What started as a paddle over a decade ago, down the River Tyne, quickly turned into a passion and then a mission. For Anna Little, former PE teacher turned pro racer, Coach and Founder of the Big Dippa, stand-up paddleboarding has always been about more than just the sport itself. It’s about family, community and creating new opportunities, especially in the North of England.
Photo by Amanda Roberts, P3T Photography
Her transition into the competitive scene began with the N1SCO (Naish One Inflatable Stand-Up Paddleboard Class Organisation), a global one-design race format designed to level the playing field and make competitive racing accessible to everyone. At the time, it stood out as one of the UK’s most popular and inclusive race series.
After winning the UK N1SCO Series in 2018, Anna wanted to bring that same energy and opportunity to the North East. Teaming up with training partner Bruce Smith, they launched the Northern SUP Race Club, laying the foundation for a rider-owned local event – The Big Dippa.
TotalSUP caught up with Anna to get a behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming Big Dippa, the festival-style weekend of SUP fun and racing, taking place on 23–24 August at the stunning Whitley Bay Beach, Tyne and Wear.
The Big Dippa is Round 6 of the Black Project x GBSUP National Paddle Racing Series 2025, featuring main races on Saturday, 23 August, followed by a day of community-focused fun on Sunday, 24 August.
This year’s event promises to be bigger than ever, with fantastic prizes up for grabs, including cash prizes for winners in the highly competitive 14ft hardboard category.
After founding Northern SUP Race Club with Bruce Smith we spent a lot of time travelling to the South Coast to participate in races. This I felt had to change so I started to organise races up in the North East of England which proved to be a success.
This sport has grown all over the UK and I want to give as many people the opportunity to race and enjoy being on the water with like minded people.
Image source: Northern SUP Race Club
The idea for The Big Dippa came about when Michael Dobinson and Mark Ward from Northerly Swell Surfside Emporium in Whitley Bay approached me to see if I’d be interested in organising a SUP event based at their location. It’s a fantastic spot, right on the beachfront next to Spanish City, with a promenade, ice cream shop, and loads of restaurants and bars.
From the start, we clicked. The three of us share the same vision: to grow the SUP racing scene in the North of England and to showcase just how many passionate paddlers we have here on the North East coast. Mark and Michael are superb to work with, they have great local connections, are highly respected, and bring so much energy to the project. That shared drive and community focus is really what sparked The Big Dippa and keeps it growing year after year.
The local community in the North is truly incredible, their support has been at the heart of The Big Dippa from the very beginning. So many people come together to make this event happen. The North East Combined Authority has backed the event by helping build an entire weekend of activities around it, and North Tyneside Council plays a major role in delivering the infrastructure, from the PA system that carries our race commentary along the coast, to health and safety, live music, street food, and the bar.
We also want to make sure the racers feel valued, so we offer fantastic prizes and prize money, which really boosts participation. We’re incredibly grateful to our Sponsors: Permatt Forklift Trucks, Succorfish LTD, Biomate, Tyne Valley Wind and Solar, along with Starboard, whose generosity makes all of this possible. Their support not only helps the event grow but shows the racers just how appreciated they are.
We started in 2022 and every year this event has grown in numbers and vibe. This has become a yearly bank holiday event people put in their calendars, especially for the locals and hopefully now for others around the UK.
It’s a big step for us to have The Big Dippa included on the GBSUP Tour this year, it shows how far the event has come and opens the door for paddlers from all over the UK to come and experience the North East race scene. It’s great exposure for our coastline and for the incredible paddling community we’ve built up here.
Having Scott Warren, GBSUP Events Director and the Team involved for the first time at this location is exciting, and I’m looking forward to working with them. Of course, I think there are a few tweaks we can make next year to improve the experience even more, but that’s part of the process. It’s a great opportunity to grow participation in GBSUP events and raise the profile of SUP racing in the North, which has always been a big goal for me.
Anna Little and her son James, claiming the British National Sprint Championships titles at GBSUP | Photo by Amanda Roberts @ P3T Photography
For the elite racers this is an ocean race in pretty exposed conditions – it is always a surprise as to what the weather brings! We’ve planned a full day of racing with something for everyone, from first-timers to experienced paddlers:
I always adapt the courses based on the weather and water conditions to make sure they’re safe and enjoyable for all abilities. We’ll also have kids’ races in between the adult races so parents can cheer them on and we’ll tailor the courses depending on the age and ability of each child. Some of our youth paddlers are strong enough to race with the adults, while others may prefer a shorter, more relaxed course.
To wrap up the day, we’ll have Dragon Board racing, which is always a highlight, it’s a fun, team-based race that brings everyone together and lets all abilities mix and enjoy the energy of the event.
I think it’s really important to create an event that offers more than just racing. People are giving up their weekend, often travelling long distances so it should feel like an experience, not just a competition. By blending high-level GBSUP racing with a relaxed, festival-style atmosphere, we’re able to welcome both serious athletes and families or newcomers who just want to enjoy the vibe.
Photo by Amanda Roberts @ P3T Photography
The live music adds a great energy and helps people unwind during and after the racing. The bar and street food create a sociable setting for the prize giving, you’ll see people sitting around, chatting, laughing, and sharing stories from the day. That’s what makes it special. It’s not just about results – it’s about connection, celebration, and community. That mix is what helps the paddling scene grow and stay inclusive.
Offering prize money is a really important step forward for SUP racing in the UK. I know from personal experience that whenever I raced at an event with prize money, I pushed that little bit harder, and the financial support was always so appreciated. The costs of travelling, accommodation and race entry add up quickly, and anything we can do to ease that burden for our top UK athletes makes a big difference.
There’s very little money in the UK SUP scene, and yet we have incredible athletes who are now racing abroad to challenge themselves at the highest level. If we want to grow the sport here at home, we need to give those athletes a reason to race locally, not just for the recognition, but as role models who can inspire the next generation.
Prize money also helps attract international talent, which raises the standard of competition and puts UK races on the map. It’s about building a sustainable, respected race scene where athletes feel valued and supported.
The prizes, the happy, friendly, supportive community, the mega vibe during the day, the family friendly races for all abilities and the great food, beer and ice cream!
*Images courtesy of Amanda Roberts @ P3T Photography and Anna Little @ Northern SUP Race Club
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