An epic World Record attempt for the most stand-up paddle boarders on parade.
Welcome to The Great Big Paddle Parade – an exhilarating charity event dedicated to supporting Above Water, Rowcroft, and RNLI while championing SUP safety awareness.
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What Is The Great Big Paddle Parade?
The Great Big Paddle Parade offers more than just a paddle; it’s an extraordinary guided coastal expedition. Choose from one of three starting points, tailored to your preferred paddling distance. Embark on a mesmerizing journey along the UNESCO Global Geopark coastline of the English Riviera, soaking in its breathtaking beauty.
Led by our seasoned senior SUP instructors from SOAK, each group sets off on their adventure, gradually converging at the idyllic Fishcombe Cove for a memorable group photo. It’s a sight to behold as paddle boarders of all levels unite, sharing the thrill of the open waters. From there, our expert guides ensure a safe return to your starting point, fostering an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.
The Goal
This year marks the 3rd anniversary of The Great Big Paddle Parade, building upon the success of the previous years. In our first year, we saw 544 paddlers take to the water. Year 2 saw a remarkable increase with 696 participants. Now, in our third year, we aim to surpass 1000 paddlers and shatter the previous world record of 844.
the countdown is on!
RNLI & SUP : The Statistics
The RNLI saved the lives of 59 paddleboarders in the last 10 years. Whilst this number may seem small in comparison to the large volume of paddlers across the UK getting on the water everyday, a huge 75% (44) of those rescues have happened since 2020. This shows that the sport is growing, and with an increase in uptake, sadly an increase in rescues is required.
”Lifeboat launches to paddleboard incidents went up 64% in 2021 (144) from the previous year (88) while RNLI lifeguards responded to 132% more paddleboard incidents in 2021 (504) than the previous year (217)”
– source: rnli.org –
The ease of use and amazing access to the water is one of Paddle boarding’s greatest assets, however we are seeing a gap in education to participants of this sport.
RNLI Great Big Paddle Parade raising funds for the Torbay RNLI
ESSENTIAL SUP SAFETY GUIDELINES
