When and how did you get into SUP? It was about four years ago when I was staying with my Dad where he lives in the Isles of Scilly after radiotherapy treatment. I saw a person out on the water, thought it looked relaxing with low impact and that I could try myself whilst recovering from illness. A local sailing club lent me a rental board and I took myself out on the water. As soon as my paddle hit the water I was hooked – it was great for fitness but also very calming.
So when and why did the idea of tackling plastic pollution first come to mind?
Once I returned to London I started paddling the canals and rivers close to me and that was the first time I connected myself with environmental issues and realizing how extensive the problem with plastic was both in terms of it being an eyesore to me but, more than that, the impact on wildlife.
You’ re obviously comfortable with yourself but are there times when the isolation dampens your desire to complete the mission?
Absolutely. Once you have found a rhythm paddleboarding can be incredibly peaceful and relaxing and offers a wonderful sense of freedom. However, when you are paddling long distances every day, like during the 22 days I spent on the water paddling the length of the UK, there are times that it becomes monotonous and motivation is hard to muster because you are becoming tired.
At that point you have to dig deep and find a way to become your own source of motivation and that can be tough. Finding an inner voice to push you forward when all you want to do is stop is the challenge, but once you’ ve pushed through, the sense of achievement is event greater. Having a purpose bigger than my own desire for the thrill of adventure has always been a strong motivator for me – that helps a lot.
During The Hudson Project I paddled for about seven hours a day – timed with tides and currents as best I could but I generally found that conditions rarely worked in sync, so whilst one day I’ d have strong, favourable currents, these would be coupled with headwinds. Hurricane Florence was due to hit the east coast as I was paddling, so I was getting a lot of unpredictable weather thrown at me off the back of that. Sometimes I would paddle through 35 mph winds and often felt like I was working really hard for every single stroke.
Although I completed the challenge, there were times that I questioned whether it would be possible. The most important element to achieve were the environmental objectives, the water samplings, Plastic Patrol( a charity set up by Lizzie to combat single use plastics through community outreach, technology and education), logging and beach cleans. So as long as I could leave knowing that was done, I felt it was mission accomplished – it was just an added bonus that I was able to find weather windows that allowed me back on the water to cover more distance every day.
Is it just plastic or are there other major causes of pollution of our oceans and rivers?
Of course, there are a number of other major marine polluters that are having a detrimental impact on the health of the ocean. Plastic is the most tangibles but it’ s also the one that people are able to help combat most effectively, through both their own actions but clean ups too.
In the last year the Blue Planet effect has created a massive shift in public awareness of the problem. It is now very much in mainstream consciousness. Recently scientists have been able to evidence that plastic is entering the human food chain and the health implications this has. As soon as the issue presents a danger to human health, it provokes deeper thought and consideration which, ultimately, will drive change.
You’ ve had many momentous paddles, what keeps you motivated? Knowing that there is a bigger purpose to what I am doing – that by paddling these long distances I am both able to spread the message about plastic pollution but also gather some really important scientific data to help understand it more.
Paddling the length of England, the English Channel and now the Hudson River, which is your greatest achievement – do you have anything in mind to surpass that? For me it is all about the mission – I don’ t have anything in mind right now. I will do what feels right, when it feels right and for the right reasons.
What type of training do you do for the expeditions? I spend a lot of time on the water trying to replicate the conditions that I will encounter out there. For core strength I use the gym building up to event. I need to ensure I have the stamina to sustain myself, so I imagine it is bit like marathon training where you gradually build up the miles.
What’ s the most unusual item you’ ve found amongst all that trash that you have highlighted and photographed?
Hmm that’ s a difficult one, manikins, a safe, many old purses, a skateboard – the list is endless. Not sure where to start!
Tell us about your SUP kit – do you have overall sponsors or different suppliers for each expedition?
I always use inflatable boards as these are much easier for me to store and cart around, but I don’ t work with specific sponsors for expeditions – I just plan and do them on my own.
What piece of tech kit do you rely upon the most? I rely on it all – but I’ ve always found carabiners come in really useful. I will always carry a VHF radio and my phone too. For The Hudson Project I paddled on a Fanatic Falcon Air inflatable board but I used a different board for the Channel Crossing. As for paddles, I use a carbon paddle – the lighter the better!
On expeditions like the Hudson, do you like to listen to music?
I do like to listen to music, but not often and didn’ t on my most recent expedition. Being alone means needing to be aware of your environment and on the Hudson there were many huge cargo ships and although they are big, they are not very loud, so it is a safer not to have distractions if they are coming down the river behind you.
There must have been some huge unexpected learning experiences on your expeditions?
Learning more about myself and how I handle tough situations is interesting. Obviously you’ re very much caught up in the moment but I think it’ s important to reflect and learn from these.
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