Q & A
JOHN
SUP the World …
MCFADZEAN
The Caledonian Canal
Interview : SUPM Pics : John McFadzean John McFadzean had a goal soon after he discovered SUP . With the possibilities of discovery endless , it became a target of John ’ s to SUP in as many different counties as possible . Quick as a flash , ‘ SUP the World ’ was born , and John continues his quest to discover and investigate different parts of the globe from his trusty SUP . We caught up with John to find out more .
Tell us when you first discovered SUP and why it appealed ? My SUP adventures began with a remarkable coincidence . My apartment looks out over Southport Marine Lake , and if you look out of my window on a clear day , you can see why I love living here . If you look to the right , you can see the fells of the Lake District in the distance and , in the foreground , the resort town of Blackpool with its famous Tower and rollercoaster . To the left are the mountains of north Wales . And in the foreground , the Marine Lake .
One Saturday in June 2014 , I looked out of my window and saw something I had never seen before . There were three people out in the middle of the lake , each standing on some enlarged surfboard – using paddles to propel themselves across the surface of the water . “ They must be crazy ,” I remember thinking , “ if they fall off , they are going to get wet !”
I didn ’ t give it a second thought until later that same day when I took my two youngest daughters to The Fitness Factory for their dancing class . And as I was signing them in , I saw a poster on the wall advertising lessons for : ‘ Stand Up Paddleboarding .’
Amy , the dance studio owner , encouraged me to book a lesson . The next thing I knew , one rainy Monday evening , I had that very first SUP session with Lucy , an instructor from SUP North . The rest , as they say , is history . s t a n d u p p a d d l e m a g u k 30