Recapping the Historic 2025 ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship in Surf City El Salvador

Cash Lambert
Jul 31
5 min read

Updated: 21 hours ago

In mid November, El Sunzal, La Liberta, El Salvador played host to the worlds’ greatest collection of SUP and Paddleboard talent with over 169 athletes, representing 27 national teams. The waves were pumping, the air was warm (no wetsuits necessary), and the crowd — given the several team components of the event — was absolutely electric.

You could feel the excitement and passion on the beach. Video courtesy Surf City El Salvador

Oh, and if you missed the 2025 World Longboard Championship, check out a recap right here.

Here’s the history that was made at the 2025 ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship in Surf City El Salvador.

Spain Wins Back-to-Back Team Gold Medal

Team Spain. Photo: Pablo Franco / ISA

Team Spain defended their inaugural team gold medal (won in 2024), thanks to several dominant performances, including: Judit Verges winning Gold in the Women’s Prone Distance Race, Duna Gordillo winning Gold in the Women’s Sup Distance Race, Alba Frey winning Bronze in the Women’s Sup Distance Race, and David Buil’s Bronze in the Men’s Prone Distance Race.

The question on the beach after their award ceremony was this: can they three-peat next year?

Christian Andersen Wins SUP Sprint Race & First World Title

Christian Andersen, Team Denmark. Photo: Pablo Franco / ISA

Christen Andersen achieved a long awaited dream on the sands of El Sunzai. The Denmark native claimed his first men’s World Title in the division where he has twice previously reached the Final.

Oh, and that’s not all. He also added to his hardware by winning the silver medal in the SUP Technical Race.

“Wow, I don’t even know what to say, I’m speechless right now,” Andersen said. “I’ve sacrificed so much to get here, and so much of my life has gone into the sport. I just believed in it today, and I knew I could do it.”

Yes, El Sunzai is the ultimate venue for surfing, but also for SUP and paddleboard. Video courtesy Surf City El Salvador

Mariecarmen Rivera Wins Women’s SUP Sprint Race

Mariecarmen Rivera, Team Puerto Rico. Photo: Pablo Jimenez / ISA

Mariecarmen Rivera has taken a home a medal in every race she’s competed in at the ISA, except one: gold. At this event, that dream became a reality as she came in first place during the Women’s SUP Sprint Race. For Rivera, the race and her victory all came down to her mentality.

"My first ISA gold medal. I really wanted it," Rivera said. "I have a mindset that the race never ends until you cross the finish line, so I always give my best and I will give my 100%. I was thinking, okay, clear mind, don’t get too emotional. I always try when I compete to not get emotions involved, to be like a machine, and I was like that until I touched the sand, then I was more relaxed. It was like, it’s done. It’s done. It’s mine."

Duna Gordillo Wins Women’s SUP Distance Race

Duna Gordillo (ESP) and Mariecarmen Rivera (PUR). Photo: Pablo Jimenez / ISA

Duna Gordillo backed up her 2022 gold medal in the women’s SUP Distance Race with another gold in 2025, the third-time for Gordillo crowned World Champion overall. It was a storybook finish for the Spain native who not only acheived her goals and dreams; her performance helped boost Team Spain atop the leaderboard.

“I never have a strategy, but at the start I looked behind me to see if the two women were there, and then I thought I wasn’t going to watch anymore.," she saidl. "I did my race, took the waves, and did it.”

Today, Shuri Araki Wins Historic Sixth Medal

Shuri Araki, Team Japan. Photo: Sean Evans

Japan’s Shuri Araki officially set himself apart as the greatest SUP racer in ISA history.

Having matched the existing record of five gold medals the day prior, the 19-year-old added his sixth on the final event day, remaining undefeated in both the SUP Distance and Technical Races.

History, indeed.

"I'm very happy to get my second gold medal [this event]," Araki said. "It's very difficult to get three gold medals, I know that it's not easy. It's a big challenge for me, but I want to challenge this year."

Judit Vergés Won Prone Distance Race

Judit Vergés, Team Spain. Photo: Pablo Franco

Another Spain native who helped boost her team atop the leaderboard: Judit Verges. She shook off the past memories of the event and venue — she received a disqualification the last time she raced in El Salvador in 2019 - and focused on the present, claiming victory in the Prone Distance Race.

“It’s so special for me because in the last championship here in El Salvador I lost the gold, I was disqualified," she said. "Coming back six years later and winning the long distance is so special. It was quite hard and really, really hot, but when we turned the buoy the surfing was really good for me. I enjoyed it a lot. I feel so happy, and seeing Duna [Gordillo] arriving also first was so special. We are a big team, like a family, so I’m really, really happy.”

Mael Tissier WIns Prone Divisions

Mael Tissier, Team France. Photo: Pablo Jimenez

Mael Tissier, the 29-year-old lifesaver from Hossegor, made it a clean sweep in the Prone divisions, claiming the Distance Race win after taking the Technical Race the previous day.

It was a dominant display by a dominant athlete.

“I’m really happy because it was a difficult one,” Tissier said. “It was very hard because the temperature was not so good and the wind was weird. The conditions were very strange and changing all the time, so it was important to rest on the first leg and think about how to manage the second and the third and imagine what can happen during the race.”

A bird's eye view of the paddle battles. Video courtesy Surf City El Salvador

There you have it: the 2025 ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship was historic, and we can't wait for the next one. If you love all things paddle board, SUP, and surf, stay tuned for next year’s event.

2025 ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship In Surf City El Salvador Results

Teams

Gold – Spain

Silver – France

Bronze – Japan

Copper – Brazil

Women’s SUP Sprint Race

Gold – Mariecarmen Rivera (PUR)

Silver – Alba Frey (ESP)

Bronze – Cecilia Pampinella (ITA)

Copper – Roseli Krepel (BRA)

Men’s SUP Sprint Race

Gold – Christian Andersen (DEN)

Silver – Ethan Bry (FRA)

Bronze – Sergio Cantoral (ESP)

Copper – Nicolò Ricco (ITA)

Women’s Prone Distance Race

Gold – Judit Verges (ESP)

Silver – Yurika Horibe (JPN)

Bronze – Thais Delrieux (FRA)

Copper – Lizette Perez (ITA)

Women’s SUP Distance Race

Gold – Duna Gordillo (ESP)

Silver – Mariecarmen Rivera (PUR)

Bronze – Alba Frey (ESP)

Copper – Csillag Virág-Kocsis (HUN)

Men’s Prone Distance Race

Gold – Mael Tissier (FRA)

Silver – So Nomura (JPN)

Bronze – David Buil (ESP)

Copper – Andrea Rossi (ITA)

Men’s SUP Distance Race

Gold – Shuri Araki (JPN)