Middle Dock, Canary Wharf, is the place to be as the world’s best paddleboarders compete in the London Sup Open. Spectating is free.
UPDATE as at 10 September: The event organisers have taken the decision to change the plans for the London SUP Open as a mark of respect following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The open & pro races will no longer take place at Middle Dock, Canary Wharf.
Now in its third year, the London SUP Open – the official London stop on the 2022 Association of Paddlesurf Professionals (APP) World Tour – features a stacked line-up of athletes.
Canary Wharf’s Middle Dock will be transformed on Saturday 17 September into an arena for viewers to witness the world’s best SUP athletes compete in a thrilling sprint tournament for the coveted London sprint title. The athletes will be competing for a 25k prize purse and a World Championship as the London SUP Open hosts stop #2 of the Racing World Tour. Racing starts at 2pm with open racing and team racing (from 10am) if visitors want a piece of the competitive action.
Sunday 18 September will see the pros partake in the iconic voyage down the River Thames in a 15km distance race. The race will start at Battersea at 9am finishing at Wood Wharf, Canary Wharf, around 11am. Then, Canary Wharf and the APP World Tour (for more information about the tour see below) are calling for all paddle enthusiasts to take to the water for the Paddle for the Oceans challenge. The global 2.5km paddle unites thousands of paddlers on the water in a show of solidarity for the oceans with 50% of all proceeds going to ocean-related charities.
The London SUP Open is part of the City Paddle Festival which takes places on Wednesday 14 September and Friday 16 to Sunday 18 September, more information here.
Spectating at the London SUP Open is free.
Timings for Saturday 17 September
9am-5pm: On water demos, SUP yoga and introductory paddle sessions
10am-12noon: Open Sprint Racing for all ages & levels
12noon-2pm: Team Sprint Racing on giant SUPs for teams of up to 6 people
2-5pm: APP World Tour Sprint Racing Elimination in Middle Dock
5.30-9.30pm: Awards presentation & After Party at The Grandstand Bar in Can
Travel tips: The best way to travel is via public transport. Canary Wharf stations – served by the DLR, Elizabeth Line and Jubilee Line respectively – are all within walking distance of Middle Dock. Heron Quay DLR station is also very close by. Plan your journey using the Transport for London website. If driving, Canary Riverside car park on Westferry Road is near
About the APP World Tour & Waterman League International
The APP World Tour is the Professional World Championship Tour for the Sport of Paddlesurfing (also known as SUP/Stand Up Paddling/ Paddleboarding), officially sanctioned by the IOC-recognized Federation for Surfing Sports, the ISA (International Surfing Association).
Re-branded in 2017 as the APP World Tour (previously known as the Stand Up World Tour and Series) the APP has been crowning the sport’s World Champions for both Men & Women across Racing and Surfing since 2010.
More Information is available at appworldtour.com and fans can follow events @appworldtour on Facebook & Instagram.
(APP World Tour background courtesy of the canarywharf.com website.)
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