Do it standing up: SUP

Fotografia - Postal

Stand Up Paddle, better known by the abbreviation SUP, is a sport that anyone from five to 80 years of age can practice according to those responsible for the festival.

According to the information note of the organization of the event - which will be with food, a music festival, bar area with small bonfires, camping area and a large water slide into the river - that results from the union of efforts of the companies Algarve SUP Nick Robinson and Algarve Marquees, from Tom Longhurst, a great SUP paddler. The Algarve SUP was one of the first to popularize this sport in the South of Portugal.

Nick Robinson enjoys this adventure and was one of the first people to do Standup Paddling in the Algarve, from Sagres to the border with Spain, for a total of 260 kilometers. In 2014, Nick started the "Guadiana Challenge" and, with some friends, ventured to complete 32 kilometers on the Guadiana River, between Mértola and Alcoutim. The team, together with Gustavo Lima of the GL brand - Events & Business Network since 2016, wants to make this year's event one of the biggest ever.

The event takes place between 7 and 9 April.

"We are trying to promote this sport so that everyone can participate and try the sport on Saturday (April 8) or Sunday (April 9) in Mértola," says Nick Robinson. The leader of the initiative stresses that "it is such an easy way to learn and the health benefits are tremendous! There will be a wide variety of boards to try at zero cost. It's your chance to try it out for the first time in the presence of a number of experienced instructors who will assist in what is needed. "

The race itself is divided into three categories among which are the main event, which is the descent of the river Guadiana from Mértola to Alcoutim in 32 kilometers, and a family adventure or for beginners with 10 kilometers of SUP race.