Campaign in Simon Flynn's name results in new joint governing body
Today we're celebrating after our almost two-year campaign to stop people drowning has resulted in a HUGE change for stand up paddleboarding
Last updated 20th Feb 2023
It's the UK's fastest growing sport and a new world-leading joint governing body is now being created to oversee safety.
The joint approach will see Surfing England leading on 'coastal SUP safety' with British Canoeing leading on messaging for inland waterways - as they both aim to stop those new to the sport getting into trouble.
The agreement follows calls by two coroners, a marine accident investigation branch report and a plea from the RNLI after a huge rise in call outs to rescue paddleboarders in recent years.
Around 100,000 boards are now sold each year in the UK and paddleboarding has also been included in a list of potential 'treatments' for GPs in Nottinghamshire to prescribe as part of a two-year trial to use outdoor spaces to help improve mental health.
We started the campaign in Simon Flynn's name after a coroner called for changes following the preventable death of the 42 year old tutor from Cheltenham in Cornwall's Camel Estuary in August 2020.
What changes will we see?
The new Governing body will be able to set standards to ensure retailers selling boards provide industry-agreed information, including on safety equipment such as leashes, at the point of sale to prevent anyone else drowning. In December, a coroner in North Wales also announced he would write to Tesco following the death of Emma Louise Powell, 24, who died after getting into trouble on the River Conwy, just hours after buying a new board. The inquest heard both she and her mum sat on the shoreline and read all the information that came with the board before she set off - then ran into trouble almost immediately.
New guidance and information will be created for those hiring out boards or leading tours after a report criticised a number of failings at an organised paddleboarding tour which led to the deaths of four people at Haverfordwest.
When Simon Flynn drowned there was lots of conflicting advice about paddleboarding safety on the internet and across the industry. Now, for the first time there will be a recognised safety message and guidance which everyone will be expected to follow. Chris Earle, Director of Recreational Paddling at British Canoeing talks about being awarded joint control of SUP with Surf England - something he thinks other parts of the UK, such as Wales, will soon follow suit on.
The new body will commission world-leading research to help inform the development of the sport. This is likely to include understanding the effects of winds on paddleboards - which could result in specific guidance being issued relating to certain strength wind conditions.
It is expected there will be a focus on quick-release leashes and whether they should be supplied with sales of all new boards. It is something Simon Flynn's best friend Sam Foyle has campaigned for, after attaching the leash to Simon the day he died - believing he was protecting him. Ben Powis is chief exec of Surfing England
At the moment some people in the industry believe education is more important than supplying two types of leash as standard - others already supply both types and believe that encourages people to find out why there's two types when they unbox their board.
What happened to Simon Flynn and why was the campaign started in his name?
Simon Flynn, 42, a tutor from near Cheltenham, died on a 'perfect Summer's Day' after falling off his paddleboard in August 2020 near Rock in Cornwall's Camel Estuary. The strong water current took him towards a moored boat and Simon jumped into the sea while still attached to his ankle leash. The competent swimmer - who did a lot of water sports and surfing - was unable to get free after the leash became entangled and pulled him under the water. A coroner afterwards said it was an 'issue for manufacturers' that should be looked at.
What campaigning has been taking place since Simon's passing?
In March 2020 in Parliament, we worked with campaigner Sam Foyle and Cheltenham MP Alex Chalk to bring the industry together and talk safety
Afterwards the Government took a 'watching brief' on the issue and called on the industry to make changes
The RNLI and British Canoeing wrote to major retailers urging them to do more to supply safety information
A follow-up industry summit was held at the RNLI's headquarters in Poole
It resulted in the first-ever joint messaging for World Drowning Prevention Day by the British Industry in Summer 2022
Campaigner Sam Foyle has given his reaction to the new joint governing body status
How was the Governing body status awarded by Sport England?
In 2020, the Court of Arbitration in Sport ruled that the international canoeing and surfing organisations could hold SUP competitions. Sport England’s recognition of canoeing and surfing bodies as SUP national governing bodies does, therefore, reflect the role both sports have in SUP.
Sport England say the majority of British Canoeing’s 380 clubs provide SUP as part of their offer and British Canoeing has welcomed stand-up paddleboarders as members since 2013.
The basis of its application was that 'it is a leading body for SUP in inland waterways, an environment in which Surfing England has little or no influence. British Canoeing and Surfing England have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that sets out their intention to act as a joint lead authority to govern and promote SUP in England'.
Sport England says while it's not in its 'gift' to 'award' status it can recognise the two bodies -- which means they can feel empowered to help develop the sport. Surfing England has been recognised as an National Governing Body for SUP but is a small organisation largely relying on volunteers and does not have lots of funding.
Anyone wishing to apply for the newly created role to take SUP forward can find out more here
What has been the industry response to date after the death of Simon Flynn?
Alex Chalk MP backs campaign. Mr Chalk, the Member of Parliament for Cheltenham who has been campaigning to improve Stand Up Paddleboarding safety following the death of his constituent Simon Flynn today said: “I welcome the recognition of British Canoeing as the National Governing Body for Stand Up Paddleboarding. This will help drive up safety standards in this growing sport, something that I’m sure my constituent Simon Flynn would have welcomed.”
World's biggest SUP grand RED backs the campaign. John Hibbard, who founded Devon-based Red Paddle Company in 2008, is using his influence on the 2,000 global retail outlets which sell his boards to improve safety messaging about the sport.
British Canoeing releases world-first updated advice video after the death of Simon Flynn
SUP brand Fatstick agrees to sell two types of leash as standard, after Simon's death
Simon Flynn's best friend Sam Foyle highlighting concerns over the lack of guidance, online misinformation and little change after Simon's passing