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Tez Plavenieks
SUPM editor and allround watercraft rider
Tell us about your surf riding background and when you discovered riding waves with a paddle . I ’ ve surfed ( on surfboards ) since I was five . This also included bodyboarding and , later , my first forays into windsurfing as a teen . Even with that , it quickly became obvious that I liked moving water , although I do still enjoy flatter brine sometimes . At the end of 2005 , I first saw SUP and fancied getting involved . The waves we enjoy at my local break on sandbars , sometimes a mile or so out . Using a paddle propelled craft to reach them and then subsequently ride these swells was a lightbulb , a game-changing moment for me . I subsequently spent five or so years mainly riding these spots on my own as stand up paddleboarding hadn ’ t quite grown as it has these days .
Do you still partake in a surf dabble with a paddle ? If so , how does this make up ( to a greater or lesser extent ) your overall paddling ? SUP surfing is still a great way to enjoy waves . It doesn ’ t matter whether you have dribbles or overhead bombs . A SUP and paddle make riding surf unique and challenging in its own way . Some may think it ' s not the purest form of ‘ surfing ’ ( which it isn ’ t ), but there ' s no lacking of fun . It ’ s no secret I ride all kinds of watercraft , and of late , flying above it takes a lot of my attention . That said , if there ' s a wave , then I ’ ll usually find some time for stuck to the water ‘ stick surfing ’.
What ’ s your overall opinion of SUP surfing in the UK currently ? Do you see much new blood at your local , for instance ? My local ’ s pretty unique in that it is a bona fide SUP surf spot when there ’ s swell . The secret ’ s out the last few years , and with SUP ’ s growth , we regularly see new paddlers coming to take on the conditions – whatever they may be . Elsewhere isn ’ t the same – not from what I can see , at least . Whilst SUP surfer numbers did increase a little a few years back , it ’ s waned as a discipline mainly because the majority of paddlers don ’ t have the skills . This isn ' t a criticism , it ’ s more an observation . SUPers coming into the sport are often doing so without any prior experience . Even in small swell , you need some knowledge . Without that , it ’ s an off-putting environment , and maybe people don ’ t want the hassle .
Why do you think stand up paddle boarding waves never exploded as some predicted ? I think it ’ s to do with the difficulty of SUP surfing . In small waves , you ’ ll still get beat downs if you get it wrong . Just paddling out , stood up over white water isn ’ t the easiest . And then there ’ s the equipment issue . Back a few years the industry started pushing low volume , narrow high-performance SUPs for surfing . As soon as you push a discipline towards the elite level , you lose numbers . And that certainly seems to have contributed , among other things .
As SUP continues to navigate through its new growth spurt , with large volumes of paddlers coming into the fold , do you think we ' ll see an influx of SUP surf riders ? Maybe . We could see a few riders progressing on to SUP surfing if their interests are pricked . Location will play a part . Hardcore surf venues won ’ t attract , I don ’ t think . But mellower wave spots might
( such as my backyard ). The issue as well is where the paddler in question is based . You need to be at the coast for waves , and not everybody has easy ( or quick ) journeys to get to these put-ins . Once furlough / staycation has ended , it ’ ll be a whole load trickier to score waves – unless the rider ( s ) in question are prepared to become weekend warriors . And not any will because of responsibilities and life getting in the way .
Final thoughts on SUP surfing ? SUP surfing is ( for me ) the main reason to ride a board with a paddle in hand . Whilst I still love traditional surfing , the unique aspect of adding a paddle make a stand-up paddle wave riding its own challenge and therefore keeps my attention . As said above , it ’ s also one of the best modes of wave sliding for the more local area . If you ’ re thinking about getting into SUP surfing , then learn surf etiquette , take things slowly , and pretty soon , you ’ ll be loving it as well .