Bewl Water, Kent- July 21st-23rd
UK’ S BIGGEST SUP FESTIVAL
Bewl Water, Kent- July 21st-23rd
Neilson SUP
Words: Peter Tranter Pics: Peter Tranter and Georgia Wharton The Neilson SUP Armada Festival, the UK’ s biggest stand up paddleboarding festival, attracted thousands of visitors over the weekend with the SUP community opening their doors to everybody, alongside music, camping and family fun. The celebration of the world’ s fastest-growing water sport proved a great success, with over 200 children and adults trying SUP for the first time!
The UK’ s biggest SUP festival took place with thousands of visitors descending on stunning Bewl Water, with many giving SUP a try for the first time. Backed by Neilson Holidays, David Taylor, managing director at Neilson Holidays said,“ What a fantastic weekend! We were bowled over by how many people took part; all ages, all abilities and from all over the country. SUP is an ever-growing part of what we offer on our activity-inclusive holidays in Greece, Sardinia and Croatia, and it was wonderful to meet so many people who make it part of their life back in the UK too. We love getting the word out there for the world’ s most accessible water sport – bring on next year!”
The weekend festival also hosted the Euro Tour, where some of the fastest paddle boarders in the world competed with each other and some classic British summertime weather!
Families enjoyed a festival that was packed with activities for children including an opportunity to give the world’ s fastest growing water sport a try at a taster session. On the water there was something for every kind of paddleboarder, from beginner sessions with instructors, to blissful SUP yoga, development clinics for intermediates and a range of fun SUP races.
On the land the SUP Village exhibited all the latest kit from the biggest SUP brands, whilst Bewl Water provided the perfect setting for good times with the family. The festival raised significant funds for the Armada Trust which supports the grassroots of paddleboarding.
Dan Charlish, founder of the Neilson SUP Armada Festival said,“ This year’ s Neilson SUP Armada Festival was the biggest and the best by far. The atmosphere was fantastic and the festival was a true celebration of the world’ s fastest-growing water sport. And the SUP community and general public proved this festival can be enjoyed by everyone, whatever the weather!”