Stand Up Paddleboarding from Land's End To John o'Groats - Fiona Quinn Q&A

Photo credit: SUP Britain

We recently spoke with Fiona Quinn, a British endurance adventurer and author of Ignore the Fear. Despite a fear of the sea, Fiona SUPed from Land's End to John o’Groats (LEJOG) and, having already walked and cycled the route, she became the first woman to complete a length of Britain triathlon. 

---

How and when did you get into stand up paddleboarding?

I first tried SUP when visiting friends in Barcelona about 9 years ago. My friends were at work so I was looking for something to do during the day and I’d never heard of SUP before so figured I’d give it a go. Staying close to shore, I was exhausted after battling the swell for just 40 minutes. Luckily I managed to not fall off that first time, probably due to being so scared of the water. Since then I paddled on lakes and rivers back in the UK, but didn’t SUP on the sea again until I decided to paddle the length of the country.

---

Photo credit: SUP Britain

---

Best And Worst Day On A SUP Ever?

Oh the best day has to be paddling over to Lundy Island off the west coast of Cornwall during my SUP LEJOG. It was a gorgeous day. The sun was beaming, the sea was pretty still and the pod of dolphins that joined me was truly magical. They made me feel so relaxed on the sea and it was incredible how close they got to my board. I’d never imagined when I left Land’s End that wild dolphins would come and paddle with me, so it was an unexpected and exciting experience. Through the 800 miles to John o’Groats we had dolphins come swim alongside me 4 or 5 times. It never got old.

My worst day was when I was paddling up the Sound of Jura on the west coast of Scotland. There are some strong tidal flows there and we miss-timed my paddle session. The tide started to pull me towards Corryvreckan, the world’s third largest whirlpool - it was pretty scary to say the least! Luckily my support boat was able to find me and pull me off the water, before we headed for the safety of land and a much needed beer.

---

Key pieces of kit you never leave home without when you SUP?

Definitely my PFD (personal flotation device). I’m scared of the sea, so having this makes me feel safer, but I think it’s really a key bit of kit for everyone. Plus, it has pockets for chocolate bars, which is a bonus.

Having a really good dry bag is handy too - I use Aquapac bags and they’ve lasted really well. Bringing spare layers of clothing, bits of tech and, of course, snacks is key and you definitely don’t want those getting wet.

---

Photo credit: SUP Britain

---

Three bits of advice you’d give to anyone going SUPing for the first time?

• Smile. Even if you feel a bit shaky on the board or are scared of the sea like me, smiling makes a big difference. It makes your body naturally relax, in turn helping you to be more stable and you’ll have more fun.
• Go with a local group. If you can find a club or someone with experience locally, they’ll be able to give you lots of tips on how and where to paddle in your area. I love throwing my inflatable board in the back of the car and heading out to explore new places. And having some local paddle buddies makes it all the better.
• Do it your way. Don’t feel like there’s a way you’re “supposed to do it”. Paddleboarding is such an accessible sport, it’s highly likely there’s a way to do it that suits you. If you’re scared of the water, then begin by paddling in still conditions on a lake. If you’re an experienced surfer, why not have a go at SUP surfing to challenge yourself in a new way.

---

If you could only do one of these for the rest of your life: SUP, HIKE or RIDE which would it be?

That’s a toughie because I do like variety, but it’d probably have to be ride. Cycling is a brilliant speed to explore, all the weight of your kit sits on the bike rather than directly on your shoulders, and you can do it in pretty much any weather. My favourite road in Britain so far is up between Lairg and Tongue in the Scottish Highlands. It’s the smoothest tarmac you can imagine, gently undulating terrain with hardly any cars and beautiful views (the tail wind and sunshine probably helped too)!

---

To find out more about Fiona and her SUP Britain adventure, check out her book about the journey - Ignore The Fear. 

If you feel inspired to take on your own adventure, or just have a go at stand up paddleboarding, then check out our SUP and water accessories range that has everything you need to get started on the water.

---

You May Also Be Interested In...