SUP Hub NI

That’s a wrap…
I’ve delayed this post for too long as quite frankly, I’m sad about it. However, all things (good or bad) come to an end.

5 incredible years, sharing skills and knowledge, learning even more in return, making friends, creating new experiences and spreading the love of SUP.

I am beyond proud of what we achieved, forever grateful for the team of paddlers and supporters that have worked with us, collaborated with us and those that have joined us.

Sadly, commercially, SUP Hub Ltd has not been sustainable, and I have made the tough decision to close the business.

I will continue to Paddle, Coach, Consult, Advise and Commentate in a personal capacity so feel free to get in touch if you want to discuss anything.

I have also become a Director of where I volunteer to work supporting and growing the sport of SUP alongside all other Paddlesports.

To anyone who has liked, followed, participated, worked with us - Thank you ❤️

This may be the end of a business but we have built a small community with a shared love of the pursuit of paddling, the water and wider environment, and a love of the area in which we live.

I hope your memories of SUP Hub are as happy as mine and I hope you continue to safely and happily enjoy the water around us.

I will release a podcast next month which delves into more detail about this awesome project, the positives, negatives, the joy and the pain, what I have learnt, and what we as a community might learn and take forward with us.

Finally, a note to all the young summer schemers and young leaders out there, of all the crazy things we have done these past 5 years, the SUP Hub Summer Scheme is the thing I have been most proud of and I want to thank you for your efforts in making that such a memorable experience 🙏 I am gutted I cannot make it work this year, but I know a lot of young, strong, capable upcoming paddlers so never say never to a return in the future.

✌️

Merry Christmas everybody x

Get voting, it’s been a fun year of paddling…

The 2023 TotalSUP Awards – Vote Now! | TotalSUP For the 10th anniversary of TotalSUP, we have decided to launch our very first Annual TotalSUP Awards! It's time to look back on an entire 2023 and celebrate all those involved in the Stand Up Paddle industry and in particular the SUP race, SUP surf and SUP foil scenes this year. Take part in the

Best of Luck to our Local Reps over in Pattaya, Thailand 🇹🇭 at the





And to all the riders from Ireland 🇮🇪 the UK 🇬🇧 .keetley to all the runners and riders from all over the world, have the best time and enjoy every second. Gutted to not be there so I’ll instead be glued to and .uk for all the best coverage 🤙

https://www.canoeicf.com/stand-up-paddling-world-championships/pattaya-2023

So it’s normally this time of year you start to hear me say “the best paddles of your life will be on Strangford or Belfast Lough on a cool, crisp November morning” but if this October heatwave continues you might have to wait a bit for your cooler paddles 😂

Happy Birthday to the legend that is Rowan who has been an OG Paddler and once again showed his dad who is the boss on the water 😜

The delayed final week of the teens and Improvers courses finally got what their patience deserved with a beautiful glassy paddle up the Lough.

We’ve a few boards/paddles/wetsuits and buoyancy aids left if anyone couldn’t make Sunday, just give us a shout and we can sort you out 🤙

Access to Racing Sale
Sunday 8th October
Bangor Marina
1-3pm

Boards to suit all ages, abilities and budgets…

Pic 1: One Ocean Edge Pro 2 (Hollow) 14’x25 Ex-Demo (bag included) £700 (RRP £2,500)

Pic 2: Infinity Blackfish Candice Appleby 14’x23 Nearly New (Clan Project Bag Included) £1,900 (RRP £3,125)

Pic 3: McConks Go Race iSUP 14’x27 Nearly New (bag/pump/repair kit included) £400 (RRP £1100)

Pic 4: SBS Longbow 14’x23.5 Small Ding on nose, priced accordingly £400 (RRP £1150)

Pic 5: Zray Race iSUP ex-demo good condition 14’x27 (comes with bag, leash, pump, repair kit) £200 RRP £799

Pic 6: Black Project Junior Paddles (Surge & Hydro) Adjustible highest quality junior paddles (I cannot stress enough the difference a junior specific paddle makes to a young paddlers experience, these paddles are brand new and never been used, perfect for a paddle obsessed youngster or secure an early Christmas present for a paddler you love) £100 RRP £225

There will be a few other all-round ex-demo isups available too, wetsuits, buoyancy aids, booties, paddles and some hoodies/merch too.

Come and say hello this Sunday at the Commercial Pier, Bangor Marina 1-3pm 🤙

If you see something you like and want to secure before Sunday, send us a DM 🤙

Whilst we’re on the subject of selling if you like the brand and want it, get in touch, conversations to be had🤙

“Completed it mate”

These 2 boys absolutely smashed Loch Ness today.

I don’t mind admitting I was wiping tears pride away whilst taking pic 2 as Ruan absolutely left me and for dust at the finish line 👏👏👏💪

I have no pics of Rory as he was too far ahead and busy winning the iSUP Day 2! 💪🤙

Such an awesome few days

A brilliant experience, this event must go on your bucket list if you’re a paddler.

Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 thank you 🙏

To all the organisers Emma & Duncan and the team of volunteers (and again Carole our personal support team) thank you for such a great experience. I am buzzing for these young men, and can’t wait to see their post paddle interviews 😂😂😂

We’re off to the prizegiving and evening meal to raise a glass and share stories.

Then a long sleep 😴

thanks for giving the boys the time to undertake this challenge they have represented you impeccably well 👏

Great Glen Challenge 2023

An awesome day on the water.

Super proud of our young Grads who have smashed the 45km of Day 1 and are in tip top shape for the 48km of Day 2 tomorrow.

Pics:
1. A new game called “Where’s Rory?” (The answer is generally 2miles ahead 😂💪)
2. Not to miss out on having a game named after him, Ruan created his own version of “Where’s Ruan?”
3. After a blister began to form, Ruan took 5 mins to tape up his finger, after about 5 minutes paddling he realised he’d strapped it so tightly that circulation wasn’t going to that finger, so a quick pause to prevent loss of a finger and we were throwing Shaka’s and back on it.
4. No I did not spend 4 hours in the toilets at Lagan Locks, my tracker was in my pocket all the time but once I realised I had a series of missed calls and messages, the S&R team were stood down 😜😂.
5. Approaching Aberchalder Swing Bridge.
6. Rory was feeling the Stoke today 🤙🤙🤙
7. Early hours seemed like there was plenty of time for pics, before he put the phone away and…
8. Rory given time and space to push himself, and that he did!

These 2 young men have been absolute superstars over the past few years at our Summer Scheme, I cannot speak highly enough of them, so when they kept asking to do the this year, I wasn’t going to say no.

A huge thank you to the event organisers who understood what we were trying to do by giving these youngsters an opportunity which they are proving they are more than capable of doing. A huge thanks too to their parents for raising awesome young people and giving them the opportunity to do this (and to Carole, Rory’s mum, who has travelled with us and is proving to be a first class support crew, not just to the boys but to other paddlers needing help with logistics etc 👏👏👏). Awesome team effort. 👍

Here’s to tomorrow and the mighty Loch Ness, can they complete the challenge??? Follow along tomorrow to find out (hopefully I’ll have left the toilets at Lagan Locks by then 😂😂😂)

It’s 6am, Neptune Steps, Fort William….

Follow along at https://www.geotracks.co.uk/live/2039

Rory No. 41
Ruan No. 40
Iain no. 30
Steve no. 59
Noel no. 39
Adam () no.67



Let’s go have some fun…

Misty start for the Teens course making their way round to Jenny Watts Cave at Brompton 🤙

Clearing up in time for Lara’s 11th Birthday Party 🎉

🤙 can this September Summer last through winter too?