Which race did you first compete in ?
My first competitive race was The Paddle Skedaddle in May 2021 , a 26km race run by Norfolk Outdoor Adventures . I was thrilled to complete the race and finished 5 / 15 ( women ) and 42 / 58 ( overall ). Especially as I took a dunk on the Broads . This race takes place on the Norfolk Broads , an environment that should not be underestimated . Paddling on this type of water can be demanding because you are racing in exposed sections of rivers and broads , changing water flows and wind . You ’ re amongst other leisure users , including pleasure cruisers and sailboats tacking cross river . As racers , we were exposed to the elements , whether it was the wind , the rain or the heat . And , having competed several times in this particular environment , I have had all those experiences on the same day ! Taking part in The Paddle Skedaddle will always hold a special place in my heart as my first race . It made me decide that I wanted to compete and leisurely paddle . The next natural step for me was to invest in a 14ft hardboard so that I could train to paddle further for longer , more efficiently and faster ).
And , have there been other races that have been notable for you ?
In 2021 , as well as The Paddle Skedaddle , I took part in the East Anglia SUP Initiative ( 8km ) on Hickling Broad , which is when I first met the welcoming race community . Since the racing bug hit me , I planned that in 2022 I ’ d give myself a chance to experience as many
Local fete promoting SUP awareness different types of races in distance , disciplines , series and locations . I ’ ve paddled Medway River Raid , Loch Awesome , Paddle Skedaddle , Battle of the Thames , the Norfolk Broads Ultra and finally , a SUP Bike Run , which I like to call a SUPathlon . Next year I ’ ll focus on a few key races in the GBSUP calendar and those that I couldn ’ t fit into my diary this year , including The National Championships , Trent100 , and the Great Glen Challenge . For me , Paddle Skedaddle is my favourite race and distance , but my biggest achievement was the Norfolk Broads Ultra which is 72km paddled over two days . What made this race so notable was my overcoming both the distance and the weather conditions resulting in my ranking third out of the eleven women competitors !
NBU PaddledItMate met great friends
Emy , another ambassador and I catch up at Loch Awe
Photo : Bob Smith
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