THE CLOSE OUT
Words Dom Moore // Photos Ian Finch
Monday morning, 8 am and the phone is ringing. Stirring coffee and wondering if it’s warm enough for a civilised surf yet, I answer without checking the number. The call connects and I can hear splashing sounds at the other end.
“Dom it’s Sian!” That being Sian Sykes, wild-camper, mountain leader, owner operator of Psyched Paddleboarding, who’s now paddling her way around Wales. Crikey, it sounds like she’s on the water already and I’m here half writing the day off. I need to verify this. “Of course, I’m paddling using hands free, I haven’t got time to stop!”
Sian’s journey is a 1000 km loop taking in canals, locks, rivers, ocean – lots of ocean, the Menai Strait of Anglesey, but the most formidable challenge will be the churning Bristol Channel. With a 15 meter tidal range with a flow up to 8 knots and counter currents that must be cleared at very specific times, it’s not like turning up late for the channel tunnel and taking the later train. True to her message of embracing nature Sian has been camping most nights and avoiding all single-use plastic. But last night was apparently a bit of a reprieve. Needing somewhere to stash her 12’6 Starboard Touring, with the resourcefulness only a real survivalist knows she approached a local funeral parlour. Turns out they were delighted to provide board storage for the night, as well as a hot shower, somewhere to dry kit off, and somewhere to cook. In a sport where even the memories of the best sessions and trips can merge into one another, you get the feeling you’d remember forever the night you paddle your board up the canal and took refuge in a funeral parlour.
Editing this magazine I’m often speaking to people around the world at different times who are in the midst of incredible journeys of waves and exploration, while in contrast the cold Atlantic rain batters the windows here. I never wish I could swap places, because sooner or later we all get our indulgent holiday in the sun paddling till our arms fall off. What strikes me about Sian’s adventure though is that she’s supporting a cause that’s bigger than ‘taking the “self” on holiday’. The title of the project is SUP Against SUP, the first ‘SUP’ standing for single-use plastic. You may be aware of this project but what you might not know is that you can get involved by joining Sykesy for a part of the long journey and paddling along with her. Even driving down the M5 on your own is bad enough right? So check the route and if it passes near a waterway you know well, why not jump in? You’ll likely pick up some decent wild camping tips too.
Join Sian for a paddle. Find her location at www.psychedpaddleboarding.com/sup-around-wales SUP