My SUP Stories

“You’ve got to love what’s on your doorstep and see the beauty”

If you’ve ever paddled on the Thames in southwest London, chances are you’ve seen Louise out on the water. Always smiling, always quietly outpacing the rest of us. She’s been paddling for over a decade and was one of the first to take the ASI instructor course with Steve West in Brentford back in 2012. Since then, she’s introduced thousands of people to the sport.

Her first SUP encounter? A five-minute go in a tank at the London Boat Show in 2010. At the time, paddleboarding was still a novelty, people called it ‘walking on water’ and would stop to take photos. With her kayaking background, Louise quickly made the leap to SUP.  She found it easier to get good at, no rolling required, and she’s never looked back. Being on the water is her happy place.

Ticket to Adventure

In 2013, Louise joined the Active360 team heading to the India Surf Festival to offer SUP sessions. She’s been returning to India every winter since, pandemic years aside. Fresh from another three-month stay, she’s full of stories from tranquil paddles around Kerala. More than just an escape, it’s also her way of supporting the growing SUP community in India, volunteering with Jellyfish Watersports on the Chaliyar River. No wonder they call her the Mother of Paddleboarding there.

Back in London, Louise is always up for exploring, whether it’s a new route or a familiar favourite. She plans her paddles with care, loves paper maps and Nicholson’s Waterways Guides. No backwater is ever left unvisited. She is a generous paddle partner. With Louise, you’re never without tea, biscuits or her legendary nut mix.

Local Thames Route

Louise’s go-to paddle is a leisurely 10-km round trip on the tidal Thames – Kew Bridge to Richmond and back. It’s a route she knows well and never tires of, rich in history, nature and wildlife. You pass three islands – Brentford Ait, Lot’s Ait and Isleworth Ait – water meadows and historic landmarks like Kew Palace, Syon House and Richmond Bridge. The green corridor is so peaceful, it hardly feels like London at all. You may see seals, kingfishers or even peregrine falcons. Paddle it early at sunrise before the rowers and you have the river to yourself. Louise times this trip with the flood tide to travel upstream, setting off from Kew around 90 minutes before high tide, takes a tea break in Richmond and lets the ebb carry her back. The scenery is always changing with weather, tides and seasons. Join her on the Thames Natural History Tour.

Passing the Paddle

Louise is inviting her paddle friends Izzy and Sophy to share what SUP means to them. More stories coming, hit subscribe!