Shilpa Rasaiah
Homecoming celebrations . Photo : @ supcoach _ belle Belle Yates
Shilpa ’ s paddling journey can only be described as inspirational ! At nearly 60 years old , she decided to set herself the challenge of SUP ’ ing the Grand Union Canal . In this interview , Shilpa describes why she decided to paddle nearly 165 miles in fourteen days . And how this not only developed her confidence but also became about celebrating family , friendships and community . Photos : Gehan Rasaiah , Belle Yates @ supcoach _ belle , Dan @ littlewolf , Gisela ( Gee ) Derrick and Simon Higginson
@ SUP . Loving . Lina Shilpa with Maya and Ray
How did you discover paddling ?
My husband and I had just married and thought it ’ d be nice to try and find a hobby to do together . We enrolled on a short kayaking course at the Leicester Outdoor Pursuit Centre and then paddled when on holiday in places like Cornwall . In 2010 I joined Soar Boat Club and found I loved the longer river trips they organised , including paddling on the River Wye and the Thames .
Leicester . Photo : Simon Higginson
When and why did you decide to try paddleboarding ?
The club had purchased two boards , but nobody used them . In late summer ( 2021 ), I decided I would give it a go and told everyone to clear out of my way . Nobody was allowed to make any ripples on the water ! I remember thinking , ‘ I can do this if I persevere ’. That first time , I was hunched over , my legs were like jelly , but I knew it felt good . The second time I got better , and by the third , I was happily paddling down the river .
Do you think already being water confident helped with SUP ?
Definitely ! There are a lot of Indian ladies of my generation who were not brought up near the water . Consequently , they have either not learnt to swim or are not confident in the water . In those days , it was not part of our upbringing or our culture , plus we lacked access . For example , growing up , I lived in the inner city . I didn ’ t have access to transport , and there were no opportunities then to do outdoor activities . Girls were implicitly expected to do ‘ housy ’ things . I have since realised that I am born to be outside ! I have missed out , and I now have a lot of catching up to do !
SUP the Grand Union – finished at Trent Lock with the team . Photo : Gehan Rasaiah
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