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Stand up paddle boarding
In our new feature we are sending our reporter Steph Woolvin out to try a variety of activities around Dartmouth and Kingswear. She will discover how challenging, exciting or relaxing the experiences are and report back! We’re throwing her in at the deep end with stand-up paddle boarding, run by Sea Kayak Devon...
S
tand-up paddle boarding, or SUP, is one of the fastet growing water sports in the UK and it just so
happens we now have a company offering the activity here in Dartmouth. I’m not someone who likes getting cold or wet so I had to psych myself up for this. But owner of Sea Kayak Devon, Ben Brierley is quick to point out that it’s very hard to fall off these sturdy boards. On the shore he explains the basics - I practised holding the paddle, donned my life jacket and managed to carry the huge board down to the water’s edge. This isn’t as impressive as it sounds – these boards are inflated so they’re surprisingly light and portable. “Ready?” asks my 38-year-old in-
structor in his friendly Irish accent and before I know it we’re gliding through the water in a kneeling position. I had a habit of lurching to the right but Ben stayed by my side correcting my trajectory with his paddle until I mas- tered a straight line! Soon it was time to stand and Ben talks me through the process; “Keep your eyes straight ahead and avoid the temptation to look at your feet”. In two easy moves I’m up and my leg muscles are hard at work keeping me balanced as we move forward. They say SUP reduces stress and sure
Above left: Ben Brierley of Sea Kayak Devon. Above: Steph
“Keep your eyes straight ahead and
enough after a while I notice I’ve stopped concentrat- ing so hard on staying upright and started listening to the birds and the soothing sound of water lapping at the board. It was a fantastic experience and I managed to stay dry despite one dramatic wob- ble to avoid a moored boat! Ben set up Sea Kayak Devon
avoid the temptation to look at your feet”.
six years ago. As well as stand-up paddle boarding he offers a range of sea kayak experiences such as wild camping and family day trips. These are very popular, especially in the school holidays, with children able to
catch dogfish in lobster pots, help set up a driftwood fire on a remote beach and toast marshmallows. Older children can take to the water alone but those as young as five can sit in the front of a double kayak with an adult. Ben says they regularly see seals: “We were
We tried that...
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