Inspiring Storybooks

I love a good book that encourages you to do the thing you enjoy more, and over the last few years, the rise in SUP books has risen dramatically like the sport itself. 

When you have paddled socially for a few years, it appears people then want to push their boundaries and discover other elements or areas of paddleboarding. 

They may find whitewater SUP, SUP surfing, SUP Yoga, SUP Polo or adventure paddling. Whether that adventure is in the form of a micro one on your local home stretch of water or a dip into the unknown alone or with other like-minded paddlers, it’s resonated with many, many paddlers, me being one. 

I’ve had some epic adventures, from paddling on different bodies of water with close friends, to a SUP and Sail holiday around the Isle of Mull, with people I didn’t know. Most of the time, I’m on my local waters, with my Club – I certainly have not paddled much around the waters of the UK as others might think. 

So, if you want to get inspired and started, a good SUP guidebook is your friend. I have been very lucky to be able to review many of these for SUPM UK and The Paddler and they are a joy, all slightly different but relevant. 

There are also other SUP books out there, books written by paddlers after an epic journey they may have undertaken (Jordan Wylie/Fiona Quinn) to the latest love letter to SUP from Jo Moseley – here is a list of my favourites: 

Paddling Britain by Lizzie Carr – the first and original SUP guidebook and it still holds its place today – Lizzie is the founder of Planet Patrol. This book covers 50 of the best places to paddle in the UK. 

The Power of the Paddle by Jordan Wylie – For anyone who was following Adventurer Jordan Wylie’s attempted circumnavigation of Great Britain (thwarted by Covid!), this is a must-read book and some of the photos really give you a feeling of what Jordan went through on his journey.  

Ignore the Fear by Fiona Quinn – Fiona’s story of her paddleboarding adventure, some 800 miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats. Fiona has a real fear of the sea which makes this paddle even more remarkable and every time I personally think of this book, I remember the chapter on the Corryvreckan Whirlpool! 

Paddleboarding (South West, South East and Wales) by Lisa Drew – 3 gorgeous guidebooks by Lisa with stunning photography throughout. 

Crash & RISE – Diaries of The Unbalanced Paddleboarder by Mike Shoreman – I was lucky enough to preview Mike’s book before it was published and provide a foreword as follows: 

“#PADDLESUP has become the war cry of thousands of paddleboarders all over the world after Canada’s Mike Shoreman became everybody’s darling by overcoming a debilitating illness with passion and determination – I knew, almost a year ago that this story would be good but a year later on, it’s even better. If you want inspirational, read Crash and RISE!” It’s a must read! 

Racing the Quit Monkey by Paolo Marconi – Something different from one of the best SUP racers in the world! The story of Paolo as a small child embracing the ocean to being able to tame the ‘quit monkey’ and push himself in ultra-endurance running and paddleboarding to win Last Paddler Standing, is a great one. 

Paddle Scotland by Alasdair Findlay – A wonderful guidebook to one of the most beautiful places to paddleboard in the World! 

Paddle The East of England by the EOEPS Team – Another book in the same series as Paddle Scotland from Bloomsbury/Adlard Coles. A great guidebook which will certainly inspire you to visit this side of the UK. 

The Paddleboard Bible by Dave Price – Bible is the right word for this book – it’s a complete guide to the sport from basic equipment, techniques, the weather, places to paddle, adventures, and some fun challenges and games – it’s wonderful. 

Stand Up Paddleboarding in Great Britain and Stand Up Paddleboard in the Lake District by Jo Moseley – Last but by no means least, in the guidebook section, are these two fabulous books from Jo – the attention to detail is second to none and the photographs are just so inspiring. I would challenge you not to want to paddle in the places Jo has visited. 

HOT OFF THE PRESS: Adventures on the Water by Jo Moseley – Ever since I met Jo, I have known that this is the book she would love to write and here it is. Just published, it’s receiving five-star reviews – 25 stories from some of the great and good of the paddleboarding world, stories that will make you laugh, make you cry and everything else in between. I am honoured to be included in one of those 25. A stunning book that should be on your Christmas wish list. 

We have others, many others, too many to list, but we hope you have enjoyed our recommendations and agree with us on the wonder and inspiration you can find in a Stand Up Paddleboard book! 

We haven’t put links in as to where to purchase these books – we know you are all familiar with how to do that, but we’d always encourage you to support the publisher or physical book shop and always try and give a book a review. 

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