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8’ 2”, which I do really like, but it’ s to replace a Starboard Pocket Rocket, which is probably fifteen years old, maybe older, and actually, I still prefer it if it’ s a bit choppy and rides waves really well. I guess that’ s one reason why the industry needs to innovate all the time to keep moving gear, which makes it a hard industry to be in. It is noticeable how few people do flat water SUP here. In Bournemouth, the Avon River is like a SUP motorway; there are amazing places and no one at all.
Got any goals you still need to tick off? Loads! As the kids grow up into teenagers, I’ m looking forward to them catching me up and then overtaking me in surfing sports. If they’ re keen, I’ d like to do a few competitions with them or just some trips. It might sound odd given where we’ re living, but I also want to get back into more travelling. I want to go to Peru to surf the long lefts out there, and I’ d love to visit Indonesia one day. Oh, and I have to tick Hookipa off the list too, before I completely forget how to windsurf. I also want to get back to doing more photography. I don’ t really have any good surfing shots, and I have this idea about incorporating a camera into a SUP paddle, which I’ ll get around to one day.
Any final thanks, shouts and praise? Thanks to you for the opportunity here. It’ s sort of weird because I used to be the one interviewing people for BOARDS mag, and I never really thought anyone would want to know about me. Also, thanks to all the readers for supporting this magazine and for generally helping to give watersports such a community feel. They say only a surfer knows the feeling, but these days there’ s a whole load of different sports that let you experience it, from SUP to Foil, but they all feel like you’ re doing something special, and I love that. And a quick final plug, if you’ re looking for something to read, do give DEEP BLUE LIES a look, or one of my other books, which are more surfy in theme. Thanks!
MARIA AND LOKI EXPLORING THE RIVERS
BACK TO YOUR WRITING AND WHAT’ S NEXT
( IF YOU CAN SAY)?
My favourite stage of writing is the very beginning, when a story can be about anything at all, and that’ s where I am right now, so I don’ t really know.
EXPLORING THE LAKES BY SUP