My SUP Stories

Early bird? No, I’m not a morning person. In fact, I’m barely even a person until I’ve had my second cup of tea. And staying up late into the night? Night owling is not my style either. So what does that make me? Perhaps a daytime squirrel, darting about during the daylight hours.

I’ve been following James’ LSUPCO Instagram account for some time. His reels showcasing the 5am Club, Dawn Patrol and Sunset Paddles are very tempting. Sure, I could easily embark on these adventures on my own. I have all the necessary kit and I know this stretch of the Thames like the back of my hand. But let’s face it, dragging my SUP bag to the river and inflating my board at the crack of dawn just isn’t in the cards for me. So, I finally take the plunge and book a spot in his 5am Club.

I’m an eager beaver, so I arrive at the riverside at 5am. The rest of the crew saunters in around 5:30am. I may have missed that crucial detail, but I have a habit of not reading instructions very well.

Richmond at this hour is utterly serene. There’s something magical about being on the river so early. The world is still in slumber, and it’s just us and the water. We gently glide our boards onto the river, heading upstream. The morning air carries a crispness, but as we push against the ebbing tide, the paddling quickly warms us up. I even find myself breaking a sweat.

It’s funny how I never really consider SUP as exercise. It’s a full-body workout, blending cardio, core strength and balance. Yet, when I’m paddling, my focus is never on the physicality. Instead, I feel an indescribable connection with nature. Even here on the Thames, so close to bustling London, there’s a tranquil element to being on the water. The rhythmic sound of the paddle hitting and slicing through the water creates my favorite soundtrack. It’s meditative. The repetitive strokes create a sense of flow.

We turn back at Ham House. It’s not quite the easy ride back as we expected. Gusts of wind test our resolve. But before we know it, we’re back at the base. Reluctantly, I step off the water, not wanting the experience to end.

Yes, consider me converted. I am now an early bird wannabe. There’s something peaceful about being on the river without anybody else out there. And I love the feeling of being one step ahead, ready to embrace the day. Sometimes the most extraordinary journeys start when the world is still asleep.

Weird & wonderful

I like how the English language lets us describe people using animal-inspired idioms. I accidentally mentioned some classics: early bird, night owl and eager beaver. I even invented one: daytime squirrel. But there’s more:

• Social butterfly
• Busy bee
• Lone wolf
• Wise as an owl
• Free as a bird
• Strong as an ox
• Monkey business
• Crocodile tears
• Herding cats

You can join in too! Extra points for words that can be used to describe paddlers or paddling.

Need to know

• Waterway: The River Thames flows 346 km through southern England, including London. It’s tidal downstream of Teddington Lock, where Richmond is located.
• Entry: Outside the White Cross, Water Lane, Richmond, TW9 1TH
• Exit: Outside the White Cross, Water Lane, Richmond, TW9 1TH
• Distance: 4 km, can be shorter or longer
• More details: Authority – Port of London Authority (Tideway), Rules – Tideway Code, Tides – London Tides

If you liked this story, check these out for the same stretch: Rower Central (Putney-Richmond), From Barbell to Board (Richmond-Hampton Court) & Checklist for Safe Adventures (Richmond)