Two Big Paddle Events This Weekend
Friday 22 Aug 2025 | by Brett Scillitoe
1. The North: GBSUP Big Dippa Weekend at Whitley Bay
This Saturday, 23 August 2025, Whitley Bay plays host to
The Big Dippa – Round 6 of the Black Project × GBSUP National Paddle Racing Series.
The event kicks off at 12:00 pm on the golden sands of Whitley Bay Beach, set against the iconic Spanish City Dome and organised by Northerly Swell in partnership with the Northern SUP Race Club.
Highlights of the day include:
- Morning sessions featuring lessons and demos for both adults and children at Northerly Swell.
- Distance Races: approximately 5–6 km along the shoreline, with a shorter 2.5 km ‘Challenge Tour’ for novices or those new to racing.
- Technical Races: around 1.5 km with buoy navigation and beach runs over roughly three laps.
- Sprint Races: intense 100 m paddles with beach run starts.
- Junior Races: separate Distance, Technical and Sprint categories for younger paddlers (from age 8), all required to wear buoyancy aids.
Atmosphere & Extras:
This is more than a race—it’s a SUP festival. Expect live music, street food, a bar, and a family-friendly atmosphere throughout the day.
People & Prizes:
The event offers fantastic prizes, including cash awards in the highly competitive 14-ft hardboard category. The GBSUP Race Director, Scott Warren, and Event Director Anna Little (from Northern SUP Race Club) will oversee proceedings, with local host Mark Ward from Northerly Swell, supported by safety cover from Red Seals.
Sunday, 24 August: Following the race day, there’s a SUP clinic with the expert Susanne Lier—ideal for those wanting to hone their skills with a renowned coach.
Why it matters:
For Anna Little, the event’s founder, The Big Dippa embodies the spirit of SUP—bringing competition, community, and fun into one package, especially for Northern England paddlers.
👉 Full event details here:
GBSUP Big Dippa 2025
2. The South: Thames 200 Ultra, Lechlade to Teddington
Over the Bank Holiday weekend (23–24 August 2025), the
Thames 200 Ultra sees paddlers taking on Europe’s longest continuous river paddle race—200 km from Lechlade to Teddington.
Race Format & Craft Options:
Participants can enter with kayaks, canoes (single or double), SUPs, open canoes, skis—or any paddle craft they can manage.
It’s possible to race solo, in doubles, or as a relay team, with crew changes allowed at approximately every 30 km checkpoint.
Support & Navigation:
This fully supported endurance event offers GPS tracking, nutritional aid, hydration, safety support, and designated portage points—over 40—involving locks along the river that stretch from the quiet rural upper reaches through towns like Oxford, Reading, Henley, Marlow, Windsor, and Kingston before finishing in Teddington.
SUP-Specific Challenges:
Stand-up paddleboarders face unique challenges—constantly adjusting for currents, micro-movements, and friction; navigating portages that sometimes require running with the board; and racing through night-time darkness under headlamps. The event isn’t just a physical test but also a mental journey.
Memorable Moments:
In the inaugural 2024 edition, just nine SUP and prone paddlers began, and four finished.
The SUP record was an astonishing 29 hours 19 minutes, set by Gavin Symonds—now part of paddling folklore.
Checkpoints offer not just sustenance but camaraderie, strategic pit-stops, and a chance to recharge before continuing the relentless downstream rhythm.
A Human Story:
Among the entrants this year is Lynn Whitnall, CEO of The Big Cat Sanctuary, who will paddle approximately 125 miles (the full 200 km) as part of a relay, navigating 44 locks and aiming to raise funds for conservation during the challenge.
👉 Learn more about the race here:
Thames 200 Ultra Official Site
Summary
| Region | Event | Date(s) | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| North | The Big Dippa (GBSUP Round 6) | 23 Aug 2025 | SUP races (Distance, Technical, Sprint), junior categories, live music, food & drink, SUP clinic (24 Aug) |
| South | Thames 200 Ultra | 23–24 Aug 2025 | 200 km non-stop river paddle, solo/doubles/relay, full support, SUP-specific challenges, night navigation |
Colin Smith, our Captain from Stockton-on-Tees, will be at The Big Dippa to answer any questions you may have about AquaPaddle, so do go and say hello.
And if you’re heading to the Thames 200 Ultra, whether racing it or cheering from the banks, you’re in for an unforgettable, 200-kilometre journey through the heart of England. You can also follow the events online with Paddle Daily
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