The SUP World Ranking has updated its list of the top 100 Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) athletes with a new version.
What does the TOP 100 list mean? Why was it created?
SWR has reached a major milestone with the creation of the TOP 100 list. It took four years of systematic work, hundreds of races and thousands of riders from all over the world to produce the TOP 100.
We have worked very hard to provide a realistic picture of the SUP riders based on real values, adapted to statistical theories and mathematical foundations. With all the «World Champions» announced by different organisations and race organisers, it is very difficult to find the best rider of the year.
The SWR ranking awards riders in 3 different categories throughout the year. Each year in January, riders start with a clean slate, and by the end of December, the Long Distance, Technical and Sprint World Rankings are established.
These lists are a good indication of which riders have been the most successful and active in each category in a given year, but to get a complex picture where we can summarise the results of all three categories, we had to create new formulas and tables.
How did the TOP 100 list come about ?
Our aim was to create a Perpetual Ranking that would take into account the results of all SWR-registered races in the world, regardless of the 3 different categories, on a pro-rata basis.
Another important aspect in the development of the formula was the preference for quality over quantity.
Therefore, only the top 10 results of all riders in a given year are taken into account (regardless of whether the rider competed in a long distance, technical or sprint race).
The year 2022 is the first year when the TOP 100 list will be published. In the following years, we will always add the results to the previous year’s scores. This way, a real Perpetual SUP Ranking List will be created.
Another important information is that the top 20 male and female athletes on the top 100 list will determine the points available for competitions in the following year, which will influence the value of the event (number of stars).
What other innovations will there be on the SWR website in 2023?
In 2023, the ULTRA DISTANCE SUP WORLD RANKING will begin, supported by the Belgian SUP Tour as a naming sponsor. The rules of this will also be published on our website soon.
A new innovation is the Active Partner Program, which helps and promotes the work of competition organizers and events. We welcome applications at the email address race@supworldranking.com.
There will also be some changes in the evaluation of competitions. Instead of awarding points based on the top 10 female athletes, we will award points based on the presence of the top 20 athletes.
We welcome applications from all competition organizers to include their competition in the 2023 Event Calendar. We wish all SUP fans a Happy, Peaceful and Successful New Year.
See you at the starting line next year.
