Paddlesports can have wonderful benefits on our wellbeing. From busting bad moods to helping improve more serious issues such as depression and anxiety, paddling is great for your mental health.
The first Covid lockdown saw unprecedented sales of paddleboards as the uptake and demand to try this fast growing sport hit an all time high. Retailers such as Red Paddle Co experienced a 300% rise in SUP sales – and now, as we navigate lockdown 3.0, what’s the next step?
Water Skills Ambassador Stacey Smithson-Grey’s idea for ‘The Lake District 12’ came about after regularly seeing the question on social media groups/forums asking which lakes you can and can’t paddle in the Lake District. Read her diary of her stand up paddleboarding adventure across all 12 of these lakes in 2020.
The water has never been busier with paddlers. As a result of this increased uptake, Water Skills Academy has received a constant number of calls and emails, requesting our advice and opinion on safety equipment and working environments. One of the most popular questions has been about leashes and their use.
This month marks a new milestone for Water Skills Academy, as we have just been awarded full B Corp certification. It has been an interesting and eye-opening journey, but we are proud to be joining the likes of Patagonia, Jamie Oliver Group, Able & Cole, The Body Shop and almost 4,000 companies around the world, each measuring our impact across every facet of the business, and being held to a benchmark that’s a transparent and quantifiable standard.
On January 3rd, 2023, the Water Skills Academy came under new ownership. Since 2014, the WSA has evolved into the organisation you know today. With a founding ethos of bringing something new to watersports education, the WSA has become one of the most forward-thinking and leading providers in the sector. Environmental and safety awareness is at the heart of everything the WSA does while continuing to deliver the most popular watersport courses and qualifications under one umbrella.
The UK is a great place to explore by stand-up paddleboard (SUP). With its unique combination of coastline, rivers and canals, you can find an adventure that suits your skill level. Guided SUP adventures are the perfect way to experience this stunning country while learning new skills in a safe environment.
The tragic paddleboarding incident in October 2021 on the Western Cleddau river in Haverfordwest reminds us all of the risks this highly popular sport can present. This article collates much of the advice already included in other WSA guidance that relates specifically to the lessons we can extract from the MAIB report into this incident.
As a BCorp with a business model centred around the ocean, we are already acutely aware of the importance of sustainable business and ethics in our work, as well as in our everyday decision-making. Earlier this month we headed to The Blue Earth Summit in Bristol, to share in and learn from the thoughts and ideas from those putting people and the planet first.
What do you gift the paddle boarder in your life who already has all the gear and gadgets?! Ahead you’ll find the tried-and-tested safety equipment, practical essentials and SUP holiday ideas that will make any paddle boarder jump for joy. From trusted brands like Palm to new book releases, we’ve curated a collection of the most unique paddle boarding gifts for Christmas 2022, that stand out for all the right reasons.
The end of summer marks our business year end, and a time when we donate 1% of our annual revenue to like-minded environmental organisations and charities, as part of our ‘1% For The Planet’ membership. Our revenue is generated from our valued members through their membership, watersports courses we run across the globe, sustainable SUP holidays and events that we hold throughout the season.
Today is International Nurses Day - a day to celebrate nurses around the world in all specialisms. A day that coincides with the birth of Florence Nightingale. And no better day to find out how our very own Water Skills Academy Trainer and A&E Nurse, Katie Simmons found herself honing her skill set on ward and a board.
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