Losing my SUP virginity
The first time I ever SUPed was at Rest Bay, Porthcawl in South Wales when I was 17 years old. A friend of mine was recovering from M.E. (also known as chronic fatigue) and anxiety, so he decided to take up surfing to see if it would help, as the sea is known for being undoubtedly good for your state of mind and well being (I will elaborate on this later on). I was always interested in taking up surfing ever since my first lesson at Caswell bay when I was 13, so I often went along on surfs, but ultimately gave up trying as I seemed to get nowhere, and felt surfing was definitely not my calling (although I feel this wasn't the main factor which pushed me towards SUPing). On one occasion at Rest Bay, after throwing in the surf towel, I noticed there was a different kind of board for hire - one with a paddle. I'd seen pictures of stand up paddle boarders on fashionable websites like tumblr and was intrigued, so I made enquires with the hire guy and he gave me brief instructions on what to do before departing for my first ever SUP session. This board had a handle fitted, and was surprisingly very light, so it was super easy to carry to the beach from the car park. Needless to say I fell off a fair few times before actually being able to stand (and anyone who says they didn't is lying) - it was a little choppy too. After getting my balance right, I paddled around a little, beyond the waves, and really began enjoying myself. I came away with a better frame of mind than I usually did after attempted surfs. I made sure to remember the name of the board to look up online later that day. Red stand up paddle boards. It didn't feel like a blow up, but it certainly was, and kind of explains how I'd been able to carry it with such ease. I was so hooked on getting one, but after finding out the cost, my hopes were shot down as I could never earn enough with my small amount of hours at Pizza Hut to pay for one, and soon enough my paddle boarding dream was put in the 'whatever girl, dream on' box, alongside marrying Matt Cardle and being a Victorias Secret model.
Moving to Aberystwyth
A few months later, September 2012, I headed off to University at Aberystwyth. The only reason I really chose to go there was to be by the sea (like most other students here) and to properly learn how to surf, especially as I spent most of my time at home driving to the nearest beaches - Porthcawl, Ogmore-by-sea, Swansea.. In Aberystwyth the sea was right at my doorstep. I joined the surf club and although my main aim was to properly learn how to surf, I was excited when I found out the club kept an SUP. I don't remember the first time I used it, and it wasn't a blow up, but a big sturdy board. It didn't have a handle, so carrying it was pretty tricky (although by now, I'm pretty good at carrying SUP's on my head). Every Saturday on our 'club surfs' in my first year of University, whenever it was flat, we'd go grab the SUP and just have fun paddling around, experimenting with new ways to lay on it, standing up together, tandem surfing small waves (my absolute favourite thing to do ever), and since it was around 11'6", it caught literally the smallest of waves.
Using my head to get my SUP to the beach.. (Photographed by a local photographer Iestyn Hughes)
Summertime Sadness
Summer 2013 I spent the majority of my time back in South Wales after my plans for living down in Cornwall over summer didn't quite pan out as I'd expected. I felt landlocked, without a car to drive to the coast and as much as I absolutely hate to admit it, I developed depression and anxiety. I completely lost myself and shed tears almost every day against my own will. I was being sick regularly, also referred to as anxiety sickness. I cried because I was scared, I was scared because I was crying - it was all going on. In basic terms, I was officially mental. Whether this was linked to my distance from the sea is beyond me, but I couldn't help think about my (before mentioned) friend Alex, who had now pulled through his M.E. and anxiety, surfed daily and even bought his own paddle board. I spent most of my days in the house, scared to leave, watching gameshows like 'Pointless' and 'The Chase'.. Trust me, I look back and think "what the hell were you doing?!". During this summer I visited Aberystwyth on a fair few occasions. My boyfriend and I spent most of our days playing in the sea, badly attempting to fish off the paddle board and jumping off the jetty. In Aberystwyth I was fine, but as soon as I returned home, the tears and sickness kicked in again. This effect my *home* was having on me angered my mother, and her attempts to pull me out of this weird phase had no effect - she missed several days of work to comfort me, she took me for ice cream, she cooked me my favourite meals, she even took away all the mirrors in the house when I really did go crazy and began crying whenever I saw my own reflection. She put my depression down to repressed grief of my father passing when I was 9, and although I will be forever grateful for her love and care during this difficult time in my life, it was hopeless. I thought I was crazy, but soon after getting better, I realised going through these things in life is completely normal and I share these intimate, personal details about this time of my life with you so other sufferers of anxiety or depression can understand that others have/are going through it too, and it's not always going to last forever.
My First Ever SUP
Coming to the end of the summer, I began feeling a lot better. Harry and I went to Croatia, where I experienced a few down spells, but nothing major. After returning home in September, I had two weeks work experience at my old school as a part of a University module, where I hit rock bottom again, broke down to numerous people, an old friend, my A-level Biology teacher and the deputy headmistress. I spent most of my lunch hour in the bathroom having panic attacks in the cubicle, trying my best not to cry and somehow managed to hide everything from most people. I faked a smile and tried my best to be my bubbly old self - like they say, "if you can fake it, you can make it". In an attempt for a "quick fix" (there is never a quick fix with depression), my mother spoke to someone who could maybe help, which ended up with me being sat on a chair talking to a qualified stranger (also known as a councillor), which was a complete joke as I knew she couldn't help me. I returned to Aberystwyth, against my mothers will, still crying and throwing up everyday. I was adamant that dropping out of University would surely confirm my place in the loony bin. I had this thought stuck in my head that if I was back by the seaside then everything would be ok and slowly but surely, my sadness waddled away. I got a job on my return and I was doing well in all my assignments. I kept myself busy and I one day looked back and realised I was myself again! No tears, no sickness.. my smile was back.
I'd increasingly began surfing more that winter, not that I got any better, but waking up early just to be in the sea was refreshing. With flat spells we used the clubs paddle board more and more. I'll never forget that one day in October, when we took the SUP out to the reef with a waterproof disposable camera and cookies. I'd honestly never felt so happy. It was then I realised that the depression was surely on it's way out the door as we pretended to be mermaids in the sea. I think Harry could see this love I had for paddle boarding developed, and I had an inkling he was planning to get me my own paddle board for Christmas. I didn't want to raise my hopes, as I knew they were expensive, and we were students after all, but the smile on my face when I unwrapped it was the biggest it had ever been for a really long time. I couldn't believe how cheap you could get a second hand SUP. He's always been one for bargains but this one definitely seemed like a combination of luck and fate.
Unwrapping my very first SUP on Christmas 2013.
The first time I used the paddle board was amazing and unknowingly, a local photographer, Keith Morris, snapped some shots of me truly embracing this amazing evening. The sun was setting and the famous Aberystwyth starlings were flying overhead. I'd never felt so close to the sunset and the photographs were amazing. Since then, other photographers have also snapped me enjoying what I love, making me feel that little bit famous in this tiny town. I really have had some truly unforgettable experiences on my SUP. A few months ago at Llangrannog we paddled through caves and rocky archways, what I like to call "extreme SUPing". Before we knew it we were surrounded by seals and encountered a white seal pup at the back of a cave, behind a waterfall. Many times have I SUPed with dolphins in Aberystwyth, sometimes getting ridiculously close, which makes me feel like 'the girl who stand up paddles with scissors' (http://standupjournal.com/the-girl-who-stand-up-paddles-with-scissors/). You could argue that you'd have these same experiences on a kayak or canoe, but I strongly doubt this. Standing on a board allows you to be fully aware of your surroundings and turning is so easy on a SUP that missing the sighting of a dolphin or a seal is never an issue. You're also free to jump in, without constraints on a SUP, unlike a kayak or canoe. I also believe the strokes you take with your paddle when SUPing is extremely calming without mentioning its physical health benefits. Surfing on a SUP is also extremely fun, especially as you can surf anything from the smallest waves. The paddle is used to aid you when paddling into waves or allowing you to speed up/slow down whilst on the wave. I also believe anyone of any age/ability can SUP with a little help, which I believe is the main factor SUPing is becoming such a popular activity.
The first time I ever SUPed was at Rest Bay, Porthcawl in South Wales when I was 17 years old. A friend of mine was recovering from M.E. (also known as chronic fatigue) and anxiety, so he decided to take up surfing to see if it would help, as the sea is known for being undoubtedly good for your state of mind and well being (I will elaborate on this later on). I was always interested in taking up surfing ever since my first lesson at Caswell bay when I was 13, so I often went along on surfs, but ultimately gave up trying as I seemed to get nowhere, and felt surfing was definitely not my calling (although I feel this wasn't the main factor which pushed me towards SUPing). On one occasion at Rest Bay, after throwing in the surf towel, I noticed there was a different kind of board for hire - one with a paddle. I'd seen pictures of stand up paddle boarders on fashionable websites like tumblr and was intrigued, so I made enquires with the hire guy and he gave me brief instructions on what to do before departing for my first ever SUP session. This board had a handle fitted, and was surprisingly very light, so it was super easy to carry to the beach from the car park. Needless to say I fell off a fair few times before actually being able to stand (and anyone who says they didn't is lying) - it was a little choppy too. After getting my balance right, I paddled around a little, beyond the waves, and really began enjoying myself. I came away with a better frame of mind than I usually did after attempted surfs. I made sure to remember the name of the board to look up online later that day. Red stand up paddle boards. It didn't feel like a blow up, but it certainly was, and kind of explains how I'd been able to carry it with such ease. I was so hooked on getting one, but after finding out the cost, my hopes were shot down as I could never earn enough with my small amount of hours at Pizza Hut to pay for one, and soon enough my paddle boarding dream was put in the 'whatever girl, dream on' box, alongside marrying Matt Cardle and being a Victorias Secret model.
Moving to Aberystwyth
A few months later, September 2012, I headed off to University at Aberystwyth. The only reason I really chose to go there was to be by the sea (like most other students here) and to properly learn how to surf, especially as I spent most of my time at home driving to the nearest beaches - Porthcawl, Ogmore-by-sea, Swansea.. In Aberystwyth the sea was right at my doorstep. I joined the surf club and although my main aim was to properly learn how to surf, I was excited when I found out the club kept an SUP. I don't remember the first time I used it, and it wasn't a blow up, but a big sturdy board. It didn't have a handle, so carrying it was pretty tricky (although by now, I'm pretty good at carrying SUP's on my head). Every Saturday on our 'club surfs' in my first year of University, whenever it was flat, we'd go grab the SUP and just have fun paddling around, experimenting with new ways to lay on it, standing up together, tandem surfing small waves (my absolute favourite thing to do ever), and since it was around 11'6", it caught literally the smallest of waves.
Using my head to get my SUP to the beach.. (Photographed by a local photographer Iestyn Hughes)
Summertime Sadness
Summer 2013 I spent the majority of my time back in South Wales after my plans for living down in Cornwall over summer didn't quite pan out as I'd expected. I felt landlocked, without a car to drive to the coast and as much as I absolutely hate to admit it, I developed depression and anxiety. I completely lost myself and shed tears almost every day against my own will. I was being sick regularly, also referred to as anxiety sickness. I cried because I was scared, I was scared because I was crying - it was all going on. In basic terms, I was officially mental. Whether this was linked to my distance from the sea is beyond me, but I couldn't help think about my (before mentioned) friend Alex, who had now pulled through his M.E. and anxiety, surfed daily and even bought his own paddle board. I spent most of my days in the house, scared to leave, watching gameshows like 'Pointless' and 'The Chase'.. Trust me, I look back and think "what the hell were you doing?!". During this summer I visited Aberystwyth on a fair few occasions. My boyfriend and I spent most of our days playing in the sea, badly attempting to fish off the paddle board and jumping off the jetty. In Aberystwyth I was fine, but as soon as I returned home, the tears and sickness kicked in again. This effect my *home* was having on me angered my mother, and her attempts to pull me out of this weird phase had no effect - she missed several days of work to comfort me, she took me for ice cream, she cooked me my favourite meals, she even took away all the mirrors in the house when I really did go crazy and began crying whenever I saw my own reflection. She put my depression down to repressed grief of my father passing when I was 9, and although I will be forever grateful for her love and care during this difficult time in my life, it was hopeless. I thought I was crazy, but soon after getting better, I realised going through these things in life is completely normal and I share these intimate, personal details about this time of my life with you so other sufferers of anxiety or depression can understand that others have/are going through it too, and it's not always going to last forever.
My First Ever SUP
Coming to the end of the summer, I began feeling a lot better. Harry and I went to Croatia, where I experienced a few down spells, but nothing major. After returning home in September, I had two weeks work experience at my old school as a part of a University module, where I hit rock bottom again, broke down to numerous people, an old friend, my A-level Biology teacher and the deputy headmistress. I spent most of my lunch hour in the bathroom having panic attacks in the cubicle, trying my best not to cry and somehow managed to hide everything from most people. I faked a smile and tried my best to be my bubbly old self - like they say, "if you can fake it, you can make it". In an attempt for a "quick fix" (there is never a quick fix with depression), my mother spoke to someone who could maybe help, which ended up with me being sat on a chair talking to a qualified stranger (also known as a councillor), which was a complete joke as I knew she couldn't help me. I returned to Aberystwyth, against my mothers will, still crying and throwing up everyday. I was adamant that dropping out of University would surely confirm my place in the loony bin. I had this thought stuck in my head that if I was back by the seaside then everything would be ok and slowly but surely, my sadness waddled away. I got a job on my return and I was doing well in all my assignments. I kept myself busy and I one day looked back and realised I was myself again! No tears, no sickness.. my smile was back.
I'd increasingly began surfing more that winter, not that I got any better, but waking up early just to be in the sea was refreshing. With flat spells we used the clubs paddle board more and more. I'll never forget that one day in October, when we took the SUP out to the reef with a waterproof disposable camera and cookies. I'd honestly never felt so happy. It was then I realised that the depression was surely on it's way out the door as we pretended to be mermaids in the sea. I think Harry could see this love I had for paddle boarding developed, and I had an inkling he was planning to get me my own paddle board for Christmas. I didn't want to raise my hopes, as I knew they were expensive, and we were students after all, but the smile on my face when I unwrapped it was the biggest it had ever been for a really long time. I couldn't believe how cheap you could get a second hand SUP. He's always been one for bargains but this one definitely seemed like a combination of luck and fate.
Unwrapping my very first SUP on Christmas 2013.
The first time I used the paddle board was amazing and unknowingly, a local photographer, Keith Morris, snapped some shots of me truly embracing this amazing evening. The sun was setting and the famous Aberystwyth starlings were flying overhead. I'd never felt so close to the sunset and the photographs were amazing. Since then, other photographers have also snapped me enjoying what I love, making me feel that little bit famous in this tiny town. I really have had some truly unforgettable experiences on my SUP. A few months ago at Llangrannog we paddled through caves and rocky archways, what I like to call "extreme SUPing". Before we knew it we were surrounded by seals and encountered a white seal pup at the back of a cave, behind a waterfall. Many times have I SUPed with dolphins in Aberystwyth, sometimes getting ridiculously close, which makes me feel like 'the girl who stand up paddles with scissors' (http://standupjournal.com/the-girl-who-stand-up-paddles-with-scissors/). You could argue that you'd have these same experiences on a kayak or canoe, but I strongly doubt this. Standing on a board allows you to be fully aware of your surroundings and turning is so easy on a SUP that missing the sighting of a dolphin or a seal is never an issue. You're also free to jump in, without constraints on a SUP, unlike a kayak or canoe. I also believe the strokes you take with your paddle when SUPing is extremely calming without mentioning its physical health benefits. Surfing on a SUP is also extremely fun, especially as you can surf anything from the smallest waves. The paddle is used to aid you when paddling into waves or allowing you to speed up/slow down whilst on the wave. I also believe anyone of any age/ability can SUP with a little help, which I believe is the main factor SUPing is becoming such a popular activity.
My first paddle on my very first SUP board (Photographed by Keith Morris).
The Future
As of now, the water in Aberystwyth is becoming consistently clearer, and taking a snorkel and flippers out on the SUP to jump in and explore the reefs is on the very top of my list of things to do this summer. Needless to say I will be staying in Aberystwyth this summer, not only to stay working in my job, but to be near the sea. My god if I ever get the opportunity to give a seal a belly rub like these guys (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U-91r-57_c) you won't hear the end of it! We recently purchased a go pro replica, SJ4000, and got some amazing shots, and it only cost us £70. We've filmed our encounters with dolphins, lobsters, jelly fish, which I constantly social media and blag about to friends.
I'm always keen to go to new places on my SUP, and since we have the van now to transport it, it's finally possible - so please, share your amazing SUP adventures with me. I am yet to try SUPing on a lake which I know is very popular inland and around London, and white water SUPing seems like something I'd love to take a stab at. I can definitely recommend heading over to the mid Wales coast where you'll find all sorts of fun caves, archways and marine wildlife. Aber Adventures, a local surf school have also bought a load of brand new Red blow up paddle boards which they hire out for pretty cheap - get in touch if you want to explore the coastline or have a lesson (http://www.aberadventures.com/Welcome.html). They recently provided boards for us to paddle a "Blue Mile" to raise money for the Marine Conservation Society - we raised a ton of money for them and I'd love to do more events like this in the future, which not only promotes SUPing but also helps the marine environment. There's also a recent development with the Wave Project in London which encourages children with learning difficulties to SUP - to me this sounds like the most amazing cause to be involved with, especially as I have first handedly experienced the amazing psychological benefits of being in/around the sea.
Suggesting that SUPing or being in the sea was the main contributor to relieving my depression and anxiety, I feel, would be inaccurate, but it undoubtedly helped. Paddling out to sea on a calm day, lying down on my board and looking up at the sky is my new favourite way of relieving my stress, as a form of meditation. I also have heaps of fun surfing on my SUP, and am so happy to finally master catching some clean waves on it! My next challenge is to get my pup, Oscar, out on the SUP with me when he comes to visit. I have a new SUP, due to arrive in August (custom made!) from Supremo SUP's, which I am so so so excited about, and will post more details about the up and coming company and the quality of their boards soon.
Enjoying a sunset paddle at Aberystwyth (Photographed by Alan Hale).
I'm not really sure whether to continue writing SUP posts on my travel blog, or to create a separate blog based on SUPing, but I think I'll just see how it goes for now..
