European athletes continued to impress at the 2026 Paddle Worldwide Stand Up Paddling World Championships in Sabaudia, Italy, as Thursday's programme introduced the first Technical Race competitions across the Open, Junior and Masters categories.

European athletes made a strong start to the 2026 Paddle Worldwide Stand Up Paddling World Championships in Sabaudia, Italy, as the opening day of 100-metre Sprint racing delivered fast times and competitive performances across the Open, Junior and Masters categories.

The 2026 Paddle Worldwide Stand Up Paddling World Championships have officially begun in Sabaudia, Italy, bringing together a record number of athletes from across the globe. From 14 to 18 October, the Italian venue will host five days of international competition, with Europe's leading paddlers looking to build on their recent success at the Paddle Europe Championships in Agios Nikolaos, Greece.