Paradise Race ready: UK SUP Duo Lesley & Kevin Hodge’s Alpine Lakes Tour Experience

Lesley and Kevin Hodge, a paddling couple based in Bristol, have quickly become household names in the UK SUP racing scene, known for their knack for long distance and endurance formats as well as their tight-knit ties to the SUP community. Having progressed fast, they have been competing for the past six years and tackled nearly every major event across the country. Compelled by the hype of the GlaGla Race, the couple decided to take on the challenge of the entire Alpine Lakes Tour together.

In the lead-up to the next phase of the Alpine Lakes Tour – the Alpine Paradise Race, held on 21-22 September in the Aosta Valley, Italy – TotalSUP caught up with this inspiring duo to chat about their Alpine Lakes Tour experience and the upcoming event – the highest stand-up paddle race in the world, epitomizing the essence of stand-up paddle racing in an alpine setting that has it all: crystal-clear turquoise waters, towering 4000-meter glacier-covered peaks, and the true spirit of Tour.

Image source: The Alpine Lakes Tour

Hi Lesley, Could you please introduce yourself and share your journey with stand-up paddling? How did you get started, and what keeps you passionate about it?

Hi, I’m Lesley and I’ve been paddling for nine years now. I once saw a man get on a board and paddle across Marine Lake and cross onto the sea in Weston Super Mare. I was fascinated as I’d never seen this sport before and was immediately interested to find out more. Within a week, Kevin (my husband) and I did a trial session and a BSUPA Ready to Ride course… We were hooked.

Lesley Hodge competing in the 2024 GlaGla Race | Image source: The Alpine Lakes Tour

Thanks to Martin Tillman and his very capable assistant Buz Burrowson, Kevin and I were gripped. We bought our Red Paddle Co 10’6 boards a week later. We became immediately involved with a group of local paddlers and soon were on 12’6 touring boards and 12’6 race boards, initially taking part in The Head of the Dart, UK SUP Endurance races and SUP Bike Run events.

We have both now been racing for about 6 years and progressed onto 14′ boards, taking part in GBSUP Events and independent races such as SUP the Creek, the Henley Summer Showdown, Trent 100 and continuing with our favourite, the Head of the Dart….you can never have too many Head of the Dart t-shirts. We are very grateful to have made a huge friendship group that has led us to many and varied races and social get togethers around the UK. We have also flown with our boards paddling everywhere including a visit to Slovenia to visit the amazing Samo Laharnar to take part in an Alps to Coast tour.

The SUPer duo’s first Head of the Dart Challenge in 2016

We travel to train in our favourite locations to get the best out of our training. We are members of Canoe Avon and train in Bath, with the wonderful Paul Drake and Jonathon Sherwin. We also train with the very capable Sarah Perkins and Kevin Jackson as part of Cardiff SUP Racers. We also train with the most patient man in the world….Crispin Jones of Waterborn SUP who shows us that everything is possible if you get your mindset straight and practice what spooks you.

How does sharing your passion for stand-up paddling as a couple enhance your experiences? What do you find most rewarding about doing this together?

Stand-up paddleboarding is a big part of our lives. It is our hobby and we are very lucky we share it. It means that we can talk through plans and experiences and support each other fully. Because we are both involved, we really appreciate each other’s challenges and can really celebrate each other’s successes, however small. Plus fact….Kevin is a fantastic ‘Board Butler’!

You’ve participated in every event of the Alpine Lakes Tour this year. What motivated you to embrace this particular circuit in 2023? What sets it apart for you?

We had heard about the GlaGla Race and considered it a massive challenge that would need a lot of preparation and we fancied the challenge. We decided to do the race as the start of a longer trip down through Spain for some winter sunshine. We then realised we could fit the second race, the Canal de Savieres on our return journey. The trip didn’t exactly go to plan, but we decided to still do the two races.

Following this, we realised how much we loved the vibe of these races, the organisation, the relaxed but very thorough approach of Benoit Mouren and his team. Benoit and JP have been so helpful making sure we understand everything in English. Everyone is so warm and welcoming at these events. . After the first two events, we then decided to take a trip for September and October to take in the final two races, The Paradise Race and the Very Flat race as they could be linked together quite nicely. Then when the Geneva Tropical Race was announced for June, how could we say no….it would mean that we had managed the full series….what an achievement.

As a Brit, I have been absolutely amazed that the GlaGla is so well attended by the Brits and others from around the world. I was then amazed that the other races that are so spectacular do not attract such high entry numbers. I decided I would report on this later in the year to encourage others to take trips or consider whilst on holiday.

As an older female paddler, I feel very much like I have achieved my faster speeds earlier in my paddling and now I feel like I often beat myself up to try to still achieve at the same level. Sometimes, I feel like I train hard to stand still. This race series has given me inspiration to still train hard and be ready to do my best, but in absolutely fantastic locations. When we did the Geneva Race, I smiled to myself on the course thinking, I cannot believe I am paddling on Lake Geneva….this is incredible…WOW!

Could you share your top memories from the Alpine Lakes Tour so far? Any standout experiences that you’ll always remember?

Stand out moments so far include: Seeing 750+ paddlers on a mass start at the start line of the GlaGla; Crossing over the lake on the GlaGla (the bit that was spooking me); The party atmosphere of the teams at the Canal de Savieres; Watching the dragon boards racing through the town of Chanaz and then just being in Geneva, being on the water and feeling the achievement and sense of accomplishment.

Lesley Hodge racing on the Canal de Savieres | Image source: The Alpine Lakes Tour

Alpine Paradise Race: What do you know about the Alpine Paradise Race, and what are your expectations for the event? How are you preparing for it?

The information about the Paradise Race is exactly what has been put out by the Alpine Lakes Tour social media….the photos and the video look incredible. I am expecting to be nervous….as usual, but I’m expecting to just thoroughly enjoy it.

The Place Moulin Lake, located at an altitude of 2000m in the Val d’Aosta, Italian Alps, is a highlight of the tour. How do you feel about paddling at such a high altitude? What challenges or excitement does it bring?

Hmmmm……well I intend to just remember to breathe and I’m trying to not let this be another thing to spook me. Benoit has said this is his favourite Alpine race destination and it can’t be missed….so there we go. We are only 6m above sea level at home, so it is quite a difference. I suppose it’s like going away skiing for a week. You can only work on the things you can influence…fitness level, sleep, food and clothes. We are having a week in Annecy before the event, so at least we will have a staged approach.

When travelling to the Alpine Lakes Tour events, what does your lifestyle and logistics look like? How do you manage the travel, and what are your tips for making the experience smooth and enjoyable?

We have a camper van that we travel around with. We are able to travel with two boards comfortably down the centre of the van. Last year we added a roof rack, which makes life even better. Our big tip would be to treat the long journey as part of your holiday. This year we have even visited a couple of Chateau, en route and particularly like the Champagne region for an overnight stop.

We are taking in Paris on our next drive down to the Alps, as we have been so inspired by seeing the sights every night at the Olympics. Another tip would be to over pack on clothes to consider every weather eventuality and if at all possible, consider the option of two boards so that you know you have a comfortable stable board to use if the water is a bit choppy, so that you can take a moment to look up and see the spectacular scenery.

Good luck and keep paddling! Hopefully our SUP paths will cross soon!

To find out more about the 2024 Alpine Lakes Tour, visit alpinelakestour.com

Find out more about the Alpine Paradise Race and register here

Follow Lesley Hodge on Instagram

*Images courtesy of Lesley Hodge