SUP Mag UK June 2019 issue 21 | Page 35

Blue Chip SUPer Club has been around for some time – what in your thoughts should a club be about? Saturdays. Our Wednesday evening social/adventure paddles are the most popular paddles, which have now been running for over 10 years in and around the Surrey rivers with away day paddles through the Sussex countryside along with our London paddles. I have run many clubs throughout my career and I have always run them on the principle that a club or association is a group of like-minded individuals coming together to appreciate a pastime they all enjoy. Clubs should not be run for the benefit of its officers or the owner of the club. Clubs should be run explicitly for the benefit of the members and I think we owe our club’s success to this principle. What is your relationship with TSC? How did you come to be teaching at Surbiton? How many instructors do you have at the club and when do you teach SUP? The Blue Chip SUPer Club paddles twice a week throughout the year and once you join the club all paddle outings are free, there is club equipment available to rent on certain club paddles for a small charge. I first discovered the Thames Sailing Club when I needed a new venue to base my second BOTT event in 2012. TSC were very accommodating to us and over the last eight years our relationship with them has grown and grown and we have now become part of their fabric. TSC is a very friendly club and a terrific venue for our events and SUP school with full clubhouse facilities so close to London and the home counties. The water is none tidal, clean and safe, coupled with a great shore-based facility makes this the ideal location for our Blue Chip SUP School. We paddle Wednesday evening and Saturday mornings. Our home water is at the TSC in Surbiton where we paddle most 35 s t a n d u p p a d d l e m a g u k