Training in the Scottish Wilds: Glen Sloss’s SUP Life on the Isle of Arran

Tucked away on the rugged Isle of Arran – often called “Scotland in miniature” – you’ll find Glen Sloss, a passionate SUP racer whose training ground is as wild as it is beautiful. From glassy lochs to wind-blown chop in Brodick Bay, Glen embraces the island’s ever-changing conditions, often paddling solo with only seals, dolphins, and towering granite peaks for company. A proud member of the first-ever Scottish team to compete at the ISA World Championships, he juggles racing with his role as Recreations Manager at a luxury resort and helping on the family farm. His quiver includes the Infinity Blackfish and EverReady boards, perfectly matched with Black Project paddles, which he swears by for performance in Scotland’s challenging waters. In this interview, Glen shares his journey from Bondi to Arran, the quirks of training on a remote island, and why Scotland’s growing SUP scene is one to watch.

Glen, for those who don’t know, where exactly is the Isle of Arran, and what makes it such a special place to live and paddle? What do you do there?

I’m from a small coastal village in the north end of the Isle of Arran. Arran is located 1 hour by ferry from the mainland in south west Scotland. There’s plenty transport options near by if you are coming from the mainland or further afield with Glasgow, Prestwick and Edinburgh airport all within 90mins dive of the harbour.

Once on Arran it’s easy to see why they call is “Scotland in miniature” with the south end being much flatter, transitioning to the granite peaks of the north end. Arran has some beautiful beaches, rocky shore lines, some lovely easy hikes and even some more technical climbs if you are in to that. As well as the landscape we have fantastic eateries and crafts for everyone to enjoy. There’s even a Gin and Cocktail bar on one of the beaches! Don’t forget the two magnificent distilleries!

Up on the hills there is a variety of small lochs. I’ve only hike-&-sup’d to one of them “Coire Fhiona Lochan,.a 3km hike takes you up to a loch that has beach and surrounded by steep hills on 3 sides, it gives great views back out over to the Mull of Kyntire.

For me though, I love paddling on the sea, although we don’t get any real surf, we get everything from flat water to rough water days when the wind blows making some bumps to chase and catch. Chances are if there is an east wind blowing you’ll see me paddling in and out the bumps in Brodick bay, right in the main village on the Island, with the highest peak, Goatfell in the background.

I work as the Recreations Manager at Auchrannie, which is a luxury resort located in Brodick. They are fantastic supporters of my adventures and the Auchrannie Charitable Trust donated £3000 to help the Scottish SUP Team get to their first ever ISA World SUP Championships in Denmark last year. What an experience that whole week was!

I also help out on the family farm so in the summer months you’ll see me doing tractor work and shearing a couple hundred sheep.

How did you first get into stand-up paddleboarding and eventually SUP racing? Was it a natural transition given your island life?

I kind of stumbled upon Stand Up Paddling boarding actually. My first time on any kind of board was while I was was training with the “clubbies” at Bondi Surf Lifesaving Club (ed. in Bondi Beach, NSW, Australia). Coming from a competitive masters swimming background I took to prone paddling quite quickly and will always remember that first time catching a wave on the yellow rescue boards.

After my year out in Australia was up I came back to Arran and got myself a prone paddleboard, but the jellyfish proved to be an issue in the summer months. This was around 2017 I got my first cheap inflatable SUP to try it out, no more jellyfish stings! From there I progressed in my abilities just by going paddling, lots and lots and in all kinds of weather. By 2020 I had discovered SUP racing on youtube, I think it was the Red Bull Heavy Water event that I first came across and I thought it was incredible. My debut in SUP racing was delayed by a couple of years due to events being postponed during the covid years.

My first SUP race was in July 2022 at the Big Dippa in Whitley bay, from that day I knew I want to race on my paddleboard. As you know I basically threw myself in at the deep end entering quite a few events around Europe to learn from the best and that has probably helped my progress. Everyone in the SUP community is so encouraging. The highlight so far has definitely been being part of the first ever Scottish team to compete at the ISA World Sup Championships.

Training for SUP races in Scotland must be… interesting! How do you deal with the cold water, unpredictable weather, and tides around Arran?

I try and get out most days even if its just half an hour. I have a good quality 3/2mm wetsuit which does me pretty much all winter, unless it really drops below zero I might switch to a 5mm, and always have my trust booties to keep my feet warm! I know the sea around my area quite well and how the water behaves in different weathers, that is the key to being safe, and letting someone know where you’ll be. I use the Garmin livetrack feature now to share with family so they know where I am because I always train on my own. Some people think I’m mad when I go out in the middle of the winter when the sea’s rough, but I love it! Once you understand and respect the sea you can enjoy those rough paddles when the conditions are just right. If it’s really crazy stormy then I always have the gym and pools where work as well.

This winter was the first time I ever had a training plan (Polarbear Performance) and it has really made a big difference to my fitness and skills.

Are there any hidden gems on Arran that are perfect for paddleboarding – places tourists never see?

Most of the coastline is accessible by the main road, so there’s not many hidden spots, but there is a 10km stretch just north of me which when you paddle just a short way, you are totally on your own, away from any traffic, just me my board surrounded by nature, there are plenty inquisitive seals, dolphins and otters near by, occasionally there are basking sharks too. Looking back at the cliffs, glens and hills from out at sea is a different perspective to what you see from land.

You have been riding Infinity SUP for a while – what drew you to their boards, and how do they perform in the tough Scottish conditions?

One of the benefits about travelling to lots of races early on before buying my own board was the option to rent boards at the events and try them in varying sea conditions. I have tried just about every manufacturer out there and dugout versus flatdeck. A fellow racer was kind enough to let me try their dugout Blackfish after a race and I just felt more at home on it instantly than any of the others I had tried. In January 2023 I treated myself and got a Blackfish Flatdeck 24.5”, my first proper race board!

Although we don’t get surf, we can get big swell, big wind waves and plenty bouncy chop. With a bit of practise I gained a lot of confidence in my own skills, fitness and the capabilities of the Blackfish. You can put it to anything and it will perform, it gives a great platform to paddle on, it can catch waves and paddles flat water pretty decent too. Most importantly, it is an enjoyable board to paddle, I quite often catch myself with a big grin on my face after punching through waves or riding bumps back to shore. I’ve put it through it’s paces from the sub-zero wind chill winter storms to the 30C flat water summer days, it handles it all!

Recently I have just purchased a 22.5” EverReady. I have lots to learn on this board, it’s livelier and requires more skills to get the most out of it, but it will help me progress with my overall race performance, but I’ll always have a soft spot for the Blackfish.

Same question for your choice of Black Project paddle(s).

The first non-basic paddle I bought was a Black Project Ohana adjustable. I had reached out to a few companies and Chris (ed. Chris Freeman) from BlackProject was the first to respond and incredibly helpful. So much so that I ended up buying a HydroflowX and SprintX not long after. Last summer I got the SynergyX and it felt perfect. I like a paddle that feels like it has grip but doesn’t take its toll on your shoulders, for me it’s been perfect. The shape of the handle is also a perfect fit for me

The SprintX is fun too, it’s really powerful and the acceleration you feel when you put the hammer down is satisfying!

Chris has a lot of knowledge and his advice has always been quick and spot on I have a full set of BlackProject fins as well which I swap depending on the conditions. I think for people new to the sport, fin choice is often over looked or not understood. The right fin for you, your board, and the conditions can make a huge difference. Don’t be afraid to experiment and see what works best for you.

What’s the Scottish SUP Race scene like?

Last year was the first ever Scottish SUP Championships. It was a great day and drew interest from the crowds walking along Portobello. There are a few events around, however the race scene is much smaller at the moment than other countries, but that is something we are trying to change. A lot of people don’t realise SUP racing is a thing, so anything to increase the visibility of the sport to new audiences is always good.

Ally from Glasgow Paddlerboarders was really a driving force behind getting the Scottish SUP Championships going and he organises and hosts other events through the year at places like Loch Lomond and Loch Venechar. Scotland seems to have a higher percentage of Ultra Distance paddlers who do events like the Great Glen Challenge (92km!)

In the last couple of years the local kayak club on Arran have started to accept SUPs in their round Holy Isle Challenge (11km open water). It went from have 1 SUP (me) two years ago to having over 20 SUPs last year. It would be great to have a bigger race scene, so my advice for anyone interested is just to give it a go!

You often race abroad, do you also focus on the UK scene? How do the different racing cultures compare to your quiet, solitary paddling at home?

A lot of times it is actually easier for me to go and race in places like Alicante or Benelmedina than it is to race in places in central or south England. Thanks to the airports near by I can be in Spain in 3 hours as opposed to driving ten hours or more to reach the south of England. I love travelling and I try to combine the races with holidays. Over the last couple of years I’ve gotten to know a lot of SUP racers, from beginners to the top professionals. The whole SUP community where ever I’ve been is so friendly and welcoming. Where ever I race I know there will be familiar faces to catch up with, explore new places and grab a coffee or pre race pizza.

Occasionally though if the weather is bad the ferry from Arran to the mainland can be disrupted, I’ve missed a few races in Scotland and abroad due to this, but it’s a good reason to always have travel insurance or back up plan of leaving a day earlier, but I just make the most of it and enjoy my extra day on the mainland.

Although I’m generally a quiet person, I am quite ambitious and like a challenge. Which is why you see me tend to head to the bigger races where I feel I can learn so much and see new places and cultures all at the same time. Also it’s great to enjoy some sunshine paddling with friends after a Scottish winter being the sole person on the water!

The British races are starting to get bigger with more international athletes attending too which is great to see . I hope this trend continues and you’ll also see me attend more races around the UK when I can as well.

And finally, as someone with a soft spot for single malts, I have to ask — Arran is home to some brilliant distilleries. Have you ever capped off a paddle with a wee dram? Any local whisky you think I absolutely must try next time I’m over?

I do enjoy a wee occasional dram on an evening in front of the log fire! You can’t go wrong with an “Arran 10” from my local Distillery in Lochranza. it’s unpeated, rounded and fruity. I do like a variety of whiskeys and I’ve been told I should try the newer Lagg Distillery’s “Corriecravie” which is heavily peated and 55% abv. I’m not sure I’d be able to paddle any straighter after one of those! For non whisky drinkers, I can say that Arran Gold Cream Liqueur is well worth a try.

Thank ye Glen!

To find out more about Glen’s incredible Scottish lifestyle + Infinity SUP + Black Project paddles, check out the links below:
Glen Sloss on Instagram
Infinity SUP website
Black Project website