Annabel Page’s leap from SUP surfer to GBSUP racing elite

In stand-up paddleboarding, it’s often the crossover athletes – the ones who blend wave instincts, raw endurance and refined technique – who tend to make the biggest impact. At just 20 years old, Devon’s Annabel Page has become one of the most talked-about names in British SUP racing. A former competitive surfer with podium finishes in elite youth SUP surf events like the 2022 U18 Euros and the APP Tour’s Gran Canaria PRO AM, Annabel has brought her ocean knowledge and athletic range to the race scene with striking results.

Now the 2024 GBSUP National Paddle Racing Series’ Tour Female Champion and a proudly sponsored Black Project SUP and NSP athlete, she’s been sweeping podiums and redefining what it means to cross disciplines with conviction – and win.

Photo by Si Crowther

Hi Annie, welcome to TotalSUP! You started out as a SUP surfer and have transitioned into a top-tier SUP racer – or what you call yourself a ‘hybrid athlete’. Your rise in the UK SUP scene has been pretty meteoric. How has that crossover shaped your journey?

The crossover from surf SUP to race SUP has been a really key part of my journey as I have found that having knowledge of the ocean and a love for the waves has helped a lot with my technical skills. For instance, in the Peniche Eurosup long distance race 2023, I was faced with some pretty fun and sizeable swell on my race board! I had never been in that kind of swell with a 14ft board, but I was able to remain calm because I was assured that I had comfortably surfed similar waves on my 7ft surf SUP before.

This meant I could put 100% into the race without being nervous about the swell, leading me to come in 12th place. Also, I’ve found that I really enjoy paddling my race board into headwind and upwind sections even when its very choppy as this is very similar to how I used to catch waves on my surf Sup! This gives me a bit of an advantage in competitions as usually the choppy upwind sections of an ocean race are peoples least favourite parts.

Image source: Black Project

You were absolutely crushing the GBSUP races last year, and with the new season just kicking off, are you aiming to compete at every stop on the GBSUP tour – National Championships included?

Thank you! I really enjoyed the GBSUP circuit last year and I am hoping to get too as many of the events as I can this year especially as quite a few new locations have been added to the circuit. I have already signed up for the National Championships which is in Falmouth and I am very excited to compete in this two day event which draws in all the biggest names in GBSUP racing!

However, I am studying at University which sometimes means I have to miss races to revise for exams or prepare an essay but it is my final year of study so I should be done by Summer. I have also allocated a year out from studying in 2026 to focus on sport and travel which should really boost my attendance at GBSUP events and international races.

Annabel Page at the 2024 GBSUP x Black Project SUP Battle of the Bay in Christchurch | Image source: Black Project

What role do you think events like GBSUP play in shaping the future of SUP in the UK? And with Scotty [Scott Warren] now at the helm, how are you finding this new direction for UK SUP?

GBSUP is really important for the UK race scene as having one clear race circuit makes it easy for us athletes to plan our race schedules. We are also informed by Scotty in good time about which stops will be the qualifying events for World and Europe level championships which means we have plenty of time to train and prepare.

GBSUP will shape the future of SUP in the UK as it has helped push more youth racers into the sport, such as my sister Tess who got involved aged 15 and even represented the country at the last ISA Worlds event. Hopefully the tour gets even more young racers involved in the sport as Scotty knows the importance of encouraging the next generation thanks to his experience in the racing world.

What are your top GBSUP events and what makes them stand out for you? Do you have a favourite race moment or memory tied to one of those events?

The Battle of the Bay in Bournemouth was my favourite event last year, it was amazing to see some top international athletes come over to compete as well a big presence from black project who offered great support throughout the whole day. Plus, the conditions were perfect, great weather and a bit of chop to add some excitement.

I also travelled to this event with fellow GB athlete Ginnie Betts who also paddles for Black Project and I really enjoyed representing Black Project with her, this was a great memory for me as she really helped and inspired me to start my racing journey. I also really enjoyed seeing the prone paddlers at the Falmouth Bay Open event too, it was really cool having the two sports in the same competition and paddling next to the World Champions, Milky and Molly, was a great experience.

Any “must-do” GBSUP race you’d recommend to someone just stepping into the competitive scene?

This year SUP the Creek has been added to the GBSUP race circuit. This was my first ever SUP race event and it is a great race to start with as a beginner racer. It has two days of competition with very different conditions each day which allows a beginner racer to experience both flat water and ocean conditions in a lovely Devon setting.

The Falmouth Bay Open event is also a great race for beginners as its two day format means racers can try all three type of race, sprint, technical and distance that would be seen in an international cup, such as the ISA Worlds. Finally, the Big Dippa race up near my hometown in the North East of England is a must attend race with a super welcoming Geordie atmosphere and very picturesque scenery. It also is great for beginners as the distance and technical is a manageable length for first time racers.

Photo by Si Crowther

Can you tell us more about your gear setup? You’re riding with Black Project SUP – what drew you to their paddles in the first place? And what are your go-to paddles right now?

My gear setup at the moment consists of two board and paddle combinations. First I have my flat water setup, which consists of the NSP Ninja”20 and the Black Project Hydro SprintX paddle, this combo is great for reaching super quick speeds while also maintaining and conserving energy so I can maintain my maximum sprint speed for as long as possible thanks to the efficiency of the equipment. I have really seen a difference in my sprint speed since utilising the latest paddle and board technology available.

Image source: Black Project

My second combination for open water racing, technical races with chop and/or waves is the new 2025 Carolina model by NSP which is being made as we speak out in Thailand, ready to be used in the first euro tour event. I can’t wait to try this ocean specific board as I’ve seen the international racers really fly using this new model. The paddle I pair with this board is the black project Hydro SynergyX which is my favourite paddle of all time! This paddle is unbelievably light yet can transfer the power I put into the stroke amazingly meaning so that I don’t waste energy and can maximise my output in both races and training.

I first heard about Black Project from other stand out British athletes such as Will Keetley, Hector Jessel and Ginnie who drew me in to the brand as I was inspired by their great performance using the equipment. Finally, I surf my custom Smik SUP Surf SUP boards which are both around 7ft1-7ft4 and have the perfect volume for my weight and height.

Image source: Black Project

We saw your recent announcement about NSP… Are you now officially part of the team? What’s that move mean for you going forward?

Reactive Watersports have helped me switch to NSP this year for all my boards. I’m really looking forward to riding the 2025 Carolina especially for ocean races. I’ve also found the Ninja flat water board super quick in all my sprint intervals and flat water training creating a noticeable difference to my 200m sprint times.

I’m excited to see how this new set of equipment helps me in the upcoming season, from flat sprints to choppy ocean and surf races and the choice of having two boards will be a game changer for my racing.

Have you set any personal goals for this season?

Yes! I am really hoping to grow my international presence this year and attend some euro tour races to see how I fair against the international girls and gain the valuable race experience which I need to advance as a racer.

I especially want to focus on my buoy turns under pressure so I’m hoping that spending more time competing with a larger field of girls in international races will help me achieve that as well as by attending the GBSUP races for even more buoy turn practice.

What advice would you give to aspiring SUP athletes looking to make their mark in the sport?

Train hard even if you don’t have the perfect conditions, sometimes the best sessions come from training in the wind and the chop, building resilience is very important to racing and giving it 100% (as long as it’s safe to do so of course!).

Don’t forget the importance of off water training like the gym and running these sessions really help provide the strength and speed you need on the water. Finally enjoy the races and have fun competing!

Thank you Annabel for your time and we can’t wait to see our SUP paths cross this season!

GBSUP 2025 Calendar:

17 May, GBSUP National Series, Llandegfed Pursuit, Pontypool, Wales; Including AquaPaddle

7-8 June, 2025 British National Championships | Falmouth Bay Open

28 June, Battle of the Bay, Christchurch; Including AquaPaddle

6 July, Beadnell Bay, Northumberland

19 July, Liverpool Docks; Including AquaPaddle

23 August, Big Dippa, Whitley Bay; Including AquaPaddle

18 October, SUP the Creek, Salcombe; Including AquaPaddle

To find out more about the GBSUP National Race Series, visit gbsup.co.uk

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Follow Annabel Page on Instagram

*Images courtesy of Black Project SUP and Annabel Page