My SUP Stories

“From the first stroke, I knew this wasn’t just fitness – it was freedom”

Has anyone ever talked you into a charity challenge? A 10K run, a Tough Mudder, maybe even a marathon? That’s how Sophy found herself paddling 26 miles down the Thames in 2013, despite never having stepped on a paddleboard before. With just a few practice sessions under their belts, she and a friend participated in the 40tude SUP Marathon, from Shepperton to Putney, raising money for colon cancer research.

Sophy was hooked from the first paddle stroke. Her friend never got back on a board.

See Sophy’s “What have I done” face at the marathon briefing at 1:10:

Blue Mind Before It Had a Name

Even after completing most of the marathon on her knees, Sophy was amazed by how good she felt. With a background in the fitness industry, she recognised the potential: yes, it was a low-impact, full-body workout, but it was also something more.

There was the unexpected joy of being out on the water. Dopamine, serotonin, all that feel-good chemistry. The Thames slicing through her busy life in southwest London, SUP was a respite. The calm of paddling through nature and the freedom of being outdoors. And then the social side of SUP: connecting with new people, chatting and sharing the experience. It was classic Blue Mind, though back then, the theory hadn’t yet entered the mainstream.

Training Days

Sophy didn’t wait around. By the end of 2013, she was in Cardiff, training to become a SUP instructor. The course involved in-water rescues and a swim test. In Wales in November, it was memorable for someone who doesn’t much like the cold.

Back home in Twickenham, she bought a board: a bright yellow Liquid Shredder. It meant she could pop onto the Thames at Isleworth or paddle around Eel Pie Island, learning about the tides and river conditions as she went.

When Pilates Meets Paddleboarding

Sophy has always loved the mix of movement, mindfulness and well-being. She wanted to combine the joy of being on the water with her fitness qualifications. First came SUP Yoga, then SUP Pilates. She adapted familiar Pilates moves to work on a paddleboard, giving her Reformer and Matwork Pilates clients an opportunity to occasionally step out of the studio and into nature. RiverFit SUPilates was born. Today, Sophy is also a Master Trainer with ASI, mentoring new instructors and helping others fall for the sport just as she did. She never stops. SUP Sound Baths may be next.

Favourite Spots

One of Sophy’s favourite places to paddle is Rivermead Island in Sunbury. It’s one of the few Thames islands with public access, reached via an arched footbridge. With shady trees, sandy beaches and a quiet back channel, it’s the perfect launch spot for a peaceful paddle. For SUP Pilates, nothing beats Richmond at dawn. The tide just right, the water like glass and London still asleep.

Passing the Paddle

Sophy nominates Sarah and Lauren to be interviewed next. I cannot wait to hear their SUP stories. Subscribe to get them straight to your inbox.