Experience thrilling SUP races, family paddling and open‑water fun right in the heart of the English Riviera.
Arrival TIME 5:30
Start TIME 6:30
Torquay - Torre Abbey Sands
Paddle the English Riviera
Friday
26 Jun 2026 @ 18:30 PM
About
The brand‑new pop‑up AquaPaddle centre will be splendidly located on the golden sands of Torre Abbey Sands in Torquay, in the heart of the English Riviera. Nestled just below the historic Torre Abbey and adjacent to the lush Abbey Meadows, paddlers will enjoy panoramic sea views and easy access to the mild south‑west waters of Tor Bay. This pop‑up forms a striking part of the Super Festival weekend of stand‑up paddleboarding, bringing high‑energy SUP races, water‑polo, fun “rock up & race” sprints and elite distance events right to this celebrated shoreline (englishriviera.co.uk).
The local flora is distinctly Mediterranean in character: Torbay palms, bay bushes (Laurus nobilis), cabbage trees and exotic perennials thrive in the warm microclimate. Native seabirds swoop overhead and around the headland you may spot gulls, terns or even offshore dolphins glimpsed from boats and kayaks. On the shoreline and grassy Abbey Meadows above, wildflowers and coastal grasses sway in sea breezes, providing habitat to butterflies and small birds drawn to the flowers and reeds.
The SUPER Festival weekend will burst with watersports activity: The FREE AquaPaddle 5km, SUP racing is in multiple formats (150 m sprint, 3 km technical, 14 km distance), SUP polo matches, coached demonstrations, guided family paddles and kayak and canoe taster sessions.
AquaPaddle’s friendly Crew will be running the AquaPaddle Event for every level—from novice paddlers enjoying open water to experienced paddlers pushing pace in timed races (superchampionships.com). Although Super Festival is primarily focused on stand-up paddleboarding, the pop-up AquaPaddle warmly welcomes all types of paddle craft—including kayaks, canoes, and prone boards—so everyone can take part in the fun.
Donate to AquaPaddle Torquay - Torre Abbey Sands
Why not donate to help your local community?
Your donations keep AquaPaddle afloat and safe. Contributions directly fund essential equipment, such as defibrillators, their renewable pads, first aid kits that go out of date and walkie-talkies. Additionally, the safety software that is used to manage every event. While our team is almost entirely voluntary, we prioritise professional IT services to ensure your data and our site remain secure.
Once these core operational costs are covered, all surplus funds go toward our mental and physical health activities.
For those who want to do more, please consider becoming a Friend of AquaPaddle through an annual subscription to help us help others.
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Finished events
There are no finished events found.
On site facilities
Parking
Visitors will find paid on‑street parking and nearby public car parks just a short walk back from the promenade. Torquay’s main railway station is within easy walking distance, and local bus services stop adjacent to the beach entrance (englishriviera.co.uk). While Torre Abbey itself does not offer dedicated parking, the nearby Riviera International Centre car park and Torre Valley car park are both accessible from surrounding roads (englishriviera.co.uk).
Refreshments
There are beach‑side kiosk or café for refreshments. The nearby town centre offers full amenities.
Facilities
AquaPaddle’s pop‑up location will sit alongside the public facilities at Torre Abbey Sands: accessible disabled toilets, changing rooms, first‑aid facilities, deckchair rental, and a beach‑side kiosk or café for refreshments (englishriviera.co.uk). There’ll also be equipment storage, rigging zones, briefing areas, water safety staffing and simple spectator zones. The site is fully wheelchair accessible, mirroring the beach’s inclusive design.