Waves and Wheels UK
Waves and Wheels UK
Stand up paddleboarding isn't just a hobby for me — it’s
my lifeline. After serving 22 years in the Royal Navy, I suddenly found
myself without the routine, structure, and purpose I’d always relied on. What
followed was a tough battle with anxiety and depression — a time when, as I
once described it, “the quiet became my prison.”
But step by step, stroke by stroke, I began to find my way
back. Paddleboarding became more than just time on the water; it became my
reset button. From solo paddles to joining events like the Trent 100 and
SUP12, I discovered not only the thrill of endurance and challenge, but also
the energy and belonging that come with the SUP community.
Running quickly joined the mix, too. I’ve taken on
half-marathons in Nottingham and Birmingham, chasing personal bests and
discovering the strange joy of pushing myself further than I thought possible.
Both sports gave me the same thing the Navy once did — camaraderie, goals to
chase, and that sense of “team.”
Alongside the physical side, I decided to capture and share my
journey. Picking up cameras, drones, and utilising social platforms, I began making short
videos and reviews. Not for fame — but to remind myself of how far I’ve come,
and to give something back to the community that’s lifted me. The positive
feedback from those videos still fuels me today.
The real highlight of all this has been the people I’ve met
along the way — paddlers, runners, event organisers, friends who’ve become
family. I’ve even had the honour of becoming an ambassador for Oscar Propulsion
Flow Force, something I wear with pride.
This isn’t work for me. It’s connection, a purpose, and joy
rolled into one. Every race, every paddle, every new face adds another chapter
to my story.
And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: you don’t
have to go through the hard stuff alone. Connection heals.
Don’t suffer in
silence.
