Taken from Lynne’s weekly column ‘Green Scene’ for the Western Mail
2nd October 2021
SUP-er Fun
I have become a SUP-er woman! I don’t have a cape but I have joined the growing number of Stand Up Paddle Boarders. And – not surprisingly, as it involves fresh air, water and exercise – I am hooked.
I did an ‘Introduction to Paddle Boarding’ course with Blorenge SUP, which I think is the best (and safest) way into the sport. Based on the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, Damon and Helen are professional, encouraging and have a great sense of humour. You’ll need that. You will probably end up getting wet at some stage. The canal is an excellent place to learn, as it is flat calm and easily accessible. It’s much shallower than you think and despite the dubious colour of the water, I have had several dunkings with no adverse repercussions.
Like anything new, it’s daunting, especially when, let’s face it, all you have to do is ‘stand up’. I learned to do that 50 years ago. But it’s ‘staying up’ which makes it fun, and that is all about confidence and technique – and you’ll get that with Blorenge SUP. Despite having ‘Elvis legs’, they had me standing on the board within 10 minutes. They also ran a day’s Improvers course with the fabulous Emily King. She is currently the GBSUP Technical Series Race Champion in 12’6” and is a fully accredited with the Water Skills Academy (WSA) as a coach and trainer, amongst many other impressive accolades. Emily came to paddle boarding as a result of some challenging life events and has an inspiring back-story, which can be read on WalesOnline.
Her own experience of PTSD enables her to impart a great deal of confidence in a wonderfully understated way, and within a couple of hours we were jumping about on the boards and enjoying an impromptu game of Paddleboard Polo. Despite not being a fan of groups, it was a fabulous day with lovely people and I thoroughly enjoyed it, as well as picking up lots of technical tips.
I think the temptation is to teach yourself, but you will get so much more out of it all with a bit of expert tuition. We may be at the tail end of ideal paddle boarding weather but I can’t encourage you enough to have a go now – don’t wait until next year. Sometimes ‘later’ becomes ‘never’.
Whilst I appreciate I am lucky having Helen and Damon operating their business on my doorstep (or towpath, even), I would highly recommend making the journey to learn with them. It’s a beautiful part of Wales and there are lots of other things to do in the area as well as great places to stay. www.blorengesup.org
Emily is based on the Gower and also offers tuition, coaching and day courses on a variety of wonderful Welsh water. Find out more at www.emilykingpaddle.co.uk
You Rock, Quroc
Tuition with Blorenge SUP includes the use of one of their boards, which is helpful as that will be your biggest dilemma – ‘Which board do I buy?’ After being uncharacteristically patient and deliberating over different boards for a few weeks, I eventually went with their (and Emily King’s) recommendation – the Quroc Qi Crossover board. And that board has taken my poodling-about-paddling to another level. It is an amazing board. Perfect for ‘poodling about’ but also suitable for ‘getting a bit of a wiggle on’, which is what I want to be able to do eventually. Paddle boarding is a great way to keep fit, and excellent for improving core strength and I love the idea of being able to have a bit of a ’blast’ between canal bridges.
Quroc is a Welsh family-run business based in Llantwit Major and talking to the MD, Andrew, was a treat in itself. Like most people who follow their passion, he knows the business inside out and is also very passionate about Wales. Quroc (named after the Q-shaped rock off of the coast near Solva) undertake all of their research, design and testing in Wales and Andrew quite rightly points out that not only does Wales have some of the nicest coastline but the best inland waterways – like reservoirs, lakes and canals – too.
Having established Quroc 10 years ago, Andrew still sounds a little shocked by the rapid rise in popularity of paddle boarding during the pandemic and puts it down to the fact it is so accessible. As he explains, “You don’t have to be super-fit, you can be sociable and go with a group, or enjoy the peace and quiet of solo paddling; it is affordable and access to suitable water is usually quite easy.”
Menopaddle
Bizarrely, Andrew and I also had a great chat about the menopause. I said that paddle boarding has proven to be a great way for me to improve my confidence and learn something new after being knocked sideways by the menopause. He confessed to noticing that a large percentage of their clients are females between 40 and 60 years old, who are looking to get back into sport and fitness but also looking for something new and innovative to try.
Obviously chaps, that doesn’t mean you are excluded, and there are a great number of fellas that have taken up the sport too – but it does look as though our midlife crisis is more likely to involve a paddle board than a Porsche.
On Board
My Quroc Qi Crossover board has been voted ‘Recommended Buy’ by The Telegraph, ‘Indy Best Buy’ by The Independent and ‘The Best Quality Package’ by the SUPBoarder magazine. At 11’ 4” it is designed to be more of a ‘touring board’ than the more popular 10’ 6” boards and obviously it allows a bit more room for Yogi to join me. It’s not happened yet, but it will. She already has her little life jacket ready.
Quroc are also big on water-safety and are proud to be ‘ethical, sustainability and fair’. You can find details on their website together with details on a safety course with Water Skills Academy. Also check out Marley Bob, their wellbeing and security specialist – all at www.qurocpaddleboards.co.uk
The website also offers lots more useful information about the sport, relevant advice and board options. All the boards come as a ‘complete package’ with a 3-piece carbon paddle, wheeled back pack, super efficient pump and a FCS fin. And my favourite thing – especially with a major purchase – is that you can actually talk to Andrew for additional advice. He readily (and patiently) explained the single fin concept, described the X-woven drop stitching procedure, and other aspects of their boards, as well as helping me settle on the 11’ 4″ board as the best choice for me now.
Together with Blorenge SUP and Emily King, Quroc have been an exciting and informative part of my journey into paddle boarding thus far. I love that. They have ‘added’ to my experience – and that is far more pleasurable than just ‘adding to basket’ with a well known rain-forest-named company.
He’s Hysterical, He’s My Brother
When we were kids, apparently finding the word ‘paddle’ a bit difficult to pronounce, I used to call it ‘paggling’.
Little did I know that nearly 50 years later, I would be reminded of it (often) by my brother, who now delights in referring to my paddle boarding endeavors as ‘paggle boarding’.
Anyone want to adopt him?
Paddle boarding photos: Steve Thomas.
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