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There is tremendous enthusiasm amongst women for SUP – why do you think that is? Oh, there really is! I think there are several factors – it’ s a wonderful way to connect with other people, has all the benefits of being on the water for our blue health in quite an accessible way, offers the opportunity to paddle hard or easy so we can tailor it to our energy levels on the day, there’ s always something new to learn or if we wish a discipline to try.
I think because we are still a relatively new sport, there isn’ t the weight of history on our shoulders telling us what a paddleboarder should look like or the things we should do or enjoy. So we are writing our own stories about what we enjoy, and there’ s a tremendous freedom in that.
I think also women were really leading the way in terms of endurance paddling at the outset – like Cal Major, Fiona Quinn and Lizzie Carr – so we have fabulous role models! Look at Caz Dawson now, too!
EXPLORING SCOTLAND WITH HELEN ROBINSON