How much time and effort do you
devote to UK SUP Clubs? Is it a full
time job?
What do you think is missing from
UK stand up at the moment – club
related or otherwise?
Right now I devote two to three days a week to UK SUP and this
time is all voluntary. It is slowly becoming a full time job but I
must admit that this is because I like to know everything that is
happening every minute of every day! However, I have a great
team working with me; Ali Pereira, Chris Kenyon and Colin Elston.
We are in the process of finalising the positions everyone holds
and hopefully this will free up some of my time, but I know how
involved I like to be and I will struggle to take a small step back.
What we are missing is a national governing body. If we could
find the correct NGB it would help grow clubs through funding
and the structure could be finalised. Right now I feel too many
self-styled coaching organisations are being set up and not
enough thought is being put into what we can do for these
paddlers once they have paid their money for their lessons and
know how to paddle. The clubs are the grass roots of the sport
and I feel they should be getting financial assistance to help
them promote and grow.
Which areas of stand up paddling
do you see as having the most
potential (if any) and why?
I believe racing will continue to grow in the years to come but the
results of our survey showed the leisure side of paddling is the
largest part of the sport in the UK. The clubs are doing an
amazing job assisting leisure paddlers and we will do all we can
to help them by promoting their events.
Sum up the UK SUP club scene for
us and how it helps get people on
b o a r d w i t h S U P.
It was felt in 2014 that we focused on the high level racers a bit
too much so in 2015 we will be putting as much focus on the
individual age groups within the races. These age groups are:
Junior (16-18)
Masters (41-51)
Veterans (52+)
Red Paddle Co have also offered to run a kids series for under 12s
and age 13-15. This racing will be on inflatable boards and we will
be holding four races in 2015. I feel the best way to grow the
sport is to get the kids involved.
As a lady paddler do you think
there’s more that can be done to
encourage females into the sport –
and if so, what?
I feel the clubs encourage and help females just as much as the
males. In my short time in SUP I have been treated the same as
the boys and have been given so much assistance and
encouragement. I could not have asked for anything else. All that
is stopping women paddling and racing is themselves. The help
and opportunities are out there and they will be welcomed with
open arms.e a cross between the two?
How can the UK SUP fraternity
support UK SUP Clubs?
The UK SUP fraternity can help by getting involved and assisting
at club level; join a club and help it grow in the future. I received
quite a bit of negativity from some individuals because they
wanted to be involved in running the race series with UK SUP but
it is the clubs that need help and assistance; they are the grass
roots of the sport and they will be the ones that continue the
growth and need the help.g the shop.
I have a great team working with me; Ali Pereira,
Chris Kenyon and Colin Elston
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