by InTrieste
The Barcolana Grado SUP Experience will return on Oct. 3 for its fourth edition, as organizers seek to build on record participation and further establish the stand-up paddleboarding event as part of the annual Barcolana sailing festival.
The competition, included in the program of Barcolana 58 presented by Generali, will once again take place in Grado ahead of the internationally known regatta in Trieste, scheduled for Oct. 2–11. More than 200 people took part in the 2025 edition, the highest attendance since the event was launched, and organizers say they hope to continue that upward trend this year.
The event is organized by the Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano in collaboration with the Municipality of Grado, GIT (Grado Impianti Turistici), the Italian Naval League’s Grado section, Circolo Canottieri Ausonia, The Wild SUP and Kitelife.
Participants will be able to choose between two courses: a recreational route of approximately four kilometers and a competitive seven-kilometer race. Both will begin at Spiaggia Imperiale, follow the coastline around Isola d’Oro and cross the canal before finishing in the Mandracchio, the historic harbor in Grado’s old town. The competitive course will also include a loop around Isola della Schiusa.
The races are scheduled to start simultaneously at 11 a.m., a timing chosen to coincide with the incoming tide, which organizers say will help participants along the course.
The event remains open to a broad range of participants, including experienced competitors, recreational paddlers, families and children. Equipment rental will also be available for those without their own paddleboards.
Mitja Gialuz, president of the Società Velica di Barcola e Grignano, said the event reflects Barcolana’s broader goal of promoting accessible water sports while showcasing the surrounding area. He said organizers ultimately hope to make the Grado SUP Experience one of the world’s largest stand-up paddleboarding events.
Grado Mayor Giuseppe Corbatto described the event as an established part of the city’s sporting and tourism calendar, highlighting its connection to the town’s maritime identity.
Roberto Marin, president of GIT Grado Impianti Turistici, said the event provides an opportunity to introduce visitors to Grado and promote its beach facilities and recently renovated marine thermal spa. He added that Grado will also be represented at the Barcolana Village in Trieste through a promotional stand organized with the Municipality of Grado and the Grado Tourism Consortium.
The event is supported by PromoTurismoFVG through the regional “Io sono Friuli Venezia Giulia” tourism brand.
Registration is open through Oct. 2 on the Barcolana website. Entry fees are €40 for the competitive race and €25 for the recreational course. Activities on race day will begin at 8 a.m. with participant check-in, followed by a skippers’ briefing at 10 a.m. Awards, a communal pasta meal and an evening DJ set will conclude the event.
