The SUP Alps Trophy will host the Graz River Days on the Mur from 26 to 28 June 2026 (Registration here). The Seifenfabrik event site is located directly on the river in the centre of Graz. The festival offers three days of competition with different race formats for beginners and professionals. The event starts on Friday afternoon with a meet & greet. In the late afternoon, a free technical course with world champions will take place on the Mur. The race results count towards the Styrian national championship. The SUP Club Graz organises this additional classification for all athletes who are registered in an ASF-affiliated club in Styria, regardless of their nationality.
Funrace through the city centre of Graz
Saturday begins at 12.30 pm with the mass start of the fun race. The course runs over four kilometres on a circuit through the river landscape of the Mur and Graz city centre. The race is aimed at beginners and fun paddlers. For the first time, there will be a separate classification for all Longdistance Pro participants who also compete in the Funrace. The start number distribution runs from 10.00 to 11.30 am and from 3.30 to 5.00 pm. The Riders Meeting will take place at 12.00 noon. After the fun race, the pros will prepare for the main race of the day. The Seifenfabrik at Angergasse 43 serves as the central contact point for all participants and offers culinary catering.
Time Trial Pro Longdistance with prize money
The Time Trial Pro Longdistance over ten kilometres starts at 6.00 pm. The participants take to the course with a one-minute time interval. This format will be used for the first time at the Graz River Days. The defending champions Csillag Koszig (ICF Worldchampionship 2025 Junior World Champion) and Normen Weber (ICF Worldchampionship 2025 Sprint 5th place and German Champion in Sprint, Tech Race and Longdistance) are the ones to beat.
National champions from Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Croatia, Austria and Germany are already registered. From the Top ten of the SUP Alps Trophy 2025, 7 racers are already registered. The starting order of the Time Trial Pro Longdistance will be determined by the current international results and the supposedly fastest paddler will start last. The prize money of 2,000 euros will be split equally between the Queen of Speed and the King of Speed. The overall results are included in the SUP Alps Trophy Pro Longdistance classification. The award ceremony at 9.30 p.m. includes age groups, the podium places receive SUP Alps Trophy medals. The results will be published online immediately. The finish is at the soap factory, where all participants will be catered for. The riders meeting for the long-distance race will take place at 5.30 pm.
Tech Race in the knockout system
Sunday will be characterised by the Tech Race. The race starts at 11.45 am and will be held in a knockout system. This format is one of the most exciting SUP race formats and offers athletes the opportunity to gain experience for international races. The Riders Meeting starts at 10.00 a.m., the start number distribution runs in parallel. The award ceremony will take place at 2.30 pm. Rudy van Haven will take over as race director and presenter. Andy Klotz photographs all SUP events and ensures that every participant receives photographic material.
Arrival: Free motorhome pitches
The Seifenfabrik offers free pitches for motorhomes from Friday. For participants who prefer flats, hotels or guesthouses, the organiser recommends booking.com or the tourist office. The central location of the event site directly on the River Mur enables short distances between accommodation and the competition venue. The Mur is considered a natural jewel in the centre of Graz and offers ideal conditions for SUP races. The festival combines sporting competitions with the flair of an urban river landscape. The three-day event is aimed at paddlers of all abilities and offers various formats for different requirements.
Programme:
Friday 26 June 2026:
- Meet & Greet
- 17.00: Paddle technique with world champions & drinks
Saturday 27 June 2026:
- 10.00-11.30 & 15.30-17.00: Start number distribution
- 12.00 pm: Riders Meeting Funrace
- 12.30 pm: Start Funrace
- 17.30 hrs: Riders Meeting Pro Longdistance
- 18.00 hrs: Pro Longdistance Time Trial
- 21.30: Award ceremony
Sunday 28 June 2026:
- 10.00 a.m.: Start number distribution
- 10.00 am: Riders Meeting
- 11.45 a.m.: Tech Race
- 14.30: Award ceremony
Event calendar: Alps Trophy Tour 2026
May 2026
Thu, 14.05.2026 - Sun, 17.05.2026
The Lake Rocks - Villach (Faaker See)
June 2026
Sat., 13.06.2026 - Sun., 14.06.2026
Superlot - Gunzenhausen (Altmühlsee)
Fri, 26.06.2026 - Sun, 28.06.2026
Graz River Days - Graz
July 2026
Sat., 04.07.2026 - Sun., 05.07.2026
Erfurt Lago di Alpi - Erfurt
September 2026
Sat., 05.09.2026 - Sun., 06.09.2026
Adria SUP Challenge - Koper/Capodistria
Sat, 26.09.2026 - Sun, 27.09.2026
Legend of Ox - St. Gilgen (Wolfgangsee)
Stephan Gölnitz
Deputy Editor in Chief surf
