SUP Mag UK April 2018 issue 16 | Page 8

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McConks commentary with …

Andy McConkey

Change is afoot. But does it really matter? If you ' re hooked in with SUP gossip you will be aware of the mighty battle that ' s going on to determine which International Federation should‘ govern’ paddleboarding. And what the knock on impact of this might be on National Governing Bodies.

Many column inches have already been spent discussing this, cogitating on the best outcomes for different groups of SUPers and trying to second guess what a decision in either direction may mean. And there have been many heated debates on Facebook about the relative benefits of the‘ prize’ being given to British Canoeing( BC), British Standup Paddleboard Association( BSUPA), Academy of Surf Instructors( ASI) and the Water Skills Academy( WSA).

British Canoeing have put together a Standup Paddleboarding Technical Panel of SUP experts and are just about to announce the members of the SUP working group( this has now been done – ed). The remit of these panels / groups is still evolving and will adapt over time. But the fact that they exist at all is taken by many as evidence that BC believe it will become the NGB for the UK, although BC strongly dispute this.

For many paddlers there is an almost ideological aversion to being a member of a club. For them paddling is a lifestyle, a pastime, a recreation, or a way of getting and keeping mentally and physical fit. The most passionate and dedicated of them work hard on the water, and off, to develop more skills, and help others develop, but they acquire these for personal fulfilment, and to enjoy paddling more; to be able to take on more challenging conditions, and spend more time on the water. Not to get certificates or bits of paper that recognise their skills. For these people, it’ s not about being the fastest in a race, or scoring the most waves, but being at one with the water, and mastering the conditions and the environment. Sport or competition, cheapens the experience in the eyes of people like this.

There are other more occasional paddlers, maybe not quite as dedicated to the pursuit of excellence, but who still don’ t see any reason to be a member of a governing body. Many watersports people are by nature at least slightly anti-establishment, and subscribe to the Groucho Marx school of thought. i. e. They don’ t want to be a member of any club that would have them. In the last week I’ ve heard more than one paddler proudly profess that they have zero bits of paper that‘ permit’ them to paddle, have no affiliations or memberships, but still give plenty of time developing others and working on behalf of paddlers in areas that they feel have been abandoned by NGBs. For example, there are many people working hard on improving access to rivers who are not a member of any NGB, and see no reason to join.

Other frustrations we hear on the riverbank or beach( regarding NGBs) are- l Wrong focus. l Poor transparency in decision making and unclear governance. l Poor communication with rank and file members. l Poor member benefits. l Lack of information.

Whoever becomes the NGB will need to work really hard to develop a range of member benefits that appeal to everyone. It’ s going to be an interesting year in SUP, and to an outside observer, British Canoeing appear to be making overtures to the other NGBs, SUP associations and training organisations to bring everyone together. The organisations need to remember that, for most people on the ground, the bickering and gossip is damaging all of them equally. Whatever happens things need to change rapidly, and become more positive. The new British Canoeing SUP technical panel and SUP working group appear to be new shoots for a new more inclusive future. I guess we’ ll know by the end of the year whether they worked!

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