South West home style
SUP hols
Words: Sophie Mathews
Pics: Tom Court, Sophie Mathews
Sometimes the best adventures are the spontaneous ones. The freedom to just
grab the necessities, hit the road and stop wherever you fancy can be as exciting
as a planned trip to tropical climates. Having been lucky enough to travel the
world for kiteboarding, SUP and surfing, it’s safe to say that the UK coastline is
something of a mystery to Fanatic team rider Tom Court and I. Wanting to
discover what was on offer the other side of the water from ‘home’ on the Isle of
Wight, we threw a tent and two SUPs into the back of the car and headed west on
a mission to paddle the unknown.
Our first port of call was Salcombe. Pastel coloured houses spill down the hillside to the hustle and
bustle of shops and pubs that meet the shoreline of boats as far as the eye can see. A favoured location
for die-hard sailors, the estuary creates a canvas for windsurfers, wakeboarders and SUP riders to paint.
Wheeling our inflatables through the classic British seaside town we reached the launch spot where
like-minded people where suiting up to hit the water.
Navigating out of the main harbour we picked our moment to dash across the busy channel and over to
the other side of the estuary. It was as if we had entered another world of calm. Tall overhanging trees
draped themselves over the golden sandy beaches lined by turquoise waters. Cruising along the
shoreline, I was excited to find the perfect spot for my new-found passion of strength and stability
training on my Fanatic Fly Air Fit.