Frankly, the thought has always terrified me. I am naturally quite shy and the thought of people actively
watching me is not a pleasant one. Also I am not that great at paddle surfing. However, I think having
reached my thirties I am suffering from a slight midlife crisis and find myself constantly thinking if I
don’t do this will I look back on my life and regret it. Plus, my husband’s enthusiasm for competitions
and their ability to push your level has been infectious.
One of my main concerns was my paddle boarding experience and that I would stand out a mile in a
competition for being the worst one on the water! I first tried paddle boarding in waves about two years
ago and living on the south coast, I am definitely a weekend warrior when it comes to putting in the
hours. Still, I thought I would give it a go and just try to have fun – what is the worst that could happen?
I paid for my entry to the first BSUPA comp of the year at Saunton Sands nice and early to make sure I
didn’t chicken out nearer the time. As the date came closer, the forecast wasn’t looking great with a short
period swell but also a fair amount of wind. I was getting nervous. My fear at this point was mainly
focussed on what would happen if my legs shuck so badly from nerves I couldn’t stand on my board! I
was sure I was going to look like a complete idiot next to the other ladies.
41
s
t
a
n d
u
p
p
a d
d
l
e
m
a
g
u
k