This study aims to conduct an in-depth analysis of the current status and challe nges of domestic SUP (Stand-Up Paddleboard) competitions and to identify future strategic tasks that will contribute to their qualitative improvement and long-term sustai...
This study aims to conduct an in-depth analysis of the current status and challe nges of domestic SUP (Stand-Up Paddleboard) competitions and to identify future strategic tasks that will contribute to their qualitative improvement and long-term sustainability by exploring ways for effective enhancement. To systematically establish the theoretical foundation of the study, a comprehen sive review of prior literature was conducted. In addition, the Delphi method was employed to collect in-depth opinions from 20 experts to identify key factors nece ssary for the development of SUP competitions. Through this process, a total of 2 5 factors were derived and subsequently subjected to content validity verification. Based on the identified factors, an IPA (Importance–Performance Analysis) was co nducted to evaluate the perceived importance and satisfaction levels of actual SU P competition participants. This analysis served as a basis for establishing effectiv e future strategies. The survey was administered to 400 individuals who participat ed in SUP competitions between June and September 2025, and 346 valid response s were used for the final analysis after excluding 54 invalid or unreliable response s. Lastly, to enhance the validity of the research findings and strengthen theoretic al and practical implications, in-depth interviews were additionally conducted with four additional experts regarding the key issues and developmental tasks revealed through the IPA results. All collected data were analyzed with SPSS 29.0, employin g descriptive statistics, frequency analysis, content validity testing, and reliability a nalysis. The results indicated statistically significant differences between the perceived i mportance and satisfaction of the evaluation factors, with importance generally ra ted higher than satisfaction. The IPA results showed that nine factors belonged to Quadrant I (enduring & maintaining), six to Quadrant II (enhancing concentration), nine to Quadrant III (low priority), and one to Quadrant IV (refraining from overex ertion). The future strategic measures for SUP competitions, derived from a synth esis of the IPA results and experts’ interview responses, emphasize the necessity of a participant-centered and efficiency-focused approach supported by a critical review of current operational practices to ensure stable competition management and long-term development. In particular, urgent improvement is required for the Quadrant II factors: clarity of participant classification (criteria of divisions), showe r and changing facilities, venue accessibility (transportation / parking), athlete rest ing areas, pre-event promotional activities (online / offline), and accessibility of co mpetition information. Furthermore, it is essential to standardize the operations an d enhance expertise by conducting thorough safety management for aquatic envir onments and improving the professionalism of event staff including courtesy and emergency-response capabilities. Improvements in facility infrastructure, which dir ectly influence participant satisfaction, are also necessary. Additionally, it is requir ed to establish an integrated online platform for SUP events and develop promotio nal strategies linked with local communities. The standardization of competition op erations, enhancement of professional competencies, participant-centered infrastru cture development, and efficient and multidimensional promotional strategies must function organically. Close collaboration among local governments, related associat ions, and private organizations is expected to contribute not only to the quantitati ve and qualitative growth of SUP competitions but also to the establishment of a healthy sports ecosystem. Keywords : SUP competition, Delphi, Importance-performance analysis, In-depth interview, Future strategic