editor’s note
Mighty White
We mentioned this in our sister publication, Windsurfing UK,
but Dave ‘Mighty’ White is also a regular contributor to SUPM.
Recently Dave suffered a stroke while on location in
Mauritius. I’m not going to labour the details suffice to say we
wish him a speedy recovery and all the best for his family.
We’re sure Whitey will be back soon, his photography gracing
these pages as before. Get well soon!
SUP: sport or not?
Is stand up paddling a sport? For those reading this magazine
we’d assume you either consider that to be the case and/or are
erring on the side of yes. Maybe you saw SUP, in inflatable form,
and decided to get involved not really knowing much about it. It’s
possible that post-purchase you’re now exploring options and
what else you can do with your craft other than frolic about with
the kids on sunny days.
To label something a ‘sport’ is to suggest competitive leanings.
While there’s certainly no lack of events in the UK, for those who
fancy lining up on start lines or facing off against opposition in
the surf, many will never swing a paddle in this kind of arena. For
the majority SUP is a solitary pursuit or something to be done
with a select few. Would this type of paddler consider SUP a
sport?
There’s much talk about governing bodies and the Olympic
pathway – another arm of competition that some would like to
see and some wouldn’t. Of course the other question is: does it
matter what label SUP is given as long as there are paddlers
getting involved and enjoying themselves?
It feels as though (to me at least) we’re at a tipping point.
Numbers have continued to grow year on year and while the
anticipated explosion of stand up never really happened we can
now say: yes, SUP is pretty popular! Where it goes in the future
and who drives that direction is open for debate. Ownership rights
are currently being fought over and it’s not yet clear who will win.
Should there even be a winner? And does any party deserve to
govern SUP’s direction? Tough questions and not answers I have.
I’m sure there’ll be plenty with opinion but for now we’ll have to
wait and see. For most, however, it’ll be business as usual. The
politics of SUP not even registering a blip on their paddling radar.
Which is how it should be… Getting out there and doing the thing
is, after all, more important than talking about it.
New stuff
On a lighter note we’re stoked with this issue of SUPM – in
particular its diversity (perhaps the most diverse issue we’d put out
to date). New in are a series of opinion based columns from
colourful commentators of stand up – some of whom you’ll
recognise if you follow groups and such like on social media. You
may agree with what these characters say or you may not, either
way it should add some spice to proceedings. Elsewhere we have
an article about outrigger, the synergy between SUP and OC being
pretty obvious. And for those who are approaching stand up from
an athletic angle, check the article about nutritional boosting..
Enjoy the issue, love your time afloat and have fun – laters!
Tez Plavenieks, August 2017
[email protected]
Twitter: @tezwoz. Instagram: @tez_plavenieks_sup_wind
Water Skills Academy
West coast of Scotland
Photo: Justin Priddy