Madeira’s SUP Challenge / Portuguese Nationals just in

Our official results of the first event on the Portuguese Race Tour are in, and it’s been pretty epic. The race took place around Madeira and the contenders got hit with 20 knots of wind and a solid Atlantic swell.

Rúben Afonso secured 1st place overall, with his team buddy Renato Queiros making some questionable choices that got him in trouble almost immediately:

“I’ve just finished the first race of the SUP nationals on Madeira Island, and managed to end on 3rd place in the 12’6 category. The 12 km just destroyed me, as I made the wrong choice of board for the day. I definitely should’ve chosen something a little more stable, as the conditions were demanding, and I ended up in the last position within a 20-minute timeframe.

Throughout the rest of the race I gradually managed to recover more places until the last 3 kilometres of the race in 4th position. At that point I decided to give it all I got, and battled my way past to 3rd place, with me having an uncontrollable urge to throw up around 100 meters from the finishing line.

Even though I gave it everything I got, I did feel a little disappointed with myself for not making it to the 1st or 2nd spot.”