11 communities , including deaf , blind , chair users , and neurodivergent . Massive shout out to all of our partners who are working so hard to encourage users of all abilities onto the water safely !
So , hats off – or should we say , lifejackets on – to all of our partners for riding the crest of inclusivity and showing that the only thing that ’ s truly buoyant is the human spirit .
What valuable advice would you give to people starting in SUP ? Before you think about standing on a board , contact a professional – whether a coach , instructor , guide , etc . You can shortcut your development massively by getting some early instruction , and you won ’ t need to unlearn bad habits if you get it right from the word go . And even though SUP is pretty simple compared to many watersports , it is also remarkably easy to get the basics wrong . And if you ’ re with a qualified instructor , you ’ ll also learn how to keep yourself safe – something that is very easy to get wrong .
What ’ s lined up for 2024 ? We ’ ve got a pretty exciting year lined up for 2024 . We ’ re stoked with our new board range – designed to have something for everyone without losing the features that have made our boards so popular . For example our Go Explore touring and expedition range , we ’ ve kept the same tried and tested lengths but now have different versions of each of the lengths – the Grande
Tourer at 32 ” wide , The Tourer at 30 ” wide and the Sports Tourer at 28 ” wide . For our Go Wild boards we ’ ve kept the same length boards , but further refined the nose and tail rockers , and added 5 ” thick versions for lighter riders or heavier riders wanting more playful and responsive boards .
We ’ ve got a new range of eco-change robes about to launch and will be expanding our range of activewear , leisurewear and shades .
Does McConks sponsor paddlers , charities or expeditions ? We consider all on their merits . We reinvest our profits into our Go Inspire initiative , which allows us to support charities , individuals , and expeditions if their principles and vision match our Go Inspire principles .
Earlier this year , we sponsored Antony Ing and Paul Norris with expedition boards as they paddled coast to coast from Liverpool to Grimsby without leaving their boards . We ’ re also supporting Caz Dawson ( SUP Lass paddle adventures ) and crew with a new expedition touring board built to deal with the challenges of a multi-day trip down the Amazon . We ’ re also supporting a number of accessible paddleboarding outfits in 2024 with our adaptive paddleboards .
How do you measure the success of McConks ? We don ’ t try to do this formally . The joy of being a small business means that you don ’ t need to justify yourself to shareholders or private equity capitalists . So you can be flexible about how you measure success . Every 5-star review makes us do a little dance around the office . Every new ethical business that chooses to do business with us elicits a little cheer in the office . But ultimately , as long as we ’ re making products that people want and value , as long as the amazing SUP community keeps wanting ethical , sustainable products , as long as we keep seeing content of our boards being used to do amazing things , with amazing people , in amazing places , then that ’ s good enough for us .
Any final thoughts on SUP ? It ’ s been a rollercoaster few years – for McConks and paddleboarding in general . In 2024 , it feels like paddleboarding has finally come of age . With British Canoeing , our national governing body , rebranding to Paddle UK , paddleboarding now has a home with a body with the reach and strength to help SUP grow and thrive , to ensure that it becomes safer , to keep advocating for free access to rivers , and to keep campaigning for clean waters . There have been a few false starts through the last few years , and Paddle UK , along with the other membership and training organisations , haven ’ t got everything right . But 2024 is a reboot , a restart . Let ’ s hope the reboot fixes more bugs than it creates !