From GBSUP racing to Team Wales: Joey Jones on the UK SUP scene & the season’s finale

Photo by Amanda Roberts, P3T Photography

At just 25, Swansea paddler Joey Jones has carved out one of the fastest progressions in the UK SUP racing scene. Training largely on his own, Joey went all-in on the GBSUP National Paddle Racing Series – using it as both a springboard and a learning curve – and through consistency he’s turned that commitment into regular podium finishes and a spot on the Welsh National Team.

What began as recovery from rugby shoulder injuries has developed into a serious commitment to SUP racing. Now, as Joey prepares for the GBSUP series finale, the 10th anniversary of SUP The Creek, in Salcombe (18–19 October), we catch up with him to reflect on his path from local races to international representation, and his insights on the strengths and challenges of the UK SUP racing landscape.

Photo by Amanda Roberts, P3T Photography

Hi Joey, welcome to TotalSUP! You’ve made an incredible leap from just starting SUP to representing Wales at the 2024 ISA Worlds in Copenhagen – how did that journey happen?

It definitely feels like a huge leap in a short space of time. I first met Emily King in March 2021, and by September I was lining up for my first SUP race in Cardiff. I loved the experience of racing in my capital city and immediately wanted more.

But the following season didn’t go to plan. Just a month before the 2022 Head of the Dart, I dislocated both shoulders within a week of each other. Luckily, I had surgery on my left shoulder and made it back for the September race in Nottingham. Then in December 2022, I had my right shoulder operated on. Both surgeries were a success, and 2023 became a year of rebuilding – training, gaining race experience, and setting my sights on representing Wales.

By 2024, I felt strong. Emily King continued to coach me, and I also sought advice from fellow Welsh racer Emily Evans, who was a huge source of inspiration. In June, Wales qualifiers were held at Fishguard Bay – my favourite race. Conditions were brutal and I made some questionable board choices, but despite the challenges I’d done enough to qualify for Wales and the long-distance race at the ISA Worlds in Copenhagen.

Emily Evans and Joey Jones representing Wales at the 2024 ISA World SUP Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark

Do you have any advice for paddlers looking to fast-track their progression in SUP and reach the international level?

The UK race scene is fantastic right now, and the community is so welcoming. My advice would be: get yourself to as many races as possible. My first race was just a couple of weeks after stepping onto a race board, and although I finished 25th, I learned so much.

Photo by Amanda Roberts, P3T Photography

Talk to other paddlers – everyone is open and generous with advice. The GBSUP Series has been brilliant in this regard, with clinics from Hector Jessel and Will Keetley, and thanks to Chris Freeman at Black Project SUP we’ve also had workshops with Manu Hoyuela and Bastian Grimm here in Wales. If you want to perform at a high level, surround yourself with high-performance athletes and immerse yourself in that environment.

Photo by Amanda Roberts, P3T Photography

Who do you usually train with in Wales, and what’s the local paddling community like?

I still occasionally train with Emily King and the Cardiff Bay Racers, and I’ll also surf and paddle with my dad, but most of my sessions are solo. This year I was lucky enough to show Hector around my local waters, and I’ve also paddled with international athletes Manu and Bastian thanks to Chris Freeman.

Swansea itself has become a really popular SUP spot since COVID – the scenery is stunning, and with about 25 beaches it’s a paradise. That said, it’s mostly recreational, and I often get asked if my boards are actually paddleboards! There is potential for more racing though; Swansea has hosted Aqua Paddles with some talented paddlers, so I’m hopeful the race scene will continue to grow.

How would you describe the Welsh SUP scene compared to the rest of the UK?

Like the rest of the UK, SUP racing in Wales is still developing. England and Scotland are ahead in terms of producing racers, but there’s a lot to be excited about here.

In Swansea, Emily King is excelling in ultra-distance events, while Emily Evans is recovering from injury but remains a top-level competitor – I raced against her in Exmouth this year and it hurt from start to finish! In North Wales, there’s a strong crew too  – Maurice Roberts, for example, has had great results at Head of the Dart and SUP Twelve.

Wales has an incredible coastline and the facilities to produce top athletes. It’s just a matter of making the sport more attractive and accessible.

Photo by Amanda Roberts, P3T Photography

You’ve been racing in the GBSUP series – what has your experience been like? Any standout moments?

GBSUP is where my racing journey began, so it’s always special. My first race was in Cardiff, paddling past the Principality Stadium, the heart of Welsh rugby. That was also the first time I saw how fast the UK’s top paddlers really are – I still remember Holly Pye flying past me!

Joey claiming Bronze at the 2025 GBSUP National Sprint Championships | Photo by Amanda Roberts, P3T Photography

The second time we raced in Cardiff, the Welsh weather threw everything at us, but it was still awesome racing on home waters. Another highlight is the Paddle Logger British Championships in Falmouth – the atmosphere there is always elevated, and everyone brings their best.

Photo by Amanda Roberts, P3T Photography

What lessons or skills have you gained from competing in the GBSUP events that you didn’t get elsewhere?

Race starts, without a doubt. You can’t replicate that chaos in training, and I still feel a bit like a deer in headlights when the buzzer goes off. Drafting is another big one – in Swansea I train alone, so I rarely get to practice it. In races, those long draft trains are such a game-changer, whether you’re on one or stuck in no man’s land.

Photo by Amanda Roberts, P3T Photography

From your perspective, what’s missing in the Welsh and UK SUP scene that could help paddlers progress faster? Are there barriers you see that prevent more people from getting into SUP racing?

Outside of SUP, I work as a Strength and Conditioning Coach at Swansea University, with links to the WRU and Swim Wales. One thing those sports do well is making themselves cool and aspirational. They create opportunities for young athletes to train alongside the elite, which helps bridge the gap and grow the sport. The UK definitely has the potential with the Elites we have here.

SUP needs more of that. At the ISA Worlds, teams like Spain and France had huge support – crowds of young people cheering for their athletes. We need to build that same excitement here. Media coverage, youth races like those run by GBSUP, and events like the World Cup coming to the UK are brilliant steps forward.

There are also practical barriers: 14ft hard boards aren’t easy to store or transport. The iSUP category in GBSUP is a great solution, and I think encouraging people to try out retired race boards could also help. Clubs like Go With The Flow and Oxford are doing a fantastic job hosting clinics and races, and that grassroots effort is vital for growth.

What’s the next GBSUP event you’ll be taking part in, and what are your goals for it?

My next race will be the GBSUP series finale in Salcombe. I’m aiming for a top 5 finish. I’ve had a good back-and-forth with Denzil this season, so I’m hoping we’ll battle it out again, and as always I’ll be trying to close the gap on Hector and Will, who’ve been phenomenal all year.

Photo by Amanda Roberts, P3T Photography

Any plans for the rest of the season and beyond it?

This weekend I’m heading to Torquay for SUPerFestival, and I’ll be rounding off the season with the Lisbon Marathon at the end of October. In the off-season I’ll likely slot in a Hyrox, but my main goal for next year is to make the GB team for the European Championships in the Scilly Isles. If not, I’ll still be there competing. 2026 is going to be a big year, and I can’t wait.

Photo by Amanda Roberts, P3T Photography

Thank you Joey for your insights and good luck with the rest of the season!

REGISTER for the final stop of the GBSUP National Race Series here.

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

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*Photos by Amanda Roberts, P3T Photography