My SUP Stories

“Why not?” is my simple answer to those who ask why I sometimes opt for guided SUP tours despite having my own board and good skills. It’s a treat, like dining out at a restaurant instead of cooking at home. It’s convenient, enjoyable and sometimes inspirational. Just like my recent guided SUP experience in North Wales:

The Menai Strait is a strip of sea that separates the wild island of Anglesey from mainland Wales. It’s no wonder that Lord Nelson regarded navigating this waterway as a true test of a sailor’s skills. The tides rush at breakneck speeds, with whirlpools, waves and strong currents. It’s all overseen by the iconic Menai Suspension Bridge that spans an impressive 460 meters. In the background, the less famous two-level Britannia Bridge is also awe-inspiring. The stretch of water between these two bridges, known as the Swellies, can see flow speeds of up to 8 knots. Who in their right mind would SUP here?

I decided not to bring my own board on my Anglesey trip. The way there involved an 8+ hour door-to-door public transportation journey on Easter weekend. I My first encounter with Transport for Wales confirmed that it was the right decision. No Easter spirit for the guy with the bicycle.

Any regret about not bringing my inflatable quickly faded away, when I was presented with the ‘Gucci’ SUP kit at Psyched Paddleboarding for our Mini Guided Tour. It was top-of-the-line Starboard boards and carbon paddles, Palm wetsuits, jackets, fleeces and PFDs. Available in any size, beautifully maintained and serviced. The level of care didn’t stop there. Instead of cramped changing in a van or shed, the base was a beautiful SUP shop with all the gear you could wish for, including a kitchen, kit area and changing cubicles. Everything very clean and organised. Even the typical smell of damp kit was replaced with refreshing essential oils diffused into the premises.

The day of our tour was very windy. The conditions were challenging. Our guide Sian had a brilliant Plan B. We shuttled to a launch point past the Britannia Bridge and paddled all the way back to their seaside base near Dylan’s. I love one-way paddles. We spent 1.5 hours on the water. Absolutely epic!

With the tide against us but the wind in our favour, our paddle was made easier thanks to Sian’s smart route planning. We hugged the shoreline to avoid the strongest tidal flow. At two points, we portaged and took a land shortcut to avoid fast-flowing water. Gliding nicely on the slick Starboard tourer, the scenery was even more stunning than I had expected. I have a soft spot for contrasts: the orderly man-made structures and the untamed beauty of the natural elements. Sian’s stories and insights made it a cultural immersion, too.

Paddling on the Menai Strait was a big tick off my SUP bucket list. An adventure I could never have done safely on my own. Returning to the warm base, we shed all the wet gear and left it for someone else to handle. A cup of delicious vegan hot chocolate and post-paddle chat topped off the 5-star experience. I could get used to this!

Weird & wonderful

• The Menai Suspension Bridge, which opened in 1826, was a game-changer for the cattle industry on Anglesey. No longer did farmers have to rely on spring tides to create more land or coax cows (by singing!) to swim across. The bridge provided a safe and efficient way to transport cattle to the mainland, making journeys to London and other regions much smoother.
• Unusual kind of fishing – The rocky islet with the white cottage in the Swellies is called Red Weir Island. The rectangular holes in the stone jetties are fish weirs. They catch fish passing through on the ebb tide.
• Welsh place names on the island are a treasure trove of cultural richness! Take the Menai Bridge, for example, known as “Pont y Borth” in Welsh, with “Borth” being a shortened form of “Porthaethwy,” the name of the nearby town. Interestingly, in English, the town took its name from the bridge, whereas in Welsh, the bridge is named after the town. And how about this town name: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch!
• The Menai Strait has different tides at the two ends of the strait, with opposing flows in between. The strait starts emptying or filling from one end before or after the other end. Trying to make sense of it? Well, you tell me. It was too confusing for me to understand.

Need to know

• Waterway: The Menai Strait is a narrow channel of shallow tidal water about 25 km long, which separates the island of Anglesey from the mainland of Wales.
• Entry: Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, Anglesey
• Exit: Prince’s Pier, Anglesey
• Distance: 3.5 km, can be shorter or longer
• More details: Holyhead Coastguard: for advice or to notify them of your trip at 01407 762 051. RNLI stations: for advice on sea conditions and trip planning local to each station, call Holyhead, Moelfre, Beaumaris or Trearddur Bay.

Photo credit: Psyched Paddleboarding. No luck with my GoPro, but Sian saved the day with her amazing photos! Another benefit of a guided tour.