editor’ s note
Winter secrets
It’ s no secret I personally like nothing better than dropping into a silky, walled up bump. It’ s also no secret that I enjoy scoring sessions on my home patch. Don’ t get me wrong, travelling further afield is also rewarding, and on numerous occasions the family and I venture SW in search of waves. The fact is, however, there’ s nothing sweeter than arriving at your local with the stars having aligned. Even on a coastline renowned for having fickle surf – all spots being at the complete mercy of wind, swell direction and tide – quality sessions can be scored. What’ s also interesting are the amount of alternative spots available in an area perceived to only have one or two peaks. With ever shifting sandbars once gutless slop can suddenly materialise as punchy waves.
Keeping eyes peeled is key. As is being prepared to paddle a way offshore. Knowing conditions helps but SUP really has opened up a plethora of new waves and there’ s always the chance of snagging a session to yourself, away from the gaggle( this applies to elsewhere also).
Winter 2016 / 2017 definitely took a while to rev up but as December swung into view the wave Gods answered our prayers and the last few months have delivered numerous solid sessions – some even accompanied by sunshine and mild air temps. With more and more paddlers stepping into the wave arena it’ s nice to see plenty of riders looking to improve and up their game. Pre-2010 it would pretty much be just me and two others( when time allowed) out chasing paddle surf conditions in this‘ hood. Nowadays you’ ll be hard pressed to be on your own. If my local is a snapshot of SUP’ s growth then it’ s interesting to see where the sport’ s at now compared to then – and long may this continue. In the meantime if I want to get away from it all then I’ ll retire( on occasion) to where I know there’ ll not be others, returning to a more social SUP environment later.
Blow time
As I write we’ ve since moved on from the conditions described above. Having had a period devoid of blustery weather those overhead low pressures have since moved in bringing wind and Atlantic influenced scenarios. For those fancying a spot of downwind paddling now’ s your chance. If you’ re a wave head looking for added stoke and a way to use the puff when it goes onshore then downwinding is a great compliment to paddle surfing – even if you don’ t own a specific downwind sled. And paddlers without a penchant for waves should get stuck in as well.
We’ ve spoken about this before but touring and race SUPs work( to a point) for this kind of paddling. OK, riders won’ t necessarily be scoring the type of glides you can on a DW board but race / touring sticks come pretty close. And as far as board skills go there’ s no better way of improving than threading a pointy nose SUP through the needle of bumps. If you’ ve yet to try DW SUP then time to get involved? Go with someone more experienced, don’ t take any unnecessary risks( sheltered runs in harbours for instance exist in the UK), and we’ re sure you’ ll have a cracking time. Search online for downwind SUP info and don’ t be afraid to ask. There are various groups available through social media where experienced paddlers will be only too happy to help.
With UK SUP’ s brand new 2017 season just around the corner we hope you enjoy this issue of SUP Mag UK and can’ t wait to get involved with all that stand up brings this year. Happy paddling peeps!
Tez Plavenieks, April 2017 tez @ supmaguk. co. uk @ tezwoz