Record-breaking third edition for the Sparrowhawk SUP Challenge: 101 athletes competing and a big crowd for the FISSW titles.
The curtain falls on the season at the Punta Ala Sailing Center with the awarding of the Italian SUP Race & Paddleboard Championship (FISSW) category titles. The
Sparrowhawk SUP Challenge, dedicated to Sara D’Apolito
, drew a large audience and, above all, many young people to the beach at PuntAla Camp & Resort.
As early as Friday the weather forecast forced the organization to shuffle the cards: Distance Race brought forward to Saturday morning, Technical Race set for Sunday. The right choice, because Saturday provided the day everyone was hoping for. The course, drawn along the coast towards Cala Civette, saw U12s and ParaSUPs start first on a 3 km course (1,200 m long side), with U14s engaged in two laps. Then a quick shift of buoys and space for the other categories, on two laps of 5 km total. High pace, overtaking, close finishes: an intense morning, closely followed by the shoreline.
At the end of the races, the beach remained alive with free tests provided by technical partners: boards and paddles tried out by athletes, spectators and camp guests, an easy way to get closer to the discipline and learn about different materials.
Sunday told a different story: winds over 35 knots and major waves forced a stop. Safety first. The resort turned the stop into a time of community, offering alternative activities for teams and families while waiting for the awards.
The Sparrowhawk SUP Challenge is also – and above all – a way to keep Sara D’Apolito, instructor at the Punta Ala Sailing Center, alive with what she loved: sports, smiles and mutual respect. The same values that ran through the entire weekend.
Full results and the list of awardees for each category are available on the event’s race card.
Thanks to FISSW, judges, staff in the water and on land, volunteers, technical partners, and of course all the athletes and families who shared this season finale with us at PuntAla Camp & Resort.
Congratulations to the new Italian Champions!
