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Emilia Soulsby: I was nervous about entering the Big Dippa race in Whitley Bay, so I waited until the last minute to sign up, but I’ m thrilled I took the plunge! The event was an incredible experience, and I’ m so glad I pushed past my doubts.
As someone who’ s used to paddling on rivers, the sea conditions were a challenge. The waves were tough, and I was disappointed to miss the second lap of the tech race. However, the organisers made the right call, prioritising safety.
Despite the challenges, I gained valuable experience and knowledge about ocean paddling. The following day, I attended Susanne Lier’ s race clinic, which was an excellent opportunity to learn from her experiences and expertise as a four-time world champion, particularly in ocean paddling.
The event was also an excellent opportunity to meet new people from across the country who share a passion for paddleboarding. Watching Annie and Hector’ s masterclass was inspiring, with their skills and talent on full display, which was great for all ages, especially the children!
I’ m grateful to everyone who contributed to making this event a success. It takes a lot of planning and preparation to host one, and I appreciate the effort that went into creating a fantastic day despite the challenging conditions. I’ m already looking forward to next year’ s event and working on improving my technique and training plan.