The event is planned for northern Portugal from 30 August to 2 September and has been organised by the National Canoe Federation, which has received the backing from the International Canoe Federation.
But the Surfing Federation has demanded the event be cancelled, and along with the support of the International Surfing Association (ISA), says it will take the matter to court to ensure the event does not go ahead.
According to surfers here in Portugal, the Stand-Up Paddle (SUP) event in Viana do Castelo and Esposende is illegal, and has informed the Portuguese government of the situation.
The Portuguese Surf Federation added that it will “go to court” to ensure domestic law is applied and added the International Surf Federation would be sponsoring the court case.
The International Canoe Federation (ICF) has meanwhile expressed hope a resolution will be reached with the International Surf Association over the management of Stand Up Paddling (SUP) activities before the ICF hosts its first SUP World Championships in Portugal later this year.
Earlier this month, the ICF issued a statement explaining it has been involved in protracted discussions with the ISA over the governance of SUP activities, but despite repeated and varying proposals from the ICF, the ISA has refused to come to an agreement.
“For the sake of the athletes, we wanted to try and find a resolution to this problem,” ICF President, José Perurena, said.
“Sadly the ISA was not prepared to accept what we believe are reasonable proposals. This means the situation remains unresolved, so the ICF will now focus on building on the strong SUP foundations we have already established through the strong work of our National Federations.
Perurena revealed the ICF had deliberately not engaged in public debate with the ISA, preferring to concentrate on working behind the scenes to support existing and developing events within the Federation, and to drive for mass participation in the discipline.
“The ICF has disciplines which take place on all sorts of different water; streams, lakes, oceans, swimming pools, just to name a few. It’s this experience and knowledge which we believe gives us a strong advantage when it comes to looking after SUP activities, which is practiced on both flatwater and in the ocean”, added Perurena.
In response to these views, the ISA countered that the ICF are not acting in the best interests of the athletes.
ISA President, Fernando Aguerre said this week that ISA has been governing Stand-Up Paddle for a decade, while the ICF are yet to organise any international events, with the one in Esposende a first.
Aguerre also accused the ICF of blocking a move to have SUP included in the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires.