The season opener allowed SIC Maui athletes to make a powerful statement against world-class competition at the 8th annual SPRING SUP RACE, held April 3-6, 2025, at scenic Lago delle Nazioni in Comacchio, Italy.
A Promising Season Kickoff
Organized by DELTA SUP, the event saw SIC athletes excel across multiple divisions, highlighted by Ethan Bry's standout performance, securing a 2nd place finish in the men's long-distance event.
The SIC team delivered impressive results throughout the competition: Rika Okuaki captured 3rd in the women's open 100m sprint and placed 4th in long distance. At the same time, Sara Oddera dominated the 50+ category with a silver medal in the long-distance event.
Roberto Cañedo put in a strong showing representing the iconic brand, grabbing 3rd place in the men's 40+ technical race. The team made an impressive statement in the main men's long-distance event, with three paddlers finishing in the top 10. Ethan Bry led the charge with a standout 2nd place finish (1:08:03), followed by Kotaro Miyahira in 6th (1:08:34) and Ludovic Teulade in 9th (1:09:41)—a solid performance against some of Europe's best.
Interview with Ethan Bry, Men's Long-Distance Runner-Up
"This is special for me as it's the first international competition of the season," Ethan shares, excited to get the international schedule rolling earlier this year. The race unfolded in challenging conditions with 20-22 knots crosswinds, turning the event into a strategic battle."It was completely draft-focused, and I did everything to position myself optimally," he explains.
The stacked field, featuring top Spanish and Italian competitors, made for an intensely physical race with relentless surges."It hammered the arms. Just ten minutes in, we were already feeling the burn!" Ethan recalls.
During the final two-kilometer loop, the race ended with a duel between Ethan and Donato Freens."Donato threw down a massive acceleration that dropped everyone, but I managed to hang onto his side draft," he recounts.
Despite exhaustion setting in, Ethan held on until the final sprint. The event also validated the SIC Maui rider's equipment choices: "The RST was the board to have, whether navigating wakes or handling turns."
After months of training without competitive benchmarks, this first international showdown proved crucial:"It's incredibly satisfying to gauge where I stand and build momentum through these head-to-head battles. Everything's pointing toward a great season ahead."