I have started to notice more people doing stand up paddle boarding (SUP) in my local area and after a chance encounter with my local SUP club run by Matt at SUPGower at a local bay, I volunteered to document their hosting of the UK SUB Clubs racing event at Port Eynon, Gower. The event consisted of racing events for club members and sponsored athletes, plus fun races for adults and children, with a fishing competition thrown in as well.

I was a newcomer to SUP racing events, so getting a handle on the format and style was a new experience for me. The weather was kind, not the best of light for evocative images, but the event provided a useful insight to SUP events. A new experience of a new sport will always help expand my skill set. The experience was similar to a surfing event I covered a few years ago for the fledgling welsh surf magazine Tonnau, which unfortunately didn’t last.

The event was supported by all ages, with all the competitors giving it all; the pain was clear to see on some of the faces at the finish line. The final sprint back to the finish line seemed to be the killer stage according to the entrants. A stiff breeze was making it harder to keep to the course distance, with some entrants paddling the equivalent of 5 miles due to the wind taking them off course slightly over the three laps of the circuit.

A good time was had by all and I would like to thank everybody for making me feel so welcome and putting up with me photographing away – only 2000 or so images to edit now!