'Paddleboarding is great, all ages can do it'

People are being encouraged to give paddleboarding a try after the success of a group event at a Lincolnshire beach.

More than 100 people attended the SUP (Stand Up Paddleboarding) Lincs group on Wednesday, setting off from the RNLI Lifeboat Station at Cleethorpes before paddling along the shore between the pier and leisure centre.

The group has held monthly events for three years – with the next being at the end of August – with the aim of encouraging people of all abilities and skills to get into the water and make new friends.

Chris Deakins, one of the organisers, who lives in Grimsby, said he was thrilled the event was the "biggest one yet".

He said: "Paddleboarding is great as anyone of any ability can do it. We have people who are eight-years-old up until 60 or 70 years of age. You can kneel, stand and just do whatever makes you comfortable.

"We always make sure the water is safe to go in and keep tracking the weather right up until the night before the event – this week the depth of the water was only about 5 ft (60 inches) deep, which was a winner as it meant it wasn't deep if the wind knocked people off."

Mr Deakins added the group always stick together, which means that people don't trail off on their own, and also ensure everyone knows what they are getting into when they attend.

"We always give everyone a safety briefing before they get on the board and we all stick together – so it all went smoothly and everyone enjoyed it," Mr Deakins said.

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