A Two Bare Feet SUP Adventure (Part 3 of 4)

calm reservoir with woodland backdrop perfect for sup
26 July 2019
A Two Bare Feet SUP Adventure (Part 3 of 4)

The third instalment of a four-part video blog for Two Bare Feet. In this episode Nicole and Robb experience what it's like to enjoy their new iSUP boards on the relaxing waters of Ardingly Reservoir.

 


Hello everyone – glad you could join us for the third video! In the previous episodes, Robb and I got ready for an excursion to our favourite local paddleboarding spot: everything was prepared and packed, we hiked to our launch spot and the boards were inflated. Now it’s time to reap the rewards for our efforts – let’s go explore the waters!

Exploring Ardingly by board

A floating frontier

Now we’ve reached the centre of the reservoir, we’ve noticed an increase in activity out on the water. Ardingly Reservoir is a popular destination for water sports enthusiasts: you’re likely to see kayaking, sailing and windsurfing out here, in addition to stand-up paddleboarding. Even though there are more people around, I still feel an overwhelming sense of solitude – the vast empty space of the reservoir provides a great opportunity to be alone with your thoughts.

For us, paddle boarding is the perfect form of relaxation. Robb and I love roaming the reservoir at a leisurely pace, taking advantage of the lack of waves by allowing time to absorb the surroundings from a unique vantage point.

The beauty of Ardingly Reservoir is being able to stop at different points on a whim. We quite often paddle to a few different stops throughout the course of a day. Exploring feels so much easier on a SUP than on foot!

Two riders launching from bank on SUPs

Touring on a Two Bare Feet SUP

Boards made to be buoyant

Our new inflatable paddle boards are perfect for this type of activity. With higher than average volume, the additional width and depth provides extra buoyancy – meaning the board sits higher in the water. This makes it much easier for me to paddle. I find that I’m focusing less on finding my balance and more on what’s happening around me – the perfect situation to be in while exploring.

The design of Robb’s board is typical for a touring SUP. At 12’6”, it has a longer and more elongated profile than my 10’10” board. Given his height though, it’s much better suited to keeping him stable in the water. The shape also lends itself a bit more to consistent straight-line movement and speed.

Despite the differences in length, both boards have the same width and depth – 33” and 6” respectively. As I’m smaller than Robb, the 10’10” board works great for me when it comes to needing a buoyant board which glides nicely on the water.

Finding fins to suit

Both iSUPs come with a removable centre fin. However, Robb’s also has two smaller ‘side bite’ fins on either side. The combination of the three helps the board track in a straight line but also gives the bigger board the necessary manoeuvrability, allowing it to turn easier than just a single centre fin would. The centre fins in both boards are removable so that you can roll the board up tight once deflated. It's also a good idea to remove the fin if you are storing or transporting your board inflated so that it's out of the way and doesn't get damaged.

SUP riders examine board features

Getting social on a SUP

One of my favourite things about paddleboarding is the opportunity it provides for a catch up. Sitting on your board in the middle of a calm, quiet space with friends or loved ones is the perfect time to muse on life and find out what’s new. So when we head out on to the water, I often invite a friend to join us.

We’re meeting with Kim today, who has recently got into SUPing. Like me, she’s found paddle boarding to be the perfect escape for a few hours at a time. She also packs a pretty delicious picnic, which – in my opinion – is a key skill to look for in a paddleboarding buddy! Today just got a whole lot better!

Not only is this Kim’s first visit to Ardingly reservoir; it’s also her first time out on the water with her new Two Bare Feet paddleboard. As a beginner, she’s opted to go with a slightly smaller (10’6”) allround model, which is designed to help a rider adapt to a variety of situations while remaining stable on the water. Kim is also a smaller rider, so the dimensions of the board are entirely suited to her when it comes to distance paddling, as much as any other type of activity.

I’m keen to hear her opinions about the board and find out how the reservoir compares to her earliest paddle boarding experiences off the Cornish coast.

Kim on SUP with paddle wearing flotation aid

Coming up: Picnics and Paddles

Join Kim, Robb and myself in the next and final part of our adventure, in which we’re going to catch up with Kim and her paddleboarding progress over a healthy lunch, before challenging ourselves to a race across the reservoir. So much for a relaxing day out!

We’ll see you then!