A dose of downwind with David ‘Tids’ Tidball

Words: David Tidball (Tids) Pics: David ‘Tids’ Tidball, Icon  Downwind SUP is generally thought, by the wider global SUP audience, to be the ultimate test of rider skill. Yet those who practice DW in the UK are still few in numbers. We caught up with David Tidball (Tids), organiser of the Icon’s (downwind SUP race) stand up paddle section, to get his thoughts on the event and UK downwinding in…

SUP: JHV’s Valley Isle – Jo Hamilton Vale in Maui

Words: Jo Hamilton Vale

Pics: Johann Meya, Harry Wiewel

Having travelled to many places in the world the one place that I never visited until recently was the Valley Isle, Maui.  That all changed in November 2015 – my first trip to the mecca – and I see it being be the place I visit most in the future.

Maui is special and heaven to a watersports person (it’s also where stand up paddling…

SUP: Downwind dancing – Maff Wall’s Icon 2016 report

Words: Maff Wall

Pics: Ian Phillips (www.surfs-sup.co.uk/)

Maff Wall reports from last weekend’s Icon 2016 – a downwind race along the picturesque North Devon coastline. Over to Maff for his perspective.

The Icon Classic 2016 is race four in the GB Ocean Ski Series. A downwind race along the north Devon coast now in its seventh year as a surf ski event and only second to include SUP, thanks to…

Can I use my race/touring SUP for downwind paddling?

Downwind SUP season is officially upon here is the UK. Obviously there are those aficionados who’ve always been (and will continue to be) into this side of stand up, but more and more paddlers have been seen out in the brine when it’s blowin’ dogs off chains. This is great as breezy conditions have traditionally been perceived as no-go by the general SUP masses.

So what’s downwinding all about…