Lee Pooley, Director of Recreation & Development at Paddle UK, explains more about the organisations SUP plan, in its role as a national governing body. It follows the inaugural SUPERCHAMPS, a new stand up paddleboard (SUP) event in Torquay, in September.What is Paddle UKs SUP plan?The SUP plan has been devised with community engagement. We listened to stakeholders, and Paddle UK developed an 18-month plan. The plan includes everything we are aiming to deliver in that period of time. Its to cover a whole diverse audience, from people new to SUP through to international athletes. Its an ambitious plan but very much achievable.Whats in the plan?One set of information is around safety, ensuring we have appropriate evidence-based research to inform us with our safety messaging to stand up paddleboarders. How we work with manufacturers and retailers in terms of the point-of-sale messaging we want when people buy a SUP the safety information they should be receiving. Its all around that collaborative work with stakeholders and partners to have a more extensive reach and engagement to that wider community to ensure how great SUP is, but also the safety implications, simple things to follow, and simple safety rules.What opportunities are coming up?There are lots of things in the pipeline. Were working with the membership department to look at appropriate benefits and services specifically for stand up paddleboarders. I think thats an exciting time over the next 12 months. Also, it highlights the physical and mental wellbeing benefits of getting out to SUP and how accessible it is to engage with nature and the environment all of those aspects. So I think theres some great opportunities there.What about SUP athletes and events?We want to support SUP athletes in having clear competition pathways. Being able to support them and understand which competition events are available to them. Were doing that through our SUP race page on the Paddle UK website. A whole host of events are listed there. Were also incorporating a newsletter that theyll be able to engage with.Were exploring the possibility of hosting an ICF SUP, which I think is really exciting. Several locations are interested in the possibility of running an ICF (event), and what were looking at now is a feasibility study the costs and the appropriate venue thatll be able to host and stage a great World Cup event. They can be anywhere. There are great locations within the UK, inland and coastal. Recently, we hosted the SUP superchamps (in Torquay). We had SUP polo and sprints in the inner harbour because it enabled them to do that. We also had the open ocean where we did technical sprints and the 14km distance.Its a really exciting time, and we want to work with the community to fulfil this plan.Paddle UK SUP PlanPaddle UK, a national governing body for stand up paddleboard aims to:Raise the profile and awareness of associated benefits when SUP including relaxation, wellbeing, and natureContinue to work with the established SUP forums to ensure strong links with the wider audienceWork with identified influencers to reach and engage with the wider audienceSupport and have presence at identified SUP eventsProvide SUP paddlers with specific membership benefits and serviceExplore the opportunities to host an ICF SUP World CupDevelop and promote SUP safety advice, informed by research and insightEstablish criteria for SUP Events and Competitions offering high quality provision and clear competition pathwaysEstablish a SUP Race webpage to inform participants and competitors of up-and-coming SUP events, selection information and training opportunitiesWork in collaboration with manufacturers and retailers to produce point-of-sale safety messagingWork collaboratively to share SUP safety messaging advice through a network of stakeholdersDevelop our existing incident reporting system to help in developing shared understanding of incident trends.Continue to develop high quality SUP Qualifications and AwardsFor further information please contact SUP@con.paddleuk.co.uk