SUP racing has exploded, with new formats and races being announced each year, and out of this SUP endurance racing has emerged. UK SUP a non-profit organisation has seized this desire to race at longer distances, and has developed 3 events spread over the race season. Race suprimo and co-founder of UK SUP National Endurance SeriesJoanne Hamilton-Vale (along with Peter Vale) introduces the 2018 series, and why paddlers should be pushing themselves in the 3 events of the UK SUP national endurance series.
Hello Joanne, Can you give a brief history of the UK SUP endurance race series?
UK SUP was set up 5 years ago to bring structured SUP racing to the UK. The UK SUP series has consistency in rules, prize money, low entry fees, disciplines and age groups, It is run 100% voluntary and not for profit – I even have to pay for my own race entry!
After 3 successful years running a national short distance series UK SUP, we found that while we were introducing new paddlers to the sport we were beginning to lose some of the more established racers. I understood this as I found the short race distances of 16km did not push me enough or satisfying my desire for bigger goals. After thinking about what would fill this gap and challenge paddlers I conceived, set-up, and with the help of Pete Vale, developed the UK SUP National Endurance Series.
What’s new for 2018?
With the introduction of the UK SUP National Endurance Series we decided to bring in a few changes in the format, we opened the each race to every kind of solo paddle craft (K1, OC1, C1). This evolved after being told by a few paddlers, that some UK sit down endurance paddle events did not welcome or allow the registration of SUP racers, so we realised that there was a market for a multi-paddle sports event, each with their own podium. We are, after all, one big paddle family.
What is the endurance race format?
In 2017 UK SUP held 3 endurance races Norfolk broads, River Thames and The Great Glen Way, and will be holding the same events in 2018.
Can you talk us through each race?
Norfolk Broads – The first race is a 2 day 70km race on the Norfolk Broads on 9th and 10th June, this is a super fun race and one that requires you to follow a map, as we take you in and out of rivers and estuaries. The course has minimal flow and a lot of shelter from any wind.
Both days run in a loop format, which is wonderful, as you are constantly meeting up with other paddlers in the Challenge and it is always awesome to hear the support between paddlers. The registration point is also the same as the finish point for day one and the start/finish point of day two, as well as the camp site. This makes it logistically easy for all paddlers and support. At the end of day 1 all paddlers have the option to eat dinner together, and which is included in the entry fee!
River Thames – Our second race is a 52km race on the River Thames on the 24th June, this is a downstream race taking you through beautiful Villages and Towns of rural England including the Royal Town of Windsor, past Windsor Castle. Will the Queen be home and watching you race? It is a 52km stretch of water with ever changing scenery, that will keep you entertained and not focusing on every paddle stroke. The route does have some portages, which will require you to leave the water and walk your craft for a short distance. This will enable you to get the blood flowing back in your feet and is also the perfect opportunity to eat. Note that we do allow assistance to paddlers with their craft at the portages.
Great Glen Way Race – Our third race is the BIG one, race 92km across the whole of Scotland on the 15th and 16th September, we run this either non stop or 2 day format. The scenery in this race is absolutely breath taking, as it takes you through Loch Oich, Loch Lochie and the mighty Loch Ness. Will anyone meet the Loch Ness monster? In addition to these 3 Lochs you will navigate the Caledonian Canal. This race will be a downwind race, we will confirm the direction we will run 48 hours before the race. The briefing and registration point is halfway along the route at Fort Augustus, therefore easy to get to either start point. The huge size of the Lochs (especially Loch Ness) means sometimes they can resemble ocean conditions; UK paddlers have previously had their best downwind experience during this event.
Our prize giving after the Great Glen is a night to remember, a traditional Scottish party. Wear some tartan for your free shot of single malt whisky to toast the Year.
Are the races open for all?
In ultra endurance it is difficult to incorporate racing for children but we are trying to come up with a plan. However, if you do have anyone under the age of 16 who would like to paddle all or part of the route as a Team or Relay, we require an adult/s to always paddle with them and be responsible for their safety. Regardless of how many children or adults paddle in the Team there will only be one entry fee.
Any words of motivation?
We think of these events as challenges, whether you finish or not, you should be extremely proud you put yourself on the start line of an endurance race. Though I am pretty sure everyone will finish and will be wearing their medal at the end of the race.
In addition to race craft podiums we will also be running age group podiums. This keeps everyone pushing and develops individual races within our challenge.
How do we register?
Here are the race registration details, just follow the links!
Norfolk Broads Ultra 9th and 10th June (2 day) – 12 places remaining
Entry fee £75, includes food and water at checkpoints throughout the day and dinner on the Saturday night – every finisher receives a completion medal https://www.facebook.com/events/367649987008476/
Thames Ultra, 24th June (1 day) – 28 places remaining
Entry fee £40, includes food and water at checkpoints throughout the day and food and soft drinks at end of race – every finisher receives a completion medal https://www.facebook.com/events/2029028510460641/
Great Glen Ultra 15th and 16th September (2 day or non stop) – 10 places remaining
Entry fee £75, includes food and water at checkpoints. Every finisher receives a completion medal
TotalSUP long-time contributor and Barrachou Paddle owner Helen Trehoret talks to TotalSUP about her venture to develop a network of SUP events, aimed at increasing female SUP participation. The first the Wild Women SUP Symposium was hosted in September 2022, based out of Cannich, Scotland. This event held specifically for women SUPrs was led by […]
That’s a wrap on Stop#2 of the APP SUP Racing World Tour and the London SUP Open 2022 did not fail to deliver a spectacular weekend of racing! Clément Colmas and Esperanza Barreras become distance champions on their APP World Tour debut, Rai Taguchi turns it on for the Young Guns and Connor Baxter and […]
The APP World Tour is back in Canary Wharf for the 2022 London SUP Open from September 14th to 18th and is offering hundreds of free stand up paddle sessions to visitors! Visitors will be able to watch the pros in action as they battle it out in stop #2 of the World Tour and […]
SUP Active Yorkshire proves SUP Active Yorkshire proves that disability is no limit when it comes to SUP. In this article, Danny Godridge, owner of SUP Active Yorkshire, tells TotalSUP how SUP breaks down barriers and provides freedom for all paddlers regardless of ability. Hello Danny, first of all could you tell where exactly SUP […]
Dorset-based paddler and owner of The SUP Store in Christchurch, Saviour Aquilina has recently reviewed the latest Red Paddle Co 10’6 Ride board. Here he tells TotalSUP why the board is a real crowd-pleaser, the best places to paddle in Dorset and why Stand Up Paddle is the sport that everyone should be doing. You […]
Vegan ice cream brand trials sustainable summer vehicle on Leeds canal ahead of summer celebrations Paddleboard enthusiasts from Leeds, Jamie Crowther and Zoe Dawson, proved they’ve got paddleboarding licked when they took to the water today to try out the world’s first paddleboard ice cream parlour, created by urban ice cream brand, Northern Bloc. Celebrating […]
Outrigger Canoe (OC) paddling has seen a meteoric rise in the past 3 years! Clearly the boom of SUP paddling has benefitted the OC scene with more and more SUP racers looking for cross-training sports or leisure paddlers attracted by the deeper Polynesian roots of Stand Up Paddling. On stretches of water all over Europe, […]
PRESS RELEASE – LONDON, UK: On 11th March 2020, The STA Group announced the shortlist for the 2020 Sports Technology Awards and revealed that Paddle Logger had been shortlisted in the Most Innovative Sports App category for its work creating the Paddle Logger App and services. Having received hundreds of entries from 31 countries which […]
Starboard Dream Team Rider Bart de Zwart conquered Loch Ness this past weekend and won The Great Glen Challenge non-stop SUP race in an impressive 12hrs and 18mins. This was his 3rd September non-stop ultra-endurance SUP race after the gruelling 220km non-stop tour of the SUP 11-City Challenge and the 223km Muskoka River X Coureur […]