Stand Up Paddle (SUP) is a branch of surfing, challenging participants to stand on a large floating board and propel themselves through the water with paddles. The route runs along the Fontanka River, Kryukov Canal, Moika River and Griboyedov Canal, this is also an opportunity for participants to enjoy the ancient beauty of a series of famous landmarks in the center of Saint Petersburg (such as the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, Summer Palace, Dom Knigi Bookstore, Tovstonogov Theater, Faberge Museum...).
Not only including a race, a flashmob on the board as well as a Miss SUP beauty contest, the most special feature of “Fontanka-SUP” is the unique parade. Each participant wears colorful costumes or dresses up as characters from fairy tales, cartoons or even fantasy movies... After parading around the center, all the “costumes” will be voted by the audience on both sides of the river to award the most impressive performance.
The first “Fontanka-SUP” festival was held in October, despite slightly harsher weather conditions. Then, the great response of visitors prompted the authorities to continue organizing this event regularly in August each year. The fifth time took place in Saint Petersburg on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the city portal.Fontanka, nearly 1,000 people signed up for SUP paddling and about 500 people cheered on both sides of the river.
The summer White Nights in Saint Petersburg are always the peak season for tourists from all over the world. Although cruise ships have started to arrive here more frequently, the number of visitors is currently only one-third of the same period in 2019 and is mainly domestic. Therefore, the “Fontanka-SUP” festival and other year-end activities are expected to restart the tourist season in Saint Petersburg - “the northern capital of Russia” after the lull of the Covid-19 epidemic.
