Note presented by the International Surfing Association Cover photo: ISA/Agustin Muñoz 

The 2018 ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship (WSUPPC) kicks off this Friday in Wanning, China in a marathon 10-day event that will conclude on December 2.

Here are 10 things the International Surfing Association says you should know about one of its fastest-growing tournaments of recent years:

1. Four continents in seven years
The WSUPPC 2018 will be held in Asia for the first time in its seven-year history, following previous editions in America (Peru, Nicaragua, Mexico), Europe (Denmark), and Oceania (Fiji).

This great diversity of locations across the four continents is another example of the global growth of SUP around the world.

And thus, as an example of the growth of the discipline in Asia, teams from China, Iran and Hong Kong will participate in the tournament for the first time.

2. To follow it online
It will be broadcast live on the DUKE homepage and on www.isasurf.org from November 23 to December 2. There you will also find results, photos, videos and news about the championship.

3. Qualification for the Pan American Games
Four athletes from the 2018 WSUPPC will qualify to compete in SUP's debut at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games.

The best American man and woman in the SUP Surfing and Technical Race divisions will earn their spots for Lima 2019.

4. The confirmation of SUP's global leadership by the ISA
The ISA has organised SUP and Paddleboard World Championships since 2012.

Through development programs, scholarships for young SUP athletes and promoting the sport with Championships at the international level, SUP has experienced explosive growth under the leadership and governance of the ISA.

The ISA submitted both Surfing and SUP to the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee for inclusion within the Olympic Sports Programme. Tokyo 2020 chose to include surfing but achievements such as the incorporation of SUP into the 2019 Pan American Games and the 2017 Central American Games under the leadership of the ISA, have provided a significant push for inclusion ahead of the 2024 Olympics.

5. Gender equality
The 2017 edition of the ISA WSUPPC 2017 was the first to include a gender equality format, with equal numbers of women and men competing in each category.

Future editions, including this one in 2018, will continue with this format, representing the global growth of women's participation in SUP.

6. First ISA U18 SUP World Champions
For the first time in the history of this event, the ISA will crown the first ever junior world champions in the discipline in China. The world's best SUP U18 athletes will compete for medals in the SUP technical race.

7. The location of the event
The 2018 event will be held in two different locations within Wanning, China. SUP Surfing and Technical Races will take place at the famous Riyue Bay wave, while the long distance races, relays and sprints will be held further north along the coast on the Shenzhou Peninsula beach.

8. The disciplines
The WSUPPC will award 14 individual gold medals in addition to the relay gold and the team trophy.

The categories are detailed below:
Men and Women SUP Sprints
Men and Women SUP Surfing
Men and Women, Under-18 Boys, and Under-16 Girls SUP Technical Race
Men and Women Paddleboard Technical Race
Men and Women Paddleboard Long Distance Race
Men and Women SUP Long Distance Race
Team Relays

9. Spanish speakers
Chile and Spain are the only Spanish-speaking teams that will be in the tournament. The former with two SUP Surfers and the latter with a good complete team.

10. The schedule
In Riyue Bay
November 23 – Opening Ceremony and SUP Surfing
November 24th – SUP Surfing
November 25th – SUP Surfing
November 26th – SUP Surfing
November 27 – Technical Careers
November 28 – Technical Careers
November 29 – Day of rest

In Shenzhou Peninsula
November 30th – Sprint Races
December 1 – Distance races
December 2 – Relay races and closing ceremony.