Blackfish Paddles partners with Pump’n’Paddle as the official paddle sponsor of the UK’s inclusive SUP race series. 

Coinciding with the release of the Crozon paddle and the announcement of the UK's elite endurance athlete Bruce 'Ironsmith' Smith joining the Blackfish team, Blackfish Paddles has teamed up with the Pump’n’Paddle race series to promote a fun, user-friendly event designed to attract paddlers of all experience levels. The series encourages spending a day on the water in a friendly yet competitive environment.

Brought together by a team of experienced SUP competitors and coaches, including the masterminds behind the series - Mark Harrison and Glyn Smith, along with Alicia Goodchild (Northampton Sailing Club) and Ben Julian (Bartley SUP) - the initiative helps introduce newer paddlers to racing. The Pump’n’Paddle format is unique within the UK SUP scene and beyond, combining accessibility, strong sense of community and a touch of racing grit. 

Pump’n’Paddle race series traces back to the golden era of N1SCO. Built around the iconic 12'6” x 30” x 6” Naish One inflatable in bold yellow and black, the class championed accessibility, fun, and fairness. These were durable, affordable boards that levelled the playing field. N1SCO events regularly attracted 100+ paddlers, featured at major competitions like GBSUP and SUP The Creek, and inspired race clubs across the country. 

The Pump’n’Paddle Race Series is an inflatable-only competition featuring distance (5km), technical (500m-800m) and sprint races (80m to the turn), held across three locations in the Midlands region of the United Kingdom. Designed to keep racing accessible and competitive, the series is divided into three board classes: Over 13’, Under 13’, and Under 11’. The Under 11’ category is aimed at encouraging newer paddlers using all-round boards, while the Under 13’ and Over 13’ classes are expected to attract more experienced racers seeking closer, more competitive racing. 

 Peter Allen, Sales Director at Blackfish Paddles & ultra-endurance paddler, said:   

“We’re stoked to be the official paddle sponsor of the Pump’n’Paddle race series. The Crozon represents our go-to, all-round performance shape - lightweight, responsive and adaptable across SUP formats. The UK has a dynamic SUP community, and we’re committed to supporting paddlers - from recreational to those stepping into racing or simply enjoying time on the water - with equipment designed to maximise efficiency and control on the water.” 

Mark Harrison, Co-Founder and Director of Pump’n’Paddle, said: 

“Here at Pump’n’Paddle, we’re super excited to announce that Blackfish Paddles are coming on board as our official paddle sponsor.

We’re all about grassroots paddling, so it’s fantastic to be supported by a company like Blackfish. Racers will have access to demo paddles on race days, along with exclusive discount codes to purchase their kit once they’ve fallen in love with it. As an added bonus, everyone who enters the races will have the chance to win Blackfish’s newly released carbon paddle, the Crozon.” 

The Pump’n’Paddle Race Series will take place at three locations:

Race 1: Saturday, 30 May – Foremark Reservoir (Burton Sailing Club)

Race 2: Sunday, 14 June – Bartley Green Reservoir (Bartley Sailing Club)

Race 3: Saturday, 18 July – Pitsford Reservoir (Northampton Sailing Club)

To find out more, visit pumpnpaddle.com

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