River SUP – A New Sport Made in Spain
Year 2008 at a service station on the Valencia-Alicante motorway.- "What's that?" – I asked.
- "It's a SUP board (Stand Up Paddle Board)"
- "Can this go on a river?"
- "Dunno," replied Fernando Labad, "but this is designed for the sea."
- "If it floats at sea, it'll float on a river. I'm inviting you to my river to try."
And that's how River SUP was born. We tried it, and I immediately realised it could be a new way to descend rivers. You can see an example of this sport via this link to get an idea of what I mean.
For two years, I wrestled with the river and the board – I kept capsizing in every rapid, time after time. I knew it was about perseverance: I started applying whitewater kayaking techniques to the board.
Soon I got the first positive reactions, though guides and kayakers didn't foresee any future for it. I remained stubborn.
By late 2010, I'd stopped capsizing and managed to spark my mate Gallego's interest – until then, he'd been sceptical too.
The sheer act of descending a river standing up gave me immense satisfaction – it was unlike anything else. On rivers, you normally descend seated in (or on) all or nearly all vessels, which limits your field of vision. On a board, however, it's far greater, making reading the river much easier.
Soon I found a board type well-suited for rivers, bought several, and added it as another activity offered by Kalahari Adventures. The results were brilliant, and I saw firsthand how chuffed clients were afterwards.
Getting people to choose River SUP was tricky initially, but given the great feedback, we had to push it. We encouraged undecided clients to give it a go. The most surprising bit? People came back for more – which gave us the impetus to continue.
We sparked curiosity among sea paddle boarders, with some drawn by the novelty and stunning photos we posted online.
The most frequent questions were: "Do you need great balance if it's hard enough at sea?" Actually no – it's easier in principle. Rivers are far more predictable than the sea, and the surface remains flat until you hit rapids. When rapids come, you can kneel on the board, sit, or even lie down. Though most end up staying upright – or at least trying to.
Last year, we got to descend the Noguera Pallaresa river during a kayak gathering – the stunned looks on seasoned canoeists' faces were priceless.
We also organised the first ever River SUP competition on the Cabriel river last year. This year, we've cemented it with the "Mitical River SUP" – a 40km descent plus slalom trial.
Today, we're a global benchmark. We hope to gradually introduce this activity to thrill-seekers and, through this initiative, bring surf culture inland.
At Kalahari, we offer one-day descents or weekend courses where we teach not just descent techniques but essential river self-rescue skills for River SUP.
River Difficulty Grades
For beginners, rivers should be straightforward – Grade 2 – progressing gradually up to maximum Grade 4. In kayaking, Grade 6 is the toughest, with anything beyond deemed unnavigable.
Tried it yet? Share your experience here.
