Summer at HSE University: SUPDAY HSE from XSPORT Club

SUPDAY HSE, a student stand-up paddleboard (SUP) race was held on the Skhodnya River in early August. The event was organised by XSPORT, a newly established active recreation club that won the Competition for Support of Extracurricular Student Initiatives. The SUPDAY HSE organisers and participants shared their impressions of the event with HSE University Life.

Last winter, Maria Nesterskaya, a second-year student in the Computational Social Sciences Bachelor's Programme, came up with the idea of creating an active recreation club. As a result, she became the founder of XSPORT and the leader of the SUPDAY HSE project. 'Our bachelor's programme brought together a team of like-minded people,' she says. 'We wanted to grow by collaborating with various student organisations at HSE University and clubs at other universities. During the spring, we conducted an activity at HSE RUN and contributed to organising the 13th Bauman Bike Race. However, we placed our greatest hopes on the Competition for Support of Extracurricular Student Initiatives, as its winners often leave a lasting mark on the university's history through their large-scale and creative projects.'

The Competition for Support of Extracurricular Student Initiatives is a funding mechanism for non-profit student projects at HSE University. Students can submit their projects either individually or in groups and receive funding for implementation.

SUPDAY HSE began on the riverbank with registration and a warm-up session, during which participants enjoyed activities such as darts, pétanque, gorodki, football, and volleyball. Before heading out on the water, participants were divided into groups and guided by instructors who explained safety procedures and taught the basics of stand-up paddleboarding.

All students from HSE University and other universities were provided with a SUP board and a life jacket for free.

'We did not expect our event to become so large-scale,' according to Vladimir Nikonov, a second-year student in the Computational Social Sciences Bachelor's Programme and organiser of SUPDAY HSE. 'All the spots for the regatta were filled within just two hours after registration opened. Additionally, more than a hundred people from various universities were on the waiting list. This made us realise how significant this event is for the student community and how much joy we can bring to the participants.'

One of the most challenging tasks was finding a company willing to provide professional instructors for the regatta, and to lend SUP boards and life jackets.

Nikita Zhuravlev graduated from the Faculty of Creative Industries in 2022 with a master's in Media Management. Subsequently the founder of SUP Academy, an athlete and a silver medallist of the European Rafting Cup, Nikita says he is pleased to stay connected with HSE University: 'I enjoy giving students memorable experiences and being part of their development, just as it was during my own years of study.'

After addressing all organisational issues, the main challenge for the participants was the unpredictable Moscow weather.

‘In the days leading up to the regatta, rain and sunshine alternated almost every hour, making it impossible to predict what the weather would be like at the start of the competition,’ recalls Vera Semyonova, the SUPDAY HSE organiser and a second-year student in the Computational Social Sciences Bachelor's Programme. 'On the day of the event, we arrived at the venue with the volunteers at eight am. The sky was overcast, it was fairly warm, but rain could start at any moment. Registration began at 10 a.m., and as the first participants started to arrive, the sky had cleared—sunshine with no hint of rain. Registration was over, and the first 40 participants attended the briefing before setting out on the course. As the last group launched into the water, it began to rain just five minutes later, followed by a heavy downpour a quarter of an hour after that. Many participants had practiced stand-up paddleboarding before, but this was the first time they had done it in pouring rain. Everyone returned to shore dripping wet but incredibly happy.'

The participants not only covered a distance of over five kilometres on SUP boards but also took part in water games. 'People on SUP boards, SUP boards with people under them, laughter, and joyful screams. That was real fun!' shares Vasily Khodorych, a second-year student in the Computational Social Sciences Bachelor's Programme and the event organiser who originally came up with the idea for SUPDAY HSE.

The organisers extend their thanks to the Department of Physical Training and tutor Denis Migunov for their assistance, to SUP Academy, and to HSE University and the Student Initiative Support Centre for the opportunity to bring this project to life.

August 21