In a thrilling announcement on his personal website and social media pages that is sending waves through the SUP Racing world, 17 year-old Shuri “Shrimpy” Araki, renowned for winning 4 ISA World Titles in the last two years as well as for being the youngest ever racer to be crowned a world champion, has revealed his exciting new partnership with the Floridian SUP brand, Flying Fish Board Co.
This momentous decision marks a significant milestone in Shrimpy’s illustrious career, as he embarks on a thrilling new chapter with Flying Fish, signing his first-ever professional contract with a board manufacturer. Speaking about his decision to join forces with Flying Fish, Shrimpy expressed his admiration for the brand’s unparalleled quality and performance. Having been introduced to Flying Fish through his close friend and fellow paddler, Brazilian SUP Racer Eri Tenorio, Shrimpy was immediately captivated by the craftsmanship and precision that defines Flying Fish boards.
“Flying Fish is not just a brand, it’s a symbol of passion and dedication,” Shrimpy remarked. “Their commitment to handcrafting each board with meticulous care and attention to detail truly sets them apart in the industry.”
With his signature model, the “Freedom Shrimpy Pro”, set to be unveiled next month, Shrimpy is eager to showcase the board’s exceptional performance on the global stage. Having spent years honing his skills and pushing the boundaries of SUP racing, Shrimpy is poised to make an indelible mark with Flying Fish by his side.
Reflecting on his journey thus far, Shrimpy expressed gratitude for the unwavering support of his father, Takuji Araki whose tireless efforts have been instrumental in shaping his career. From importing custom boards to traversing continents in pursuit of excellence, Shrimpy’s father has been a constant source of inspiration and encouragement.
As he enters his final year of high school, Shrimpy is determined to continue pushing the boundaries of SUP racing while staying true to his roots and passion for the ocean. With his unique perspective and intimate connection to nature, Shrimpy is poised to revolutionize board design and inspire a new generation of paddlers.
John Meskaukas, the visionary founder of Flying Fish Board Co., shared this morning his excitement about the partnership with Shrimpy, highlighting the serendipitous encounter that sparked their collaboration: “It’s crazy. I met his dad in Thailand when we were standing next to the scales,” Meskaukas reminisced. “He couldn’t believe how light our boards were and he loved the way they looked in the water, so we shipped two boards to him back in January for them to test.” The rest is already history as Meskaukas emphasized the significance of Shrimpy’s decision to join Flying Fish: “This is a big deal for us. Obviously, the fact that one of the best paddlers in the world has chosen our boards strictly because of performance not money.”
In joining forces with Flying Fish, Shrimpy embarks on a new adventure filled with promise and potential. With his sights set on conquering the waves and blazing a trail of success, Shrimpy is ready to write the next chapter of his remarkable journey in the world of SUP racing and we can’t wait to see him race on his new board brand!
Most of you may know Eri as a Brazilian National Champion, and an ICF World SUP cup champion who has finished multiple times on the podium for the EuroTour. He is truly a phenomenal professional SUP racer, and a crazy stunt man on his paddle board. Beyond the titles and tricks he can do on […]
Only 30 brave paddles can line up for the KANAKA Okinawa O2Y Summer Race, held on the challenging waters of Okinawa, Japan, on June 26. This prestigious 30 km downwind race, curated by Takuji Araki, a stalwart in the paddleboarding community and a keen promoter of cultural legacy, transcends traditional sport. As racers traverse the […]
Fun fact: John Meskauskas, the mastermind behind Florida’s renowned SUP race brand, Flying Fish Board Co was a fly fishing guide before he fell in love with Stand Up Paddleboarding and SUP Racing. As Flying Fish gears up for a monumental year, culminating in November with the ICF SUP World Championship in Sarasota, Florida, Meskauskas […]
As 2024 kicks off, at 47, Kim Barnes, the Flying Fish Board Co. Team Rider from Florida, stands as a beacon of success in the SUP world. Her exceptional year 2023, marked by a triumphant Carolina Cup win and a stellar second place at the ICF SUP World Championships in Thailand, among other solid performances, […]
From Sunday, September 24 to October 1st, don’t miss a thing of all the action of the 2023 ISA World SUP & Paddleboard Championships in Les Sables d’Olonne, France with TotalSUP! As Official Media Partner of the #WSUPPC, TotalSUP broadcasts all the event’s LIVE webcasts both here on our website and on the TotalSUP Facebook […]
The finale of the 2022 APP SUP Racing World Tour saw April Zilg and Connor Baxter claim the World Titles while Shuri ‘Shrimpy’ Araki and Mélanie Lafenêtre got their first win on an APP World Tour event to close a sensational season! Recap, Results, overall World Rankings, highlights and full LIVE FEED presented by Travis […]
[APP World Tour Press Release] Alicante SUP Open, the 5th and final stop of the APP World Tour is just days away and now the World Title is on the line. World Champions will be crowned this weekend at Playa del Postiguet, a venue that will provide a dramatic arena for the World’s best at the […]
Between October 28 and November 6 you could follow the action of the 2022 Puerto Rico ISA World SUP & Paddleboard Championships here with TotalSUP! As Official Media Partner of the #ISAWSUPP, TotalSUP broadcasted all the livestreams both on our website and on the TotalSUP Facebook page with daily results, video highlights and Instagram stories. If […]
‘Shrimpy would go’* and Shrimpy keeps going, stealing the limelight from SUP veterans at some of the most iconic SUP racing events both in the US and Europe. Shuri Araki aka Shrimpy from Okinawa, Japan, has just turned sixteen but his remarkable and consistent performance has already ranked him among the top pro athletes in […]
Use of cookies
This website uses cookies in order to make it easier to use and to support the provision of relevant information and functionality to you.
Necessary Cookies
Necessary cookies enable core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility. You may disable these by changing your browser settings, but this may affect how the website functions.
3rd Party Cookies
We use a set of third party tools to provide information on how our users engage with our website so that we can improve the experience of the website for our users. For example, we collect information about which of our pages are most frequently visited, and by which types of users. Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.
Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!