Got any paddling heroes or heroines ? Nick Kingston ( local SUP instructor and legend ) took me out on my first paddle lesson . I was so keen to learn to SUP but feared the sea . He made the whole experience easy and fun , and I became hooked . Without his encouragement , I ’ d never of taken to SUP . Sadly he ’ s no longer with us – RIP . Mandy and Steve West – local heroes with years of experience and knowledge . I also follow Kristen Kyler ( from Florida ) on Instagram and love watching her videos of SUP surfing – especially when the dolphins appear .
Ever met any of them ? Obviously , I met Nick , and I have met Mandy and Steve at the Round the Island Race ( Hayling Island ). Not managed to get to Florida to say hi to Kristen yet .
Which area ( or areas ) of SUP do you gravitate to most and why ? I like flat water ocean paddles and learning to SUP surf . I started as a flatwater paddler but always with the mind to learn to surf . The idea was to gain confidence on a SUP to learn to surf . I have now developed my confidence and love to catch some waves on the SUP and my surfboard . Mostly falling off , but there is no feeling like it when I catch a wave .
You ’ re a mum of two . How does that impact your SUP time ? It can be tricky to find time between working and taking care of my gorgeous kiddies . I have one day off work a week , so always I ’ m super keen to get out on the water come rain or shine , wind allowing , on those days .
Do your kids paddle ? We often take the paddleboards and body boards to the beach . The kids like to have a play around with them , but at this moment , they prefer playing and swimming in the sea and occasionally being towed to the tropical sand island ( sandbar on Hayling ) at low tide . They both love the water , and I ’ m sure one day will start to enjoy getting onboard themselves .
Tell us about the female-specific SUP FB group you run . When I started paddleboarding , I realised there were few females out there enjoying it locally , and when I did see ladies out , they mostly were alone . The group was created with the idea local ladies could meet up and get out together , share skills and ideas and have some like-minded company . The Facebook group is called Hayling Island Sup Girls , with nearly 900 members – all female . We have run free SUP clinics on the beach , with the late Nick Kingston , Andrea Richardson , Sadie Bedford , Sam Rogers , Paul Amey and been supported by Fatstick / Sandbar SUP : Andy Warner and Mistal : Rory Ellis .
In March 2020 , Sand Bar SUP arranged a free SUP clinic at Trafalgar Wharf , Portchester for the Hayling Island SUP Girls . This sadly was our last event before Covid . We have linked up with the local pub The Inn on the Beach and The Final Straw for a beach clean which was very successful . The group has grown , and it is still active through the last two years , although we have been unable to arrange events . I ’ d love to continue arranging more clinics , demos and meet ups in the future .
What ’ s your opinion about female SUP in general ? It ’ s great to see women getting involved and on the water ! And each year , we see more ladies paddling .
Is there anything you ’ d change within the industry to make it more attractive to ladies ? I think SUP is very inclusive and accessible for most and very appealing ! Wearing a wetsuit can be off-putting for some ladies , but there are loads of different options for SUP wear these days .
Got any SUP specific goals in 2022 ? Get out as much as possible and try out some new locations . Improve my SUP surfing ! I ’ d also like to complete a paddle around Hayling Island .
What about other activities ? Anything you ’ re looking to tick off ? Continue to learn to surf , keep on running , cycling , and anything else that comes my way that gets me outdoors and active .
Final thoughts on SUP , being a SUP mum and your paddling ? Keep on SUPing ! Getting to the beach with my family and friends and riding those waves .
Thanks and praise ? Special thanks to the late Nick Kingston ! Fatstick for giving me the opportunity to be an ambassador and having my own SUP . North Coast Wetsuits for keeping me warm in the water ! All the locals and the SUP girls out there .
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