ThePADDLER 108
Have you always been competitive ? I used to be competitive as a young person , but I remember at school , the girls made fun of me for being so ; even now , I remember that . So , I might have changed how I am competitive to keep it more internal . I am competitive , but it ’ s intrinsic ; I do it entirely to challenge and push myself and see how far I can go .
Do you think your knowledge of white water has helped you with SUP ? How do you think that technique has helped ? Some elements of knowing how to control a boat on a wave have transferred over really well for SUP surfing on the sea . Water confidence is probably a huge one , too ; once you have swum in white water , there isn ’ t much that is scarier than that ! We could then look at reading the water ahead as you would on a river and taking this to an ocean or race environment , where you have to read the situation around you all the time , looking for a gap or opportunity to take a better line , quicker route to get ahead of your competitors – I actually have a small rush of adrenaline while I ’ m writing this !
Then there is the paddle technique on white water ; you can ’ t just paddle all the time ; you have to time your paddle strokes through the chop and waves , working with the water . You have to do the same on the sea , working with the swell , staying relaxed and timing your paddle , looking for where the wind or swell is coming from – all easier said than done , though !
White water and the ocean are two different beasts to me , though , I feel like I know white water very well , but I ’ m still getting to know the ocean ! Both command a lot of respect .
Do you prefer ocean paddling to flatwater ? I love both ! I think both are fantastic , being on the water is always magical , even when the weather is bad !
Flatwater I love the chance to work hard at interval training ; we have some lovely flatwater locations in South Wales that are really beautiful and safe places to get out and explore or to use as training venues .
I love ocean paddling because it can often be a lot more challenging . There is a lot more to think about , tide , wind , weather , picking a location based on those things , not that those things shouldn ’ t be thought about when paddling on the flat water too . Information and knowledge for paddling on the sea take time to learn , and it has taken me a while to learn my local area through the help of good friends . I love the focus that I need if I go out on a challenging day because that focus means I have to be entirely in the moment .
I have a couple of locations that I know I can have a go at paddling in choppier conditions with more swell because I know the area is safe , but I don ’ t push the boundaries of safety , I know what is safe for that location and pick conditions that will challenge my ability .
Do you SUP surf ? I try ! I generally have no expectations for my surfing because I do it for complete fun . Some days in the local area , there are so many SUPs out , we catch party waves which is hilarious , and the weather can be so good that you can see all the way across the channel , so it ’ s just a perfect way to clear your mind and be in the moment .
I love it ; I have really gotten into it since I have lived in South Wales , and now , I ’ m not sure I could live without it !
I have a smaller surf SUP , which I will take out if the waves are three-foot , but I love surfing my race board in anything smaller ; it ’ s such a challenge and is such a fun way to improve board handling in choppy water !
You won hands down overall men and women racing in the GBSUP National Series Kent – an impressive performance – do you think your whitewater experience and skills helped you in those choppy conditions . Thank you very much !
I think my counting skills may have won that race ; however , I was also delighted with my paddling ability that day .
To put things into perspective , I did get on the water that morning on the race though , and warm-up thinking how on earth I was going to complete one lap of that course – I felt so wobbly ! However , I settled after I warmed up !
I think that the whitewater experience did help in the way of looking at the course ( any technical course ) to see how the water and the wind can help . I like to look at all elements of the race , from the start line to the first buoy , where I ’ m going to stand , how I ’ m going to feel as I set off etc ., all things that we would have done as a team when raft racing .
That race was quite windy and choppy , and I remember knowing that I could come into one of the buoys turns fairly wide in and tight out ( paddling away ) because the wind was going to do the work for me , so all I had to do was balance , relax and set up the board for the turn .
WHAT DO YOU DO AS A PROFESSION ?
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I work in rope access , so that ’ s abseiling in a construction and industrial environment . I enjoy it ; I ’ m outside almost all the time , all year round . It can be physical too , which I love ; I see it as extra training ! Apart from being really tired sometimes , I don ’ t feel like it is work !
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