Welcome to thE SURGE 2026

Get ready for Year 2 of The Surge — a unique four-hour, lap-based SUP endurance race with a twist.

For the first three hours, it’s all about endurance. Paddle as many laps as you can, at your own pace, and manage your effort however you choose. Then everything changes. The final hour begins with the Surge Lap, one all-out lap where paddlers start together and the fastest paddlers in each category can earn valuable bonus points. It’s the moment when pacing, strategy and speed all come together.

Date and location

Join us on Saturday 17th October 2026 at Foremark Reservoir, Derby, UK

Timings

• Registration between 8.30am - 9.15am

• Safety briefing at 9.30am

• Race starts at 10:00am

• Surge hour begins at 1:00pm

• Race finishes at 2:00pm

• Any lap not completed before 2:00pm will not count

• Prize giving at 2:30pm

Format

• Lap distance: 3km

• Race duration: 4 continuous hours of paddling

• At 1:00pm, paddlers can choose to begin one all-out Surge Lap for bonus points

• Complete as many laps as possible before the finish

This one is for the solo paddlers. The ones who want to discover just how far they can really go.

Paddle continuously for four hours, or break your race into manageable sections with rest and refuelling in between, the choice is yours.

Join the Surge Lap to earn bonus points!

There are no mandatory breaks. How you manage your pacing, nutrition, hydration and recovery is entirely up to you.

It’s a race that rewards endurance, strategy and perfectly timed speed.

The Surge Hour

At exactly 1:00pm, the final hour begins with the Surge Lap.

Everyone starts paddling together for one all-out lap, with bonus points awarded to the fastest paddlers in each category.

One explosive lap.
One chance to earn valuable bonus points.
One moment to go all in.

Once your Surge Lap is complete, head straight back out and keep adding laps until the race finishes at 2:00pm.

Every lap counts.

Surge Lap Bonus Points

Your first lap after 1:00pm is your official Surge Lap.

Bonus points are awarded within each category:

1st – 4 points
2nd – 3 points
3rd – 2 points
4th – 1 point

After completing your Surge Lap, continue paddling and add as many further laps as you can before 2:00pm.

Scoring

Your final score is made up of:

1 point for every completed lap + Surge Lap bonus points

Final Score = Total Completed Laps + Surge Points

The paddler with the highest total score in each category wins.

Tie Break

If two paddlers finish with the same total score, the paddler who completed their final lap first will be ranked higher.

Categories

Four solo categories:

• Hardboard Male

• Hardboard Female

• iSUP Male

• iSUP Female

Conduct & safety

• Continuous laps around a marked course

• Safety boats on the water throughout

• PFDs and leashes are mandatory

• Drafting is not permitted

• Outside assistance, including towing, pacing or motorised support, is prohibited

• Racers may leave the water and rest whenever they choose, but the race clock continues to run

• Support crews must remain within designated areas

• Racers are responsible for their own nutrition and hydration

Facilities

Camping and car parking is adjacent to the launch area, with changing facilities, toilets and hot showers available.

There is also a café serving food and drinks, so you can warm up and refuel after racing.

#TheSurgeRace