The booming craze of stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) made a big splash in Putney last month when Crewroom helped launch the capital’s first inner-London SUP club.
The new club, named SUP London, was opened at Crewroom’s Hub HQ on the Embankment and marked a new collaboration between Crewroom and Active360, the trailblazing company behind the sport’s amazing growth in popularity.
The launch was awash with media, generating waves of positive publicity. ITV arrived to record a short film about the event, which was aired on their evening news bulletin and watched by over 5 million viewers. Watch it here.
Crewroom Founder Kate Giles said: "Stand-up paddleboarding is fun and fantastic for building your fitness. We are delighted to team up with Active360, and our new club, SUP London, taps up one of our greatest under-used resources, the River Thames."
Paul Hyman, Founder of Active360 and one of the UK's most experienced SUP guides, has already coached (with his team) more than 6,000 newcomers to the sport since Active360 was founded in 2011.
"Putney is such a historic and picturesque part of the Thames and claims a rich sporting history, of which stand-up paddleboarding and SUP London are now proudly playing a part,” said Paul. “Our club offers people a great opportunity to try out a new sport and make new friends on the water."
On launch day, there were trips, free lessons and some SUP racing, too. Around 50,000 people are expected to enjoy SUP across the UK this year, up on last year’s figure of 35,000. The sport is increasingly popular with newcomers and more experienced paddlers, who range from aged 7-70+. More than 50 per cent of paddlers are women.
Crewroom has created a special bespoke new range of kit designed to support stand-up paddleboarders, including The Elemental Paddle Jacket, which has a waterproof shell, soft carbonised bamboo lining and straps to attach lights or your paddle when not in use.
Also proving popular are Crewroom's Elemental Paddle Gloves, mitten-style gloves that use neoprene to protect your hands from the wind and rain and whose palms have a silicone grip.
To book a SUP session, visit: www.active360.com