crossing
SUP RACERS
15 s t a n d u p p a d d l e m a g u k
Intro from Paul Hyman
Since the early days of Active360 in 2011, I’ ve wanted to run a SUP race through the heart of London. For years this was just an ambition because the Port of London Authority( PLA) had decided to restrict SUP and effectively ban it from Central London. They had witnessed groups going through without adequate safety provision or much attention to navigation rules and they saw the sport as risky and unsuited to a busy urban tidal river with powerful currents. We challenged them on the safety issues and opinions and eventually agreed to work with them on risk assessments and setting up training programmes to reduce restrictions, allowing SUP to take place through the city at certain times.
After years of building up trust and building SUP experience in central London, we secured permission for a race from Putney to Big Ben and back – the Big Ben Race. This ran in 2016 and 2017 with support from Tideway – the company building a huge tunnel under the Thames( a super sewer). In 2017 there was also a‘ challenge’ endurance event but not racing event alongside this named the Big Ben Challenge.
The london Crossing was an obvious next step. This was conceived as a race from Putney – the point where SUP restrictions begin – through to beyond Tower Bridge where SUP is restricted to pre-arranged special events with plans and safety cover.
With a great deal of help and backing from Tideway and in particular from Andrew Triggs-Hodge( triple Olympic gold medalist and fourtime world champion rower) over the past year, we developed the idea of a London Crossing inspired by the hugely successful Paris Crossing. The idea is simple – a race down the Tidal Thames across London taking in every major central London Bridge and landmark building.
On September 23rd, we organised the first race. Weather forecasts changed constantly and we were uncertain what the riders would face on the day. Winds of up to 50mph had been forecast early in the week but this forecast was to change many times with different wind speeds and directions. We eventually got moderate north westerly winds, hours of heavy rain and temperature feeling more like 7c.
However, the race worked and more importantly, racers rose to the challenge of the difficult weather conditions. They came from around the world – the furthest from Australia but we had a good European contingent from France, Germany and Slovenia and a Canadian( the only local guy racing). We gave priority to women and those who supported our first two races and we were originally allowed only 20 places by the PLA. We managed to stretch this to 30 including six tandem riders.
The top time of just over one-hour and 28 minutes was set by French tandem riders Sebastien Le Meaux and Apehau Tching Piou, who were ahead of Ben Pye by a good distance. Starboard rider Ben secured first place on a carbon 14’ in great style with teammate Marie Buchanan the fastest woman. Peter Weidert and Shara Dubeau won the men’ s and women’ s 12’ 6” air class.
This was very much a team event and involved a dedicated group of organisers and coaches who worked for many days over a six-month planning period to assess risk, secure permissions, shape the event and then deliver it on the day. On Sunday it all felt worth it even when we were soaked and freezing on the river. The Challenge unfortunately had to be adapted to an upriver paddle through Hammersmith Bridge to beyond historic Chiswick. At just 45 minutes before the start time, an unusually large sewage release in Chelsea created unacceptable river conditions on the Big Ben Route. Participants instead enjoyed a classic Thames paddle covering the Boat Race course in reverse and a refund as compensation.
So in a few days we will start planning London Crossing 2019 – it will be much bigger and better but those who raced this year are the pioneers – the first. So they will have special place in history and in the hearts of the Londoners who are developing this sport. We thank them all for joining us in our city and on the river we hold dear.