Last Paddler Standing: the first ever Sup Race that WON a Sup Race
The fascination of ULTRA
By Paolo Marconi
I first came across the Last Paddler Standing in the winter of 2022. I discovered it by chance, while browsing the web, first on social media and then visiting the official website, where I found out that this is not just a race, but an entity, a beast to tame, an unknown challenge that can lead you to experience a huge introspective journey.
That year, I participated in and won the first edition of the Last Paddler Standing, after 48 hours of racing, discovering a new dimension of SUP racing and fully immersing myself in ultra paddling. I discovered a fantastic community of paddlers who love to cover long distances and also enjoy reflecting on themselves through such a challenge. To this day, the Last Paddler Standing is the race that has given me the most emotions, profoundly changing my approach to the sport and to daily life.
The format of the Last Paddler Standing consists of a 5.5 km course to be completed within a one-hour time limit, every hour for 48 hours. From the 49th lap onward, the course transforms into a mythological figure, an 8 km route to be completed within the one-hour limit, after paddling for the previous two days with hardly any sleep.
To most people, this seems crazy, almost masochistic. Many don't see any sense in paddling slowly in the same place for over two days. However, if the concept of this race intrigues your desire for introspection, adventure, and pushing your limits, this is where you'll find what you're looking for.
The race takes place between November and December in Sarasota, at the artificial lake of Nathan Benderson Park. The creator of this challenge is Greg Wingo, who was freely inspired by the format of backyard running races. Greg has created one of the most fascinating alternative races in our sport. It will never be an event with hundreds of participants, but without a doubt, it is the event that creates the strongest connection between those watching from home and those paddling. Everyone watching from home has at least once mentally placed themselves in the race, empathizing with the athletes and reflecting on how they would feel if they were in their shoes.
In the 2023 edition, Blake Carmichael won by breaking the 48-hour barrier, completing two 8 km laps after 50 hours of racing. This year marked the third edition, a different edition from the others, during which athletes had to face not only the distance but also the wind and cold during the night hours. The participants who aspired to be the Last Paddler Standing knew from the start that the 48-hour mark would be their minimum goal, and so it was. Five athletes saw the first lights of the third day of the race, and four of them faced the longer course. During the early hours of the day, the wind swept across Nathan Benderson Park, making the race very physical. Some might think that completing 8 km in under an hour on a SUP is not an impossible feat, but imagine doing so after paddling over 260 km and not sleeping for two days. In those conditions, it’s hard to even stay conscious.
During the 49th hour, the challenge intensified, and in a single lap, three athletes dropped out of the competition, leaving John Batson to face the race for one last lap. It was during the 50th lap that the SUP drama unfolded. The strong wind continued to blow, testing the last remaining survivor, who, however, failed to complete the 8 km within the time limit. And so, for the first time in the history of the Last Paddler Standing (and I believe in the history of SUP), it was the race that won, not an athlete.
A special thank you goes to Greg Wingo for creating this challenge and to the commentators who made it possible to experience all the emotions that such a race can offer. However, the true protagonists were the athletes, from the first to the last. They were contemporary heroes who firmly believe that through challenges like this, one can grow and improve.
Start preparing—there’s one year left until the Last Paddler Standing 2025!