Battle for control of the sport of SUP

[Area 10]

Is SUP a surf sport or a canoe sport? In this international battle, first blood to the surfers, it seems:

http://www.isasurf.org/isa-welcomes-sup-exclusivity-ruling-in-portugal/

“The International Surfing Association (ISA) has today welcomed a ruling in Portugal that confirmed the Portuguese Surfing Federation (FPS) as the exclusive governing body of StandUp Paddle (SUP).

The ruling, made at the Portuguese Court of Arbitration for Sport, confirmed FPS as the only national federation with a remit to organise and authorise StandUp Paddle (SUP) events within Portugal...

...The ruling comes as the ISA and ICF enter CAS Arbitration and reinforces the ISA’s long-standing and historic governance of the sport of StandUp Paddle. In particular, the Court noted in its decision that the record clearly shows that the ICF has never organized any SUP World Championships, and that the ISA has organized every World SUP Championship in history”.

[JEG]

No good enough and we need our own stand up paddle board ppl. Area 10, we should think about forming a world sup organisation?

[ukgm]

Is SUP a surf sport or a canoe sport? In this international battle, first blood to the surfers, it seems:

http://www.isasurf.org/isa-welcomes-sup-exclusivity-ruling-in-portugal/

“The International Surfing Association (ISA) has today welcomed a ruling in Portugal that confirmed the Portuguese Surfing Federation (FPS) as the exclusive governing body of StandUp Paddle (SUP).

The ruling, made at the Portuguese Court of Arbitration for Sport, confirmed FPS as the only national federation with a remit to organise and authorise StandUp Paddle (SUP) events within Portugal...

...The ruling comes as the ISA and ICF enter CAS Arbitration and reinforces the ISA’s long-standing and historic governance of the sport of StandUp Paddle. In particular, the Court noted in its decision that the record clearly shows that the ICF has never organized any SUP World Championships, and that the ISA has organized every World SUP Championship in history”.

The ICF have now put a response up on Facebook.

In my view, the Portuguese decision is contestable as there are several precedents of sports having multiple or duplicate governing bodies internationally (boxing, martial arts, cycling, etc and the ICF would be familiar with this with respect to dragonboating).

[Tom]

Unless the ISA publicly states that SUP is indeed a surfing sport, they should stay out of it.

[Area 10]

Unless the ISA publicly states that SUP is indeed a surfing sport, they should stay out of it.

Have the ICF publicly declared that SUP is a Canoe sport?

The ISA describes itself:

“The ISA governs and defines Surfing as Shortboard, Longboard & Bodyboarding, StandUp Paddle (SUP) Racing and Surfing, Bodysurfing, Wakesurfing, and all other wave riding activities on any type of waves, and on flat water using wave riding equipment”.

Not sure how a flat water SUP could be described as a piece of “wave riding equipment”. But equally, I don’t see a SUP as a canoe, either. Do you?

And yes, JEG, I think most of us would prefer our own governing body. But since when did the majority get what they want? These are different times, it seems.

[ukgm]

And yes, JEG, I think most of us would prefer our own governing body. But since when did the majority get what they want? These are different times, it seems.

It's to do with national level funding being limited plus the needs of the IOC (as they don't want to have to accept membership from more and more national federations). Yes, we all know we would be better with one but its not going to happen due to the current constraints. The power, money and draw of Olympic inclusion is what is really fueling this argument. The ISA didn't give a monkeys about SUP before surfing made the games (and the ICF see the same opportunity).

The ICF have now publicly offered an olive branch to the ISA apparently whereby they've suggested that they manage inland and flatwater paddling and the ISA would have open water and surf based SUP. The ISA will apparently say no to that. That might be silly as I suspect the ICF have a lot more pull at the IOC than the ISA will and the ICF could make an argument that there are plenty of examples of mutliple governing bodies controlling the same sport. If the ISA isn't careful, they could lose it all. Plus its worth keeping in perspective that despite the ISA running the world champs for a while, it's only been since 2011. I would not consider that longstanding.

If you follow facebook the discussion seems to be suggesting that many of the contracted top pro's have been told not to go to the ICF championships yet others who are not, are starting to enter. Personally, I feel competition is healthy for us the end user so let's see them work to own the sport and show how we can benefit from that.

[ukgm]

(you'll also find the early signs of brand loyalty too - it seems Naish and Starboard are only going to the ISA champs whereas Mistral, Nelo some independents are apparently going to the ICF champs).

[yugi]

.

[yugi]

…
 I suspect the ICF have a lot more pull at the IOC than the ISA will and the ICF could make an argument that …
 

You could be right about that since ICF (International Canoe Federation) president, José Perurena, is an IOC (International Olympic Committee) member. And all that being in the same [lake] town as the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport).

Sadly.

Bunch of old farts in blazers (and silk scarfs) who love their boozy lunches.

As far as that inland vs ocean suggestion goes:
In our [inland] national SUP association there have been a few times suggesitions in the past for the association to simply join the national Canoe Association as  that structure already existed and paperwork would have been a lot easier but the vast majority of [us inland] SUP’ers would have nothing to do with canoeing and voted to stay separate and affiliated with ISA (International Surfing Association).

All the top SUP racers, here inland, also do and like the surf side of the sport. And are involved in other water glisse/surfy sports. Including the young guns.

[dingfix]

Isnt the answer in the name?  SUP = Stand Up PaddleBOARD.    Not SUC.

[ukgm]

All the top SUP racers, here inland, also do and like the surf side of the sport. And are involved in other water glisse/surfy sports. Including the young guns.

As we've said before - lets be honest, being associated with the surf side of the sport looks waaaay cooler than being associated with a load of canoeists for many people. I don't mind who the hell it is provided they've got a development plan and they're inclusive.

[yugi]

Isnt the answer in the name?  SUP = Stand Up PaddleBOARD.    Not SUC.

PaddleBOARD sure is a clue. But also Stand Up.

I view all canoeing/ kayaking/rowing as sit down sports.

[ukgm]

Isnt the answer in the name?  SUP = Stand Up PaddleBOARD.    Not SUC.

You could just easily criticise the ISA and says SUP = Stand Up PADDLEboard.   

Either way, Steve West discusses the evolutionary roots at length in his books and social media. He and I don't always see eye to eye but one thing I do agree with is that we shouldn't look at SUP as a derivative of a hard launch pad from another specific discipline. Innovation doesn't always work that way and just because something looks close to something else, doesn't mean the evolutionary marker pen should firmly connect those dots.

This is all irrelevant because wherever the truth is, this war will be fought on the battlefield of perceptions, not on those of empirical science or historical accuracy. The first one to throw money at this, have allies in the right places and do the best act of salesmanship wins. It's that simple.

[singingdog]

Tempest in an incredibly small teapot for most paddlers.

[yugi]

Isnt the answer in the name?  SUP = Stand Up PaddleBOARD.    Not SUC.

You could just easily criticise the ISA and says SUP = Stand Up PADDLEboard.   

...

Nope.

I hope you know what a paddleboard is.

Pop quiz: name this "paddler".

Extra points if you can name the race he is doing.
(hint: it was a few days ago. There's another hint somewhere in there which even a canoer should be able to figure out.)