Ten Years, wow. Time has certainly flown by. The anniversary of ten years of running Paddle Surf Scotland feels like it has crept up sneakily upon me. It is something that I am incredibly proud of, a huge personal achievement in my life.

Looking back ten years ago, and in the lead up to starting Paddle Surf Scotland I was managing a Bungee Jumping company in Perthshire and Glasgow. Flinging people off bridges and cranes for a living was my means of income, after years of rafting, kayaking and outdoor centre work. All of my time not shouting '3,2,1...bungeeeeeeeeee!') was spent on the water, surfing, kayaking and, the new kid on the block, Stand Up Paddleboarding.

As soon as I discovered SUP, in its very infant days as a sport at the time, I knew it was for me. I merged my two favourite things firmly together...surfing and paddlesports. I felt the instant connection between the paddle which I intuitively could use to propel me into waves and the footwork which years of boardsports had taught me, falling in love........well, not quite.

The first time on a SUP was a disaster. I bought a board (this was back when lessons and especially hires, were pretty much non existent in the UK) and headed to St Andrews. The skies were blue, the weather was perfect and the surf was ideal for getting SUP waves, or, so, I thought. I got absolutely spanked out there. I could not work out how to stand, paddle, maneuver and get onto waves. There was just too much going along and I found it incredibly frustrating. With my paddlesports and surf knowledge, surely this must be easy right?. I went home deflated, what a waste of money that was. The next day I headed to a slightly choppy but waveless Broughty Ferry beach. I had bought the damn thing, so I should give it at least one more try I suppose. Lots more falling in ensued, soaking wet and wobbling like Bambi on Ice. But, as time went on, I slowly started to smile, relax, and, I was paddling, hell, even enjoying it.

A time went on the time between falls lengthened as did the smiles as I became addicted to Paddling on a board. Discovering new skills, exploring the lochs from a different angle and surfing waves I wouldn't have even bothered with on a surfboard previously.

As I got better and better, and coming from within the outdoor sports industry, I could see two things ahead. One, that SUP would explode in popularity, and two, that to really enjoy the sport, some amount of coaching is paramount.

Starting the business, I remember being told, it'll never work, this Paddleboarding thing will never take off, and, doing it on inflatable? You must have drank too much. To start with, it was slow progress with knowledge of SUP here in Scotland, and the UK as a whole, lightyears behind the States. But, slowly and surely the bookings came in, with me hotfooting it all over the country delivering sessions and hireboards.

As the years progressed, the sport grew and Paddle Surf Scotland with it. With myself in Perthshire, Rich in Moray and Charlie in Gairoch, over the years we have introduced thousands of new, addicted paddlers. It is a regular thing to go for a paddle in Scotland and see someone who was taught by us, paddling independently and safety, It is a fantastic and proud thing to feel you have helped them a wee bit along the way in their SUP journey. Several SUP school owners and providers were introduced to Paddleboarding by us, and are out there doing fantastic things now too.

Some especially proud moments along the way include being the first company to offer River Surfing in the UK, running some of Scotland's first SUP Yoga classes and helping to set up Breeze SUP Wear, an ethical, organically produced clothing label.

Though lockdown was a financial struggle and a scary, unknown time for the business, as it was for everyone, it also created opportunities. The time off the water meant I could write and release the first guide to Stand Up Paddleboarding in Scotland, Scottish SUP Guide, and an instructional manual, How to SUP. Both are still available on Amazon, along with from us, and in The Birnam Reader bookshop in Birnam, Perthshire.

Working with the wonderful Jo Mosely on her William Hill Sports Book of the Year nominated, Stand Up Paddleboarding in Great Britain, and producing an instructional video series for the brand Goosehill SUP are just two highlights of the 2022 season as well. 

Going into 2023, I am super excited to go around the clock once more. I still love paddling up the winding River Quaich, floating down to the island on Loch Freuchie and surfing the wild waves of the River Tay. I still love trying to get into peoples learning heads, to figure out how to improve each individual paddler with exactly what they desire out of the session. With the exciting developments in Yorkshire, Oman and the United Arab Emirates too, it will truly be an anniversary to be remembered.

Thanks go to all those who have had lessons or been Paddleboarding with us over the years, it has been a pleasure to be part of the process, see you on the water in 2023!