUP website. And while you’re there, consider becoming a member to keep up with SUP racing news across the country.
Keep your eyes peeled for more about inflatable paddle board racing from USA SUP and Inflatable Boarder!
Chioma Njoku says
Hello!
I really appreciated this USA SUP article. I mean really!
I too am a USA SUP member (of the North Central region), and I also am on a mission to get more people to race. With that said, I too had planned to write in about growing the SUP racing community by making it easier race by including an inflatable race board category. After all, races like the Harbor Hoot in Dana Point and the Very Flat Race of the Alpine Lakes Tour include inflatable race categories.
Just to share a little of my experience with using a racing iSUP (I use the Starboard All Star Airline – and really appreciated reading your review) it was a bigger deal than it should have been. Taking it further, simply having the iSUP at a race can be an intimidating as iSUPs have such a negative stigma in my local race community. At my first race of the 2024 year, 15 different racers told me my iSUP was too slow or not good enough. The iSUP also branded me as not “serious” about racing.
I had also been approached by a mix of 20 experienced SUP racers and race curious paddlers that chose to not race during the 2024 year because the barrier to racing was too high. Here’s what they had in common: All of them either felt insecure about their board. The race curious paddlers, however, had inflatables, and they were told their iSUP would make it difficult for them to keep up in a race. As a result, they didn’t sign up to race.
In 2024, the Midwest Paddle League lost three local races due to low attendance. Having an inflatable category would make such a positive impact in the community, both local, regional, and national. In other words, thank you so, so much for the article.
By the way, this site is amazing! What began as a simple read on winter paddling turned into me planning to purchase the Hydrus Paradise iSUP after reading a few iSUP reviews. Everything I have read has been super helpful. Thank you so much!
Mike Carney says
Hello,
That is a great point about stigma around inflatables and how some racers may still view them as “less than” hard boards. I think the best thing we can do to help remove that barrier (both before registration and at the start line) is to do exactly this. Have the discussion about it, call out gatekeeping, and race our butts off!
I attended a Midwest Paddle League race last summer (shoot, two summers ago now!) as it was held in my hometown, but I also found out that it was the last time that race would be held (Sky an Oar). What a bummer! I did the whole scramble-to-find-a-hard-board thing thinking it would be the best option, and honestly it was not. I appreciate the effort of the organizers to help me with that, but ultimately being on an unfamiliar board, even one that was “better” than the inflatable I brought, saw no positive gain for me and I feel it actually held me back a bit.
I would like to encourage you to write to USA SUP about your experiences as well. The new president, Linda McCoy, is very pro-inflatable racing. We’ve had many conversations back and forth about it (which led to my article). I know she’d love to hear from members about it! They just announced the USA Nationals will be held in Detroit this summer during the MPL Bell Isle Classic race. I don’t believe they have fully set the schedule, but I’ll be pushing to have inflatable racing promoted. The more voices we have, the better the outcome will be. If you want to send me an email with the contact form at the bottom of the page, I can connect you with Linda directly.
Thank you for the kind words. I hope you enjoy the Paradise!
Keep racing, and hopefully I’ll see you in Detroit!
Mike