Blackfish welcomes Welsh pro racer and Team GB Athlete Joey Jones ahead of the ICF Worlds in Italy. 

As the racing season moves into its decisive second half, Blackfish is adding fresh Welsh firepower to its team. Swansea-based Joey Jones, 26, is the latest addition to the Blackfish roster, becoming the second Welsh paddler alongside accomplished rider Emily Evans, as the brand continues to strengthen its presence across the UK and on the international racing scene.

Joey is one of the UK’s leading stand-up paddleboard racers and one of Wales’ most successful paddle athletes, representing his country on the international SUP scene.

Peter Allen, General Manager of Blackfish Paddles, endurance paddler and racer, said:

“We’re delighted to welcome Joey Jones to Team Blackfish ahead of the ICF World Championships in Sabaudia, Italy. Our time at the event in Torquay opened the door to many interesting conversations and further opportunities to establish the Blackfish brand in the UK. It’s particularly exciting that this announcement coincides with Joey confirming his selection to represent Team GB.

Joey’s commitment, professionalism and willingness to consistently show up, put in the work and compete at the highest level really stood out to us. Those qualities are exactly what we look for in a Blackfish athlete, and we’re excited to support him as he takes on the world stage in Italy.”

In conversation with Joey Jones:

Hi Joey, warm welcome! What made this the right time to join the Blackfish Paddles team, and what excites you most about the partnership?

Blackfish has always been a brand that’s been on my radar throughout my SUP career. My Welsh teammate Emily Evans has been riding for Blackfish for a while, and I’ve also known Gareth at Get On The Water through the UK paddling scene, so I’d heard a lot of positive things about the brand.

At the SUP World Cup in Torquay this year, I had the chance to catch up with Peter and learn more about Blackfish and what the brand stands for. I also got to try both the Nouméa and the Yukon paddles, and I was genuinely impressed. They both felt incredibly smooth, efficient and powerful in the water. Combined with Blackfish’s ethos and commitment to innovation, it felt like the perfect time to come on board. I’m really excited to be part of the team and see what we can achieve together.

From sprints and technical racing to long distance, which disciplines excite you most, and how does Blackfish fit into your definition of performance?

Right now I’m really enjoying long-distance racing and feel that’s where my strengths are developing the most. A paddle that stays light and efficient over long races makes a huge difference, and after trying the Nouméa in Torquay, it immediately stood out for how smooth, powerful and efficient it felt through the water.

Looking further ahead, I’d love to take on iconic endurance races like the 11 City Tour and Molokaʻi, and I think the Yukon will be an ideal paddle for those challenges. I’m also excited to try Blackfish’s fin range, especially the WS241, which looks incredibly fast. For me, performance is about efficiency, consistency and having equipment that gives you confidence every time you get on the water, and that’s exactly what I felt from Blackfish.

Looking ahead, where will we first see you putting your new Blackfish paddles to the test?

The UK race calendar is a little quieter over the summer, so next up I’ll be racing at the GWTF Summer Showdown before finishing my domestic season at the Legend of Windermere. After that, all eyes are on the ICF World Championships in Italy, where I’m really looking forward to putting my new Blackfish paddles through their paces on the international stage.

Find out more about Joey Jones and follow him on Instagram 

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