Anne’ s farewell until we meet again …
4
Bye to SUPM but it’ s not the end
It’ s with a heavy heart that I share this news: this issue of SUPM will be our final one. I understand that this may be disappointing for many of you, and I share that sentiment.
Over the past five years, we have faced unprecedented challenges, from the impacts of COVID-19 to the ongoing war in Ukraine, which have led to significant increases in the costs of paper and energy. Unfortunately, printing and postage costs have surged significantly since 2020.
Alongside a notable decrease in advertising revenue, these challenges have brought us to this bittersweet conclusion. While I feel genuine sadness as we reach the end of this chapter, I can’ t help but reflect with immense pride on all that SUPM has achieved over its 11-year journey as the voice of the SUP community in the UK.
The true heart of SUPM comes from all of you – who have poured your creativity and enthusiasm into every submission. It was your stories that truly brought the magazine to life. Your contributions have been the essence of what made SUPM special, and for that, I am sincerely grateful. You are not just our readers; you are integral parts of SUPM, and we will be forever thankful.
Covid lockdown One of the most significant turning points for SUP occurred during the lockdown. Paddlesports provided a vital outlet for enjoying the great outdoors while adhering to safety guidelines. In that uncertain moment, Anne and I worried about the future of SUPM, but the community’ s passion exploded in unexpected ways. Soon, we found ourselves producing oversized editions of SUPM, a testament to the resilience and enthusiasm that define the SUP community.
The lockdown period also gave paddlers a chance to pause and reflect. Many women in our community reached out, expressing their desire for greater visibility in our magazine. Motivated by this feedback, I dedicated myself to achieving a better balance, striving for a 50-50 representation in features and reviews, emphasising the importance of inclusivity in our sport.
Paddle UK partnership This period also strengthened our close partnership with Paddle UK, which has become the official National Governing Body( NGB) for SUP in the UK. As a result, new opportunities have emerged for the SUP community, including the 2026 SUP World Championship taking place in Torbay. We thoroughly enjoyed our working relationship with Robert Knott and Beth Hall, who have contributed 64 pages of Paddle UK news and events over the past two years.
As with all things, change is constant. Gradually, life returned to its familiar rhythms, and so did we. However, an oversupply of boards and equipment affected our manufacturers and retailers, along with the evolving landscape of advertising. These factors contributed to a gradual decline, especially in the last year.
SUP and the Paddler magazine However, it is not all doom and gloom. The SUPM website continues, and SUP will be highlighted prominently in the Paddler magazine, as it was, before SUPM was launched. We will welcome your stories and continue to support the SUP community as much as we possibly can.
Though it’ s bittersweet to say goodbye, let’ s celebrate the incredible journey we’ ve shared and all the memories created along the way. Your support and contributions have been the lifeblood of SUPM, and we are deeply grateful for your role in making it the vibrant community it is. Thank you for being an essential part of SUPM, and we look forward to seeing you in the Paddler magazine. All the best Peter Tranter( Publisher)
HUGE THANKS
to one and all
Anne’ s farewell until we meet again …
From my very first sighting of a person on a sup board, I was entranced; it seemed mystical, romantic and exhilarating all rolled into one. I fell in love and knew it would be the water sport for me. Fast forward a few years, and I had not yet been on a board, but I was seeing more of it vicariously as stories began to crop up regularly in our other publication, Paddler.
Paddler had been Peter’ s brainchild and inspiration, so when we decided to create