Great Big Paddle Parade - 2023 - SUPboarder Magazine

Hundreds of paddlers took to the water for the Great Big Paddle Parade in the English Riviera on Saturday September 2nd.

Torbay Weekly: Hundreds took advantage of the glorious English Riviera yesterday (Saturday September 2) to take part in the RNLI fund-raising Great Big Paddle Parade.

Besides raising valuable money for the lifeboat, paddlers were out to set a new world record of 1,000 paddlers in the sea at the same time. The last tally was 700 – and still counting. Whatever the outcome numbers wise, the sea Parade was a huge success and the English Riviera was the winner as the event put the beautiful Bay firmly on the map.

The parade was the brainwave of ‘Wesup King’ Sean White. He organised a similar, first event last year when more than 540 paddlers took part.

Im struggling with words… exhausted and happily overwhelmed with the most lush emotions available me. I’m so humbled and super grateful for the opportunity to share such epic energy with all! 696 stand up paddle boarders glided the coastline of the English Riviera and whilst it may not have been a world record this year, it’s was an outstanding success in every other way and such an exciting opportunity for next year! Thank you my paddle pals from the warmest place in my heart… this may well be one of the most incredible SUP communities in the UK. Let’s keep talking and let’s use this platform for a force of good! Good energy, good information, good people, and EPIC paddling!
Winners of competitions to be announced really soon… I’m just getting my feel back on the ground. Massive thanks to my loyal and super hardworking team of volunteers and a massive thanks to our primary sponsors, Kay Elliott, SHARK SUPs, Soak Lifestyle, SUP Services, Torquay Water Sports and The English Riviera. It wouldn’t have been the same without you all!
– Sean White