08/03/2022
On this day last year, 2021, we decided to announce our little lockdown project to the world.
Why did we decide to announce on ?
Well, we aren’t a pre-existing watersports provider, nor a big SUP adventure company with all the kit and means to just take your money to play. Nope. We were just two local lasses who love SUP and had discovered (and adapted) this new game and wanted to share the stoke with you too. It brought us so much joy to get out and play with our friends, learn new tricks and techniques, and feel the benefits of being back on the water. We want to consistently ensure that the water is accessible and enjoyable for all of us.
Since we launched, we linked and demonstrated SUPBall at the National Watersports Centre to the .canoeing ambassadors, and launched a local female paddling forum (named “SUPport Brahs” 👙) to assist with levelling the playing field in light of all the paddling jargon and gatekeeping we see online or behind a paywall, aim to encourage and support others to head out on the water safely, freely, and provide a means to meet others doing the same too.
Not already scared of a challenge, Anna () is the first female lifeboat helm for in history and has since also became an RNLI trainer assessor too, Katie () is a woman in STEM. Last year, the IWD theme was “Choose to Challenge”. Perhaps choosing to challenge gender stereotypes might be something that makes us who we are and what brought us here (we had a great conversation with someone who asked us if “men were allowed to play too because our logo shows a lady”!).
This year, the theme is 🙅🏼♀️ and we will continue to do so. With mixed ability and mixed-sex games, perhaps a Cullercoats SUPBall team and a Cullercoats Mens SUPBall team, continuing to do our bit to level the playing field, challenging stereotypes and celebrating and valuing the differences that what makes us all great.
And yes, Cullercoats SUPball Club and SUPBall UK is open to everybody. We wouldn’t be where we are today without the support, experience and skills of others if it remained just the two of us!
