Finding Calm in the Storm: Stand Up Paddleboarding with Mystery Explorer

paddleboarding down an overgrown section of river shot from above by a drone
20 August 2019
Finding Calm in the Storm: Stand Up Paddleboarding with Mystery Explorer

One of the most compelling things about paddleboarding as a pursuit is that it can be something totally different to each individual or occasion. It can be what you want it to be, whether that’s a competitive undertaking, a way to exercise and get fit, a means to explore new places or simply just a way of finding solitude and a state of relaxation.

And for a certain man, an Instagram adventurer who goes only by Mystery Explorer, who partakes in many intense past times that require great focus and discipline, paddleboarding leans towards the latter…

How long have you been paddling? And what board are you riding?
I am relatively new to paddleboarding to be honest and have only been into for about 18 months. It wasn’t however, my first exposure to bobbing around on the water, growing up I had done both canoeing and kayaking with river trips in Scotland, Wales and France under my belt. I was never seriously into it for the sport, more the adventure and a mechanism to hang out with friends in amazing spots. Back up home it’s also an innovative way to avoid drink driving between Whiskey distilleries…

© @mystery.explorer.uk

I am currently riding the Inviato XL 10’10”, I’m a relatively big bloke sitting at 85kg which was the main reason for going XL. I wanted to be able to take kit bags for river trips with me and with no experience to go on I thought it would be needed. The board can take way more weight than I thought whilst remaining nicely afloat. Many of my friends don’t have boards so it isn’t unknown to have two big blokes and a kit bag on there with no issues.

Boards can be prohibitively expensive these days and I did a load of research across all the brands I saw on social media with Two Bare Feet leading the charge. My only tip for new paddlers is to not worry about the kit too much or spending loads of cash on the “ninja, super, this seasons colours, mega touring board”, go for the most bang for your buck, not the ‘house wine’ but you know what I mean, just get on the water.

Where do you call home? And where do you do most of your paddling?
I am originally from the Highlands of Scotland but I live just South of Hereford now around the Forest of Dean. I must admit, I seem to be spoilt with places to paddle around my patch, the Wye is the jewel in the crown of course with an amazing variety of opportunities from multi-day camping trips to short hops. My preferred paddle is a post work unwind; head off a couple of hours before sunset with a cider in the bag and find a good spot to watch the sun turn the valley golden.

paddleboard by lake

© @mystery.explorer.uk

There is also a really great social community around here with regular meet ups and across the area, Stacey Smithson-Grey (@boots_boards_and_barbells_) is a remarkable inspiration in the area being a great motivator and coordinator to get on the water. She recently led a four day 100 mile event down the Wye and is absolutely worth checking out.

In Summer, especially at weekends, the Wye can get a little crowded and can lose some of the tranquillity that’s often a draw to being on the river in the first place. On those days I often head to the river Usk or Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. Both have really great access and a good mix of scenery from enclosed tree canopies to open views of the hillside.

You seem to get around a lot, do you travel often with your board looking for places to SUP?
Yeah, I travel a lot, in this country I just keep my SUP bag in the van all the time. I am a big believer of not driving past those opportunistic moments going, ‘I’ll come back another day’ especially if the only reason is that you don’t have the kit with you. Harsh experience has taught me that you may not get those chances forever.

Wherever I go I always look for a local river and good places to get access, normally scoping with maps in the first instance for those random access roads. This is normally started days in advance over quiet morning coffees and will continue in the form of re-plans on the day, normally instigated by the inevitable access spot being locked away.

paddleboard by lake

© @mystery.explorer.uk

With the SUP bag surprisingly comfortable even over long distances, I also take it hiking up to hidden lochs when I am back up home in the motherland. I need to do more coastal paddling but I am always a little tentative about doing this alone. The little I have done has lived up to the billing though with the crystal-clear waters of the Scottish West coast being a highlight, people often see my photos and think I have gone to a tropical island somewhere, but to be fair, photos can mask the wind and cold pretty well…

Further afield I have taken my SUP abroad a couple of times, mainly as I often have a free second bag on work trips. If I am being honest the growth in popularity of SUP has meant that you are often not far from a place hire some kit, with the added bonus of meeting some locals for the invaluable hidden spot knowledge that is so often only garnered by a smile and promise of a beer. One of the best experiences I have had was out in Toronto for a variety of factors, but mainly that to get the best view of the city you had to get out onto the water. This for me encompassed what paddle boarding is about, getting a different perspective both in the literal and metaphorical sense.

scotland loch for paddleboarding

© @mystery.explorer.uk

You also have a lot of other interests: skydiving, mountain biking, snowboarding etc. How does paddling on a calm day compare, or fit in around your more intense hobbies?

I do have a lot of hobbies from climbing to downhill mountain biking and skydiving to name a few. I am a big believer in not being self-limiting, I always think sports and hobbies should be an extension of the person, not the defining attribute and I try to avoid becoming obsessive about any single one. If nothing else, it gives you the ability to always have an option depending on who is free, where you are and what the weather is doing.

Paddleboarding for me though is largely a solo event and very different to everything else I do. I deliberately sought out paddleboarding because I was what could best be described as ‘running hot’ for a long time. An intense work life that involved protracted periods away dominated by high stress loads can take its toll. Previously to relax I would do high intensity and adrenaline focused things and push things as far as I could thinking this was a distraction and a good release, yet it replaces one stress with another.

Cruising on the water is different, it offers that time to reflect, to do something for myself and not worry about anything. There are no video debriefs about what could be done better, (yes… these are a thing and in skydiving this can be brutal, especially with the company I keep) no rehearsing, no thought after the event of how to improve, it’s the only thing I do that I feel is life enhancing. Everything else I feel fatigued after, paddleboarding refreshes and recharges the batteries regardless of the physical output and for me has been an invaluable way to find the calm in the storm.

© @mystery.explorer.uk