Initially due to run on Saturday 31 August the weather had other plans for this years’ Great Big Paddle Parade. Strong winds and wild sea stats were predicted for the Saturday as the day neared.
Organiser Sean White of Soak Lifestyles made the tough and brave call to move the event to Sunday 1st September. The event was centred around water safety so postponing the event was the only thing to do.
The Great Big Paddle Parade is a recreational event with a focus on staying safe on the water, offering courses from 6 km to 20 km to accommodate every skill level from experienced to novice paddlers.
Paddle UK were proudly sponsoring the event giving participants free Paddle UK tech tops and sharing Summer Safety Campaign information as well as waterproof phone cases, kindly donated by our partners the RNLI.
So would anyone attend on the Sunday with the change of date and drizzle that accompanied the morning of the event? The answer is a resounding yes they did. Paddlers attended on mass to show the amazing SUP community spirit. Wet weather or change of date wouldn’t stop hundreds attending to show their support for the three charities that all profits from the event go towards, RNLI, Above Water and Rowcroft Hospice.
Image credit: Soak Lifestyle and Owin from Wong Shot Media