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STAND-UP PADDLING SOUTH AFRICA FORMED

September 2010 saw the formalization of Stand-Up Paddling South Africa (SUPSA), a regulating body for Stand-Up Paddling (SUP) nationally....

(Photo: Andrew Bance is one of many Cape Town crew bitten by the SUP bug. © Clive Maasch)

The association has been established to grow and promote the sporting lifestyle of SUP and includes representatives from KwaZulu Natal, Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Southern Cape.  SUPSA will ensure the standard of local competitions is on a par with similar competitions internationally, standardising the judging criteria for surf competitions and the point system for paddle racing events.

Says newly appointed chairman, Dom Gaud, “The formation of SUPSA has been in discussion for several months. We looked at the growth of the sport over recent months and realised the number of people SUPing in South Africa is increasing faster than we anticipated.” South Africans, like big-wave surfer Chris Bertish who is making a mark internationally on the SUP World Tour, are raising the profile of SUPing in South Africa.


(Photo: Durban's John Whittle taking his SUP into the green room. © Dawn Rouse)

SUPing is not just for those keen on competitions, it is also is ideal as a social activity for those living at the coast as well as inland - all you need is a body of water, paddle and board, and you’re ready for a lot of fun and a good workout.

For more information on SUPSA, please visit our Facebook page
or call Dom Gaud (Chair: SUPSA) on 082 788 2912 or Glen Thompson (Vice-Chair: SUPSA) on 082 412 6834.

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