Riverside SUPers – A great way to get fit and beat your time

Lee Brogan, Elemental #8, 2017, Digital Print on Archival Paper

Karl Roberts was in Noosa, Australia in 2005 when he spotted a guy stand-up paddle boarding with his dog. He was intrigued and so went about bringing the sport to Northland.

"I thought, 'that looks unreal', but when I came back to New Zealand in 2006, I couldn't buy one so I found an old wind surfer and used that as a board and made the paddle."

He continued to improvise while awaiting the arrival of a paddle board he'd imported. When it arrived, Karl received multiple envious comments so ordered several more for his mates before deciding to sell them himself.

Karl, the Riverside Drive Marina manager, has owned the recently-renamed Waterman's World for around nine years and moved the business closer to the Hatea Loop on the Riverside Drive Marina complex several months ago. It incorporates the latest water sport equipment and shares a space with the newly-opened Kafe.

Since becoming one of the first to stand on water in Northland, he has watched the sport take off and, for the last six years, has raced with the Riverside SUPers, a group of stand-up paddlers who meet every Tuesday evening to race at the Town Basin.

"Each time I sold a paddle board, I would mention it to them and it just grew."

The group now has up to 40 paddlers ranging from 11-year-olds to those in their 70s, with the biggest age group the 50-70-year-olds.

The 4.1km races start at the Canopy Bridge, through Te Matau A Pohe bridge and back with different races based on ability levels.

"Everyone likes to race, you can't help it – if you're in the last place, you still want to try and catch the person in front of you and if you're in second to last, you don't want the person behind to catch you.

"It's a great way of getting fit and trying to beat your time."

Riverside SUPers also host the annual Bridge to Basin challenge, which attracts world champs who pass on tips to fellow paddlers.

"We race all year round and, in winter, we wear flashing lights. If someone new shows up – they are shown techniques – and, at the end, we load our boards onto the cars and go and have a cold one and something to eat at The Quay."

Riverside SUPers meet at the Town Basin car park every Tuesday for a 5.30pm race start.