SUP Mag UK October 2016 issue 11 | Page 8

Joe Thwaites is the brains and brawn behind North East based Loco SUP . A self-styled paddle surfing brand Joe is outspoken , colourful and certainly a personality within UK stand up . Ever one for a good nitty gritty chat we caught up with Mr T for this issue ’ s Behind the Brand feature .
Interview : SUP Mag UK Pics : Loco SUP

Joe Thwaites is the brains and brawn behind North East based Loco SUP . A self-styled paddle surfing brand Joe is outspoken , colourful and certainly a personality within UK stand up . Ever one for a good nitty gritty chat we caught up with Mr T for this issue ’ s Behind the Brand feature .

Interview : SUP Mag UK Pics : Loco SUP

Behind the brand

Joe Thwaites , Loco

Tell us about your watery history – how did you get into sports of a moist nature ? II hit the water for the first time when I was about 9 years old ! My gran used to pay for my brother and I to get surf lessons down at Saltburn-on-Sea . I also tried windsurfing about the same time but it largely left me cold , as the equipment was massive for my size and pootling about on a lake was a bit lame by comparison . The following years were filled with regular visits to Saltburn to practice and build my water confidence going out in bigger waves .
When I was about 15 years old I got into DJing , so I sold all my surfboards and spent all my available cash on vinyl for the next 10 years ! I got right back into windsurfing doing all the usual flat water Vass and Dahab progression trips before testing myself in the waves , hitting places like Cape Verde , Fuerteventura and Morocco as well as maxing out on coastal water time in my native North East and other spots around the UK . I still windsurf with the NWC lads but mainly at the coast in the colder months when the swell is firing and the fan is turned up to 10 ..
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