Gallico Paddle Fest 2026: Reggio Calabria's first ever SUP race

Some days end up on the calendar. Others end up in a city's history. On Sunday 2 August 2026, on the Gallico seafront, Reggio Calabria hosted its first ever SUP race. And it was organised by Blue Tribe.

Twenty-five athletes lined up on the shore, paddles in hand, the Strait of Messina ahead like a stage and Sicily right there, within reach. Perfect sea conditions, spectators along the promenade and that rare feeling of being the first to do something. The Gallico Paddle Fest 2026 was all of that: the first amateur AirSUP race ever held in our area.

A first that Reggio was missing

Reggio Calabria has always lived by the water, yet a stand up paddle race had never been seen in the city. What was missing was an event that took SUP beyond lessons and sunset outings and turned it into a celebration, a challenge and a meeting point. We imagined it, built it together with other associations, and on 2 August we watched it set sail.

The day began at 9 am on the Gallico seafront, as part of the celebrations for the Madonna di Porto Salvo: sport joining the neighbourhood festival, the sea becoming the town square.

25 athletes, some from abroad, and the best sea we could ask for

25 athletes, enthusiasts and amateurs, lined up at the start, some of them from abroad. They raced on inflatable boards, AirSUPs, on a course set up in front of the seafront, with the Strait of Messina as a backdrop. The weather gave us ideal conditions, as if the sea wanted to be part of it too.

It was not a race for the few. It was open to everyone, whatever their experience: those with a board brought it, those without used the equipment provided by the organisers.

SUP is a sport for everyone, and we proved it

Alongside the race, the beach turned into an open-air school: free trials for beginners, guided by our instructors, for anyone who wanted to stand on a board for the first time in a safe setting. That is the spirit we were born with: bringing people closer to the sea, without barriers, and making them fall in love with what our land has to offer.

The strength of a network

None of this would have happened alone. The Gallico Paddle Fest was organised by A.S.D. Blue Tribe together with the associations Il Quadrifoglio and Genea, with the support of Enotria, ASI Calabria and Circolo Velico Reggio, under the patronage of the City of Reggio Calabria and with Decathlon on site. Different associations, one idea: to showcase our coast and give the city a day to remember.

The president's words

"I am proud of what we lived in Gallico. Our land has everything: a Strait like nowhere else in the world, a sea that changes colour every day, a light and a wind that people elsewhere only dream of. There is nothing to invent: all it takes is commitment, passion and skill to give people wonderful experiences.

Sport is a fundamental driver not only of people's wellbeing but also of the value of our territory. And you don't get far alone: only through the commitment of associations, putting themselves on the line and working together, can something extraordinary be achieved. Thank you to everyone who walked with us in this first time. We have shown that only together can we go far."

Sebastiano Michele Militti, president of A.S.D. Blue Tribe

What's next?

We like to think that 2 August was only the beginning. Meanwhile SUP with Blue Tribe carries on at Punta Pellaro: lessons for complete beginners, sunset outings and the guided SUP excursion in Scilla, beneath the Rock, Ruffo Castle and the houses of Chianalea. You will find everything on our SUP lessons and experiences page.

Frequently asked questions

When and where did the first SUP race in Reggio Calabria take place?

On Sunday 2 August 2026, from 9 am, on the Gallico seafront, during the celebrations for the Madonna di Porto Salvo, as part of the Gallico Paddle Fest 2026.

Who organised the Gallico Paddle Fest 2026?

A.S.D. Blue Tribe together with the associations Il Quadrifoglio and Genea, with the support of Enotria, ASI Calabria and Circolo Velico Reggio and the patronage of the City of Reggio Calabria.

What is AirSUP?

It is stand up paddling on inflatable boards: light, easy to carry and stable, ideal for beginners too. The Gallico race was raced on exactly this kind of board.

Where can I try SUP in Reggio Calabria?

At Blue Tribe in Punta Pellaro: beginner lessons, group outings and the guided excursion to Scilla. Write to us and we will find the right moment to get you on a board.

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