From Australia to Scandinavia, Laird Wharton has built a life around water, adventure and endurance. Founder of JämtlandSUP, expedition guide and ultra-distance paddler, he balances a passion for helping others explore the outdoors with a relentless drive to test his own limits on some of the toughest paddle challenges in the world.

“SUP is a great tool to slow down,” says Laird Wharton - a statement that seems almost surprising coming from an athlete who rarely stands still. An all-round waterman and ultra-endurance paddler, Laird has built his life around the water, taking him from the beaches of Australia to the forests and lakes of northern Sweden, where he founded JämtlandSUP. Today, he leads paddle expeditions through some of Scandinavia’s most spectacular wilderness, including Norway, as a Lead Expedition Guide.

When he’s not introducing others to life on the water, Laird is pushing his own limits. After an impressive Lap 46 finish at the 2025 Last Paddler Standing, he’s preparing to take on the gruelling challenge once again. We’re stoked that Laird has chosen Blackfish Paddles to power his adventures, expeditions, and endurance pursuits.

Hi Laird, could you tell us a little about your watersports background, moving into stand-up paddleboarding and how it eventually led you to Scandinavia?

I grew up on the West coast of Victoria, Australia, so it was inevitable I guess, to get into surfing as this was a place with a rich surfing heritage. I always had a love for all things to do with the ocean, whether fishing, bodyboarding, surfing, paddling or swimming. I first came into contact with SUP around 2008-2009 when I saw a few early adopters SUP surfing in Margaret River Western Australia. 

The first time I actually tried it was in 2009 with a friend of mine who lived on Phillip Island, who, was instructing SUP.  I wasn't totally sold on it straight away, that came later in 2015 when I moved to Sweden. When I moved to Jämtland, Sweden, I bought a SUP to keep myself engaged with the water. 

From Australia to northern Sweden and now guiding expeditions in Norway as a Lead Expedition Guide - how did that journey come about?

Haha! Yeah, it's been an interesting journey! I met a Swedish girl in Bali, Indonesia in 2009, and in 2015 we decided to move to Östersund, Sweden. When I arrived In Sweden I was instantly drawn to the beautiful lakes and rivers, especially in the Jämtland region. I bought an inflatable SUP to get access to the lakes and rivers and this just opened my mind to the possibilities SUP could provide. 

SUP became an obsession, suddenly I could access so many places to fish, camp and explore! I really embraced all aspects of SUP, from racing, touring, fishing and even doing downwinders and surfing on Storsjön, (Sweden's fifth largest lake). In the summer of 2021, I started JämtlandSUP to get more people into SUP, and share the experiences on offer here in Jämtland. 

It was initially a side hustle in the summer, but over the years I dedicated more and more energy into it and things developed. I looked to people who were doing amazing things in the SUP expedition world, like Norm Hann in BC and Titus Kodzoman with SUP Norway, and was inspired to follow this passion of combining SUP in extraordinary places and having deep connections with guests in nature. 

In 2025 I had the opportunity to join the SUP Norway team as a Lead Expedition Guide, this is a dream position I feel privileged to have the opportunity to do.  

From guiding to ultra-endurance racing - having experienced The Last Paddler Standing before, what motivates you to return to such a brutal format?

I am attracted to the ultra-endurance racing aspect of SUP through the love of paddling long distances and a love of endurance sports in general. I have been an ultra-runner for many years and enjoy exploring my own limits both mentally and physically. The Last Paddler Standing provides, in my opinion, the perfect format to explore both the mental and physical limitations of my self-perceived limiting beliefs. 

This race is a monster that will have you going through extreme highs and dramatic lows, you question everything about yourself and confront your ego as well as your limiting beliefs. I can credit this race to helping me understand myself better and taking downloads from those highs and lows into everyday life. 

The community around The Last Paddler Standing is a community of the best type of people, from my fellow competitors to the support crews, and organizers. I am compelled to do this race!          

We’ve seen you using both the Noumea 500 and the Yukon 520. What stands out about these models in long-distance and expedition-style paddling?

After discussing different paddles with Peter Allen at Blackfish Paddles, both at The Last Paddler Standing and chatting online, it was clear that the Noumea and Yukon were the right fit for my needs. Both are medium sized blades, which complement longer distance paddling. The Noumea 500 is a high-end race paddle that has great catch and release characteristics that suits my high cadence paddle stroke, it has great acceleration and power transfer, but is not fatiguing on the body due to its 500 blade and medium shaft flex. 

The Yukon 520 has become my go to expedition guiding paddle due to its slightly larger blade size. I find myself paddling at a slower, more energy conserving pace on expeditions. I find having a slightly larger blade with a single concave dihedral gives an easy catch and release, and I have the power if I need it in different situations. Ultimately both paddles can be used in both racing and expedition situations depending on the needs and conditions at the time.  

As someone who spends long hours on the water, what characteristics do you value most in a paddle?

The characteristics I have come to value in a paddle are quality of materials, correct sizing in both blade, length and weight. If you are spending many hours paddling, you need a paddle that is easy on your body and doesn't fatigue you. I also find the dihedral on the blade can make a big difference in how the paddle catches and releases, and how it performs through the power phase. 

For example, a double concave dihedral will grip water well and offer a lot of power, but may be fatiguing over longer distance and a higher cadence, whereas a single concave dihedral is smooth with a more predictable release and with a lower catch load that suits longer distance paddling. I believe the paddle is often overlooked in general and a well fitted, quality paddle can totally change your paddling experience!   

How has guiding and working in expedition environments shaped your understanding of stand-up paddling?

It has totally redefined my understanding of what SUP can be, and offer! SUP is a highly versatile water sport that offers different experiences in all types of conditions and environments. 

The biggest thing I have come to understand through guiding and working in expedition environments is how SUP is a great tool to slow down and take in the environment you are in. I find the perspective you get from standing on the water is unique, and because you are more susceptible to conditions on the water, you have to use those conditions to your advantage. This ultimately makes you more attuned to your environment and in sync with your surroundings.   

As you prepare for The Last Paddler Standing, what are your expectations going into the race, and which paddle will you trust most for this kind of extreme endurance challenge?

A lot of my preparation is combined with my guiding season. I am lucky to have a job that I get to paddle everyday! Most of my expedition paddling is in the zone 1 - 2 range, so I get to build and maintain a solid base. I also do a few kettlebell workouts a week and a few runs with one vertical run a week to increase the vo2. 

Besides the physical side of preparation, I have come to learn the most important side is the mental. This includes positive self-talk, visualisation and actively addressing self-doubt through doing hard things and being consistent, even if I don't feel like it!  Another tool I have found hugely beneficial is journaling! This was a hard one for me, as it didn't click initially, but I definitely have seen the benefits now!   

Thank you for your insights and we can't wait to cross our SUP paths with you! See you in Florida :)  

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*Header image: Last Paddler Standing / SUPJunkie