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Ben Felton
Tell us about your surf riding background and when you discovered riding waves with a paddle . I enjoyed surfing on a longboard when I was younger . I wasn ' t seriously into it at the time , but I love the water and just being in the sea . Due to work commitments , I was unable to carry on surfing . I started dabbling around other hobbies , but they just didn ' t hit the fix I was chasing ! I changed jobs , and a friend convinced me to have a go at SUP . The first time I caught a wave , I was hooked . I couldn ’ t believe how early you could get on to a wave and how small conditions you could go out in ! It was a game-changer .
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 ? Yes , I still SUP surf . However , SUP foiling is taking over . I tend to go out in bigger waves now to SUP surf . It ' s the best feeling !
What ' s your overall opinion of SUP surfing in the UK currently ? Do you see much new blood at your local ? Great community , loads of social media groups to get advice from , many areas to
SUP surf in the UK so that you can paddle away from the crowds . Some of the longer SUP surfboards suit the mushy waves we get here on the south coast too . I ' m seeing a lot of new flatwater paddlers but not many new SUP surfers .
Why do you think stand up paddle boarding waves never exploded as some predicted ? I think the learning curve of SUP surfing is relatively hard . For instance , paddling into waves requires good balance , powerful paddle strokes , and super expensive equipment . It ' s a lot of money to outlay to ' give it a go ' and test whether it ' s for you .
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 ? Yes , I think we will when all the new paddlers realise what fun they can have in the waves .
Final thoughts on SUP surfing ? For me , it changed my life . Once I paddled into that first wave , it became an addiction . The power of a paddle and extra volume in the boards allow you to make the most of your local spot or any other for that matter .