#sup event

The sixth edition of the Norfolk Broads Classic takes place on Saturday 16 July, Martin Rendle has an overview of the course for SUPboarder. 

What can I say about this by now quite iconic distance SUP race apart from it is possibly one of the most stunning on the SUP season race calendar!

The Norfolk Broads Classic is a 10 mile long course, or 5 mile short course, distance, point to point SUP race which covers all categories of flat-water SUP racing. This event is now in it’s sixth year and has been a hugely popular choice for elite and novice racers alike ever since it’s inception.

The race starts at the most beautiful and privately owned How Hill Nature Reserve, which is an absolute treat in itself – and then winds it’s way to it’s final finish point 10 miles away (short distance starts 5 miles in at Thurne) at the village of Martham – famous for it’s wooden classic yachts & river cruisers which is owned by Martham Boats, the 3rd oldest boat yard on the Norfolk Broads, which is owned and operated by Ian Curtis, the race director of The Classic, a keen paddler himself and also owner of SUP-Shop-Online.

Along the route of this iconic race you head past the ruins of the Anglo Saxon St Benets Abby, the famous white windmill at Thurne, and also the treat of the race – and around 1.5 mile for the end, the famous and ridiculously low medieval bridge at Potter Heigham (you will really need to duck through this one!).

As you paddle along this most stunning route, you’ll be sure to see the likes of Marsh Harriers, Kingfishers, Otters & Great Crested Grebes and a whole host of other wonderful wildlife – that’s if you’re not at the pointy end of racing that is – otherwise you’ll be either up front of, or sat behind a draft train as the winner of this event will receive a cash prize purse!

There is space to camp on the night before the event, with free parking and toilets – all at the meeting point of the event, which is at Martham Boats – which in itself is right on the riverbank and within the unbelievable scenic Nature Reserve.

What more could you want from a SUP race, and with this being race No:3 on the calendar of the UK SUP Club National Series – it’s sure to be a greatly attended event!

To sign up and make sure you reserve your spot on this quite stunning event – visit here to sign up and experience one of the best distance races out there.

Words and Images Martin Rendle.

The Norfolk Broads Classic – A jewel in the SUP season calendar

The Norfolk Broads Classic The sixth edition of the Norfolk Broads Classic takes place on Saturday 16 July, Martin Rendle has an overview of the course for SUPboarder. 

The sixth edition of the Norfolk Broads Classic takes place on Saturday 16 July, Martin Rendle has an overview of the course for SUPboarder. 

What can I say about this by now quite iconic distance SUP race apart from it is possibly one of the most stunning on the SUP season race calendar!

The Norfolk Broads Classic is a 10 mile long course, or 5 mile short course, distance, point to point SUP race which covers all categories of flat-water SUP racing. This event is now in it’s sixth year and has been a hugely popular choice for elite and novice racers alike ever since it’s inception.

The race starts at the most beautiful and privately owned How Hill Nature Reserve, which is an absolute treat in itself – and then winds it’s way to it’s final finish point 10 miles away (short distance starts 5 miles in at Thurne) at the village of Martham – famous for it’s wooden classic yachts & river cruisers which is owned by Martham Boats, the 3rd oldest boat yard on the Norfolk Broads, which is owned and operated by Ian Curtis, the race director of The Classic, a keen paddler himself and also owner of SUP-Shop-Online.

Along the route of this iconic race you head past the ruins of the Anglo Saxon St Benets Abby, the famous white windmill at Thurne, and also the treat of the race – and around 1.5 mile for the end, the famous and ridiculously low medieval bridge at Potter Heigham (you will really need to duck through this one!).

As you paddle along this most stunning route, you’ll be sure to see the likes of Marsh Harriers, Kingfishers, Otters & Great Crested Grebes and a whole host of other wonderful wildlife – that’s if you’re not at the pointy end of racing that is – otherwise you’ll be either up front of, or sat behind a draft train as the winner of this event will receive a cash prize purse!

There is space to camp on the night before the event, with free parking and toilets – all at the meeting point of the event, which is at Martham Boats – which in itself is right on the riverbank and within the unbelievable scenic Nature Reserve.

What more could you want from a SUP race, and with this being race No:3 on the calendar of the UK SUP Club National Series – it’s sure to be a greatly attended event!

To sign up and make sure you reserve your spot on this quite stunning event – visit here to sign up and experience one of the best distance races out there.

Words and Images Martin Rendle.

Clacton Sea and Beach Festival – Press Release

BSUPA Sup Event as part of Clacton Sea & Beach Festival

After the success of our race in October, SUP The Creek. It a was a delight that the British Stand Up Paddleboard Association (BSUPA) contacted us to deliver the SUP Discipline for The National Watersports Championships as part of their Sea & Beach Festival in Clacton On Sea on June 25th/26th. Preparations got underway to provide an event…

Clacton Sea and Beach Festival – Press Release

BSUPA Sup Event as part of Clacton Sea & Beach Festival

After the success of our race in October, SUP The Creek. It a was a delight that the British Stand Up Paddleboard Association (BSUPA) contacted us to deliver the SUP Discipline for The National Watersports Championships as part of their Sea & Beach Festival in Clacton On Sea on June 25th/26th. Preparations got underway to provide an event…

If you fancy a long race on a long summers day then Daz Ready from Windermere Canoe and Kayak has just the right event for you; the Summer Solstice Festival on the weekend of 18th & 19th June 2016; 

Lucy Pearce from SUP North at the recent NSR event on Windermere

Windermere Canoe Kayak will host their 8th annual Summer Solstice Festival on 18th & 19th June on Windermere. There will be two courses open to all paddlesports along with plenty of food and entertainment.

Daz Ready – owner says:

“Our long course takes in the full length of Windermere, England’s Longest lake, on the longest days of the year (well as near as possible). That’s over 10 miles of breathtaking scenery and a chance to celebrate the summer with a whole community of enthusiastic paddlers.

We expect a vast variety of watercraft to be taking part – traditionally we have seen K1,K2,K4, Canoe, Outriggers, Dragon boats etc but in the last few years we have seen I big increase in SUP, hope fully this year we will see a sub 2 hour time for SUP!!

We also offer safety cover for the event allowing paddlers the opportunity to stretch themselves!

Throughout the weekend there will be a real festival atmosphere with plenty of demo equipment to try and post race entertainment, BBQ evenings and socializing around the campfire. We are being supported by some great brands such as Starboard, Red Paddle Co, Artistic, Canoe England, Tahe, Hou Canoes, Fine Boat kits and Robson paddles.

On the Saturday evening we hope to gather enough people for a Sup Polo Tournament which will inevitably be followed by the traditional ‘paddle to the pub!”

If you would like to enter go to www.windermerecanoekayak.com and choose “Summer Solstice” from the events menu at the top. Or email [email protected] for further info.

Sat 18th June – Long Course for experienced paddlers only, 10.5 miles, £22 to enter (including a shuttle at the start and some food afterwards).

Sun 19th June – Short Course Sprint! 5.5 miles, for those paddlers who are ready to push themselves yet again! £10 to enter.

On site parking at The National Trust’s Fell Foot Park (pay and display or free with National Trust Membership)

Camping available (when booked in advance) at Fell Foot, right beside the water, with our shuttle service in place this allows participants to finish the challenge at Fell Foot and then instantly relax!

About Windermere Canoe and Kayak

Windermere Canoe & Kayak offer sales tuition and hire Stand Up paddleboards, canoes, kayaks, and bikes from Bowness-On-Windermere. Their retail shop holds a large selection which customers can ‘try before they buy’.

Their sister company Total Adventure provides adventure sessions, such as canyoning, gorge scrambling, rock climbing and abseiling at locations throughout the Lake District. The privately owned company has been operating in the Lake District for more than 20 years.

Lake Windermere Summer Solstice Festival

England’s Longest Lake on the Longest Day If you fancy a long race on a long summers day then Daz Ready from Windermere Canoe and Kayak has just the right event for you; the 

If you fancy a long race on a long summers day then Daz Ready from Windermere Canoe and Kayak has just the right event for you; the Summer Solstice Festival on the weekend of 18th & 19th June 2016; 

Lucy Pearce from SUP North at the recent NSR event on Windermere

Windermere Canoe Kayak will host their 8th annual Summer Solstice Festival on 18th & 19th June on Windermere. There will be two courses open to all paddlesports along with plenty of food and entertainment.

Daz Ready – owner says:

“Our long course takes in the full length of Windermere, England’s Longest lake, on the longest days of the year (well as near as possible). That’s over 10 miles of breathtaking scenery and a chance to celebrate the summer with a whole community of enthusiastic paddlers.

We expect a vast variety of watercraft to be taking part – traditionally we have seen K1,K2,K4, Canoe, Outriggers, Dragon boats etc but in the last few years we have seen I big increase in SUP, hope fully this year we will see a sub 2 hour time for SUP!!

We also offer safety cover for the event allowing paddlers the opportunity to stretch themselves!

Throughout the weekend there will be a real festival atmosphere with plenty of demo equipment to try and post race entertainment, BBQ evenings and socializing around the campfire. We are being supported by some great brands such as Starboard, Red Paddle Co, Artistic, Canoe England, Tahe, Hou Canoes, Fine Boat kits and Robson paddles.

On the Saturday evening we hope to gather enough people for a Sup Polo Tournament which will inevitably be followed by the traditional ‘paddle to the pub!”

If you would like to enter go to www.windermerecanoekayak.com and choose “Summer Solstice” from the events menu at the top. Or email [email protected] for further info.

Sat 18th June – Long Course for experienced paddlers only, 10.5 miles, £22 to enter (including a shuttle at the start and some food afterwards).

Sun 19th June – Short Course Sprint! 5.5 miles, for those paddlers who are ready to push themselves yet again! £10 to enter.

On site parking at The National Trust’s Fell Foot Park (pay and display or free with National Trust Membership)

Camping available (when booked in advance) at Fell Foot, right beside the water, with our shuttle service in place this allows participants to finish the challenge at Fell Foot and then instantly relax!

About Windermere Canoe and Kayak

Windermere Canoe & Kayak offer sales tuition and hire Stand Up paddleboards, canoes, kayaks, and bikes from Bowness-On-Windermere. Their retail shop holds a large selection which customers can ‘try before they buy’.

Their sister company Total Adventure provides adventure sessions, such as canyoning, gorge scrambling, rock climbing and abseiling at locations throughout the Lake District. The privately owned company has been operating in the Lake District for more than 20 years.

Southport SUP boarders took to the sea on the big spring tide on Saturday, for SUP North’s first Pirates Around the Pier SUP Challenge.

SUP North’s home spot in Southport, Merseyside is unusual in that we’re by the sea, but the sea doesn’t often come right in to the sea wall, as we have a 10 metre tidal range. We try to paddle when there’s a big spring tide and conditions are right, because it’s a novelty to see water around the pier (the second longest in the UK), let alone to see paddle boarders out on the Irish Sea!

Pirates Around the Pier is our way of making the most of our position. The challenge started on the coastal side of the dunes, with an approximate 1 mile paddle around the end of the pier, under and back to the slipway, followed by a quick walk across the zebra crossing, down the dunes and drop onto the marine lake to complete the almost 2 mile course. To make the event more unique and fun, everyone was required to be a pirate for the day!

The event was in aid of two local charities very important to us – the Southport Offshore Rescue Trust which runs our lifeboats, and the Lakeside Christian Centre, who kindly support our marine lake social paddling and lessons with the use of their car park and facilities.

On the day we were lucky to have blue skies and light winds while the event took place. Sea conditions were fairly challenging, with chop and some rolling swell, with the odd rideable wave, and tougher than many paddlers had experienced. But with safety in numbers and fantastic support from not one, but two Southport Lifeboats on the water, everyone rose to the occasion, including two Mums with young daughters on board! A couple of participants got damp, but the only casualties were one pirate’s sword, another’s eye patch and one compass lost to the high seas…

After negotiating the shore break, and safely crossing the road with support from the marshalls, the flat, calm marine lake was a relief for all. While some pushed for the fastest time, or to beat their mate, many had a leisurely paddle and enjoyed being part of the spectacle – it’s not every day Southport residents and tourists get to sea pirates ‘walking on water’ on the marine lake!

Every participant received a Pirates Around the Pier golden medal, and we awarded prizes for the best fancy dress, with the star prize of a carbon glass paddle (kindly donated by Starboard SUP UK) going to Mum, Christina and her daughter for their home-crafted costumes, as judged by Captain Ted of the Sailing Club.

We had a fantastic day and were thrilled to have enthusiastic paddlers and pirates from the age of 7 taking part. We’d like to give huge thanks to Southport Sailing Club for hosting us and helping with raising the Jolly Rogers, providing sustenance from the galley and gunfire for the race start, as well as Southport Lifeboat crews for the essential safety boat support, Starboard for the paddle prize and to our marshalls, spectators, supporters and participants. We’re looking forward to next year, with even more pirates paddling around the pier!

You can find out more about what SUP North are up to, including their very active SUP Polo sessions, on their Facebook page here.

Avast me Hearties – SUP Pirates spotted at Southport

Shiver me timbers! Not because it was a chilly April day but because SUP North were out in fancy dress raising money for charity.

Southport SUP boarders took to the sea on the big spring tide on Saturday, for SUP North’s first Pirates Around the Pier SUP Challenge.

SUP North’s home spot in Southport, Merseyside is unusual in that we’re by the sea, but the sea doesn’t often come right in to the sea wall, as we have a 10 metre tidal range. We try to paddle when there’s a big spring tide and conditions are right, because it’s a novelty to see water around the pier (the second longest in the UK), let alone to see paddle boarders out on the Irish Sea!

Pirates Around the Pier is our way of making the most of our position. The challenge started on the coastal side of the dunes, with an approximate 1 mile paddle around the end of the pier, under and back to the slipway, followed by a quick walk across the zebra crossing, down the dunes and drop onto the marine lake to complete the almost 2 mile course. To make the event more unique and fun, everyone was required to be a pirate for the day!

The event was in aid of two local charities very important to us – the Southport Offshore Rescue Trust which runs our lifeboats, and the Lakeside Christian Centre, who kindly support our marine lake social paddling and lessons with the use of their car park and facilities.

On the day we were lucky to have blue skies and light winds while the event took place. Sea conditions were fairly challenging, with chop and some rolling swell, with the odd rideable wave, and tougher than many paddlers had experienced. But with safety in numbers and fantastic support from not one, but two Southport Lifeboats on the water, everyone rose to the occasion, including two Mums with young daughters on board! A couple of participants got damp, but the only casualties were one pirate’s sword, another’s eye patch and one compass lost to the high seas…

After negotiating the shore break, and safely crossing the road with support from the marshalls, the flat, calm marine lake was a relief for all. While some pushed for the fastest time, or to beat their mate, many had a leisurely paddle and enjoyed being part of the spectacle – it’s not every day Southport residents and tourists get to sea pirates ‘walking on water’ on the marine lake!

Every participant received a Pirates Around the Pier golden medal, and we awarded prizes for the best fancy dress, with the star prize of a carbon glass paddle (kindly donated by Starboard SUP UK) going to Mum, Christina and her daughter for their home-crafted costumes, as judged by Captain Ted of the Sailing Club.

We had a fantastic day and were thrilled to have enthusiastic paddlers and pirates from the age of 7 taking part. We’d like to give huge thanks to Southport Sailing Club for hosting us and helping with raising the Jolly Rogers, providing sustenance from the galley and gunfire for the race start, as well as Southport Lifeboat crews for the essential safety boat support, Starboard for the paddle prize and to our marshalls, spectators, supporters and participants. We’re looking forward to next year, with even more pirates paddling around the pier!

You can find out more about what SUP North are up to, including their very active SUP Polo sessions, on their Facebook page here.