Red | Paddles with Anya & Co

Presented by Red Paddle Co.

On a cold February morning, we caught up with our good friends Anya and Jimmy. We talked first paddles, the reliability of Red boards, and how they’re well worth the investment. As avid ocean goers and ex paddleboard instructors, these two really know their stuff. But let’s not forget the star of the show…

Meet Nellie, the adventure van dog in training. She’s the self-appointed chief navigator, deck hand, and all-round good girl of the crew. Nellie’s on track to get her sea legs a little earlier than most with help from the Red Paddle Co Dog Buoyancy Aid.

Let’s get into it. 

 

Anya Wilding

I was introduced to paddleboarding in early 2018, my partner brought me to visit his nan in a small coastal town in Devon where he had been working as a paddleboard instructor for a family run business. We took a few boards out and had a wobbly trundle along a small section of the jurassic coast. I loved every second of it- jelly legs aside. As I gained confidence through the spring I started helping out on the beach and eventually joined in with holding SUP lessons in the summer. 

After a few years of seasonal work, including on the beautiful river Axe that runs through Seaton- filled with egrets, herring gulls and the occasional curlew- we decided to buy a couple of the end of season Red boards. Whilst it was an investment, the return of fond memories and reconnection to wild places has been worth it. The flexibility of deflating and rolling our boards up has meant getting on the water is more accessible, not needing huge amounts of space for storage or transportation has been a big plus of these boards. Their buoyancy is also ideal for taking a four legged friend on an adventure further afield.

Over the last six years we’ve taken the boards across the Hampshire, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall coast, meandering through various rivers and estuaries. Even on a few small waves. Exploring by paddle board has been a beautifully paced way to experience the dense ecosystems that are so often overlooked in the UK. 

Although it has been equally as heartbreaking to witness the impacts of various pollutants on our waterways, plastic and litter lining river banks and washing into the seas from estuaries. Raw sewage and runoff making the water unsafe to explore, let alone the continuous impact it has on local biodiversity. I often find myself on a constant litter pick, collecting rubbish onto my paddleboard to take back to shore, it has become rather unavoidable.

Connecting to these wild places over the last six years encouraged me to take more action. In October I took part in the Surfers Against Sewage campaign called Dip a Day- dipping every day in cold water to raise money in order to take action against the water companies responsible for such horrendous damage. Due to thousands of people taking part we raised over £200k. 

There is hope within such a large community that finds solace in wild swimming and enjoying our rivers, now more than ever people across the country are finding their roots in connecting back to the earth and standing up for her protection- a large part of which means caring for our rivers and oceans.

The best way to encourage others is to show them why these places are worth protecting, creating space to allow people to reconnect- a paddleboard brings a unique perspective to immersing yourself in a place.

 

Red Paddle Co 12'0 Compact SUP Bundle

Built for adventurous travellers wanting top-end touring capability in a supremely portable package, this full-sized explorer fits into a half-size backpack. Inspired by our acclaimed Voyager range, the 12'0"" Compact inflatable paddleboard is great for getaways: maximum performance, minimised...

The 12'0"" Compact packs down with a five-piece adjustable carbon paddle and removable Click Fin system for hassle-free storage and travel, complete with Titan II pump, coiled leash and all the high-end accessories Red are renowned for.

Shop the Red Paddle Co Winter range - HERE.

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Featured Red Paddle Co products:

Recovered EVO Pro Long Sleeve Change Robe

Adventure backpack

Dog Buoyancy Aid