Stand Up Paddle boarding is becoming increasingly popular in Italy too. This sport, which has ancient roots, has now become a reality and is growing worldwide. You can do it anywhere: on flat water or in the surf. The International Surfing Association, ISA, which regulates all official activities associated with surfing – and now also with SUP – is creating a network of instructors who can teach the basics of this fast growing sport. The first official SUP instructor course in Italy was recently held in Viareggio, presented by a renowned name in the Italian surfing world: Alessandro Dini, Italian representative from ISA. We asked him a few questions, which he answered openly and honestly.
Hi Alessandro, as far as we know, you’re certainly a pillar of surfing… Italia Wave Surf Team, Natural Surf, instructor, representative from ISA; you witnessed the birth of surfing in Italy, something that few would have believed possible; tell us a few comments about it: how do you see the future of surfing in Italy?
Bright and long-term, but we have to get through this tough time, in which our federation is still not recognized by CONI (the Italian National Olympic Committee). The tug-of-war between the two existing associations doesn’t allow surfing to grow adequately, at the same pace as in other countries across Europe and the world.
The national surfing congress will be held soon, what do you think and, deep down, what do you hope will come out of it?
What I hope is one thing, another thing is seeing that there is no intention to join forces or go for elections with clear rules between the two associations. I just hope I won’t be attacked again, as I was recently by Surfing Italia, just because I confirmed the fact that I’m “equidistant” from both associations, as ISA rightly expects me to be.
Ok, let’s move to stand up paddle boarding… The first SUP instructor course recognized by ISA was recently held in Italy, of which you were the presenter and supervisor: a lot of people attended the course… did you expect it?
I did, but I didn’t expect nearly all the leading figures in the Italian SUP surfing world to be there.
As you said, some of the best SUP surfers in Italy (e.g. Gasbarro, Guglielmetti, Capparella, Onofri…) attended this course; also thanks to them it wasn’t just an instructor course, but an opportunity to share techniques and experiences. What do you think about it? Did the same thing happen with surfing?
No! Surfers who attended the ISA Level 1 course (only nine!) didn’t feel the need to share their techniques because surfing, with respect to SUP, is a sport where athletes use their instincts and adapt their technique to their physical characteristics and to how they read, and therefore ride, waves. SUP surfing, especially as regards paddling, seems more “standardizable”. Moreover, as it’s a young sport, there still isn’t a single paddling technique or a single way to execute maneuvers; this opens up interesting opportunities for canoeists and SUP riders to share their opinions and points of view, as we saw during the course.
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| Fabrizio Gasbarro (Italian SUP-race champion) during the workshop |
SUP boarding, at the moment, is a reality which increasingly attracts interest from surfers and the public. In Italy, perhaps, we’re a bit behind, even though it’s a sport that really covers a wide range of people (from wave riders to day-trippers, to women who just want to work out…). How do you see the future of SUP surfing in Italy?
I think, as everyone else does, that flat water SUP will be a lot more popular than wave SUP, and that its “working out” aspect contributes to its great growth potential, but, for the rest, I don’t want to commit myself: I clearly said that I am and will always be a surfer and even though I also SUP surf on waves, it’s not my “core” sport. I can only say that ISA really believes it can grow in Italy, and an ISA SUP world championship could take place in Italy in the near future.
In light of your great experience in the surfing world, of the successes and mistakes made in the short history of surfing in Italy - since you certainly know what went on behind the scenes - what advice would you give to those who want to promote this new sport?
To do things with passion, to put their heart in it and join forces, and allow anyone who wants to contribute to the growth of this sport to do so. It’s only fair that those who do all the work get some sort of financial return, but it should all fall within a recognized and controlled entity, which clearly specifies “who does what” and, if necessary, “who gets what”. Clear roles, transparency, consistency.
How do you think surfers and SUP riders can get along?
One of the reasons why I think it’s reasonable to require that attendants, in order to attend a SUP course, must have previously attended a Level 1 SURF course is because the Surf course also covers surfing rules, wave priority, interference and the so-called “surfing Etiquette”, which is key for a peaceful coexistence in the line-up. Depending on the surf spot, surfers and SUP riders can more or less easily coexist, but I think that a trial period is “physiological”, in which I hope intelligence and tolerance will prevail. In certain areas, such as Versilia, I doubt that SUP surfing will grow much, as there’s a long-standing surfing tradition and I don’t expect significant SUP growth there.
Why do you think SUP surfing has attracted more interest from canoeists and windsurfers than surfers? Just because of the fact that you hold on to something? Isn’t it the same in the surf?
Well, I don’t want to alienate my SUP riding friends, but for me, since I’ve always surfed, Stand-up Paddling is a great way to work out when it’s flat or the waves are too small to use a normal surf board. Personally, nothing makes me feel better than paddling with my “arms” to catch a wave and riding it with a short- or longboard. I think that most surfers feel the way I do; and then we should also consider that most kids go surfing by scooter, they carry their board under their arm, and jump in the water as soon as possible, they can’t deal with large, cumbersome boards: this feeling of immediate usability and freedom is also part of the spirit of surfing.
SUP: flat water or in the surf or white water or fitness…. You could go SUP surfing in the ocean, on a lake or a river, with a single board… don’t you think it’s a virtually pervasive reality?
Sure, that’s why ISA is working really hard to organize SUP instructor courses all over the world.
We believe that SUP riding, as well as surfing, or any other water sports can really help bring people closer to the ocean, make them feel respect for the environment. That’s why we think it is essential to promote these sports by starting from the beginning, from the basics, in a simple and easy manner. Shouldn’t surfers be the first to feel this need to protect nature and the environment? Stand-up Paddling is closely associated with the roots of surfing, it was born in Polynesia and we all know how ancestrally important marine environmental protection and the respect for the ocean is to native Pacific islanders, first of all Hawaiians. ISA instructors are first of all ambassadors of marine environmental protection who, with their messages and actions, serve as a model for their students, future surfers and SUP riders.
The ocean is a source of life 365 days a year. What could we do to bring people closer to the sea and attract their interest apart from just lying in the sun in summer time?
A lot can still be done, but I think that we, as surfers (and SUP riders), are already doing a lot for the cause. And other categories of users whose means of support is the ocean (like scuba divers) also do their share to make people understand the beauty of the ocean.
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| Alessandro Onofri (Italian SUP-wave champ) during water testing |
Do you want to give a few tips to those who are about to enter the water sports world?
Well, mine’s a stock answer: if you want to start a board sport, go to qualified schools and instructors, who have an ISA license and can make your surfing experience safe and fun. You can get an unpleasant surprise by self-teaching or learning with non-professionals or inexperienced teachers.
Ok, thanks Alessandro for your time and consideration… see you soon in the line-up!
Thanks to you guys from Green Ocean Surfing, you’re doing a great job!
All photos from supmania.it
