Monthly Round-up of SUP / May 2025

Welcome to our collection of the biggest news and stories that have taken place in the SUP world from the previous month. Let's recap what happened in May 2025.

Paddle Skedaddle - Ultra marathon SUP Event

The Paddle Skedaddle was held on may 10th at Hickling Broad in the UK, where competitors woke to flat, mirror-like water and bright skies, welcoming paddlers for the 26.5 km Paddle Skedaddle at first light. The route snaked under the iconic Potter Heigham bridge, wound through Thurne and Barton Broad, then swept back to the finish beside the thatched-roof sailing club in near-perfect conditions.

Although the newly introduced 51 km Double Bubble fell short of the entry threshold (15 competitors) for the official ultra-distance calendar, that didn’t stop the intrepid crew from giving it everything they had. In the inaugural running of the Double Bubble, Allistair Swinsco & Rennie teamed up in tandem to smash the course record in just under six hours. In a heart-pounding finish, Gavin Symonds crossed in 6 h 03 m 30 s—edging PJ Simmons by a mere 20 seconds—with Paul Drake taking third. Nat Rendle, who came in at 3 hrs 25 won the women’s event.

Respect to all who tackled the marathon challenge!

ICF SUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS SELECTION POLICY - 2025

A selection policy for Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) has been published for 2025.

All athletes wishing to be considered for the SUP Open and Junior team selection during 2025, must compete at the Paddle Logger GB SUP Falmouth Bay Open, British National Championships, on 7 and 8 June 2025.

Athletes wishing to contact the Selection Panel in relation to the relevant provisions in this policy should do so via email to the Selection Panel chair: Samantha@barefootsup.com

The purpose of the SUP Selection Policy is to clearly outline the processes which will lead to the selection of the SUP teams for the 2025 ICF SUP World Championships.

It also aims to support the longer-term goals of the discipline.

Oscar Propulsion - Slitted Blade Paddle Sales

After years of development and implementing their slitted blade concept on leading paddle brands, Oscar Propulsion have now released their own branded paddle available to purchase online, the Flow Force.

Traditional paddle designs create unnecessary resistance, leading to fatigue, strain, and inefficient strokes. FlowForce Technology changes that. By integrating precision-engineered slits into the blade, FlowForce allows water to move through the paddle in a controlled way—reducing drag, improving stability, and maximising efficiency. The result? Smoother strokes, less effort, and more time enjoying the water.

FlowForce was developed from our marine engineering experience of reducing cavitation on large ship propellers. The pressure differences on either side of the blades and the loss of efficiency caused by cavitation gives us a unique understanding in the paddling community.

100% carbon
Carbon fibre from Toray, Japan
Max length 86.61 inch/220 cm
Blade size 83 sq inch
FlowForce cut blade technology
Blade angle to shaft 10 degrees
1.023 inch/26 mm shaft diameter
Shaft flex – stiff (feels like medium with FlowForce)
Palm Grip
Weight 1.01 lbs/460 grams
Paddle Bag

Available in fixed length and 2-piece designs, you can purchase from their website

A Selection of SUPboarder News - Our Favourites

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