Paddleboard makers, retailers and safety groups try to reach 'landmark agreement' ahead of Summer 24
It come as we've learnt the Government's looking into setting design standards for paddleboards to help make the sport safer
Last updated 15th Nov 2023
Today - in a world first - paddleboard makers, retailers and safety groups are meeting to see how they can reduce the growing number of rescues on the boards and drownings.
The summit near Coventry will build on a campaign by the best friend of Cheltenham's Simon Flynn, who died after his safety leash got trapped in Cornwall's Camel Estuary in August 2020 and will see some people flying in from around the world to attend.
Sam Foyle's campaign has already resulted in a sports governing body being created and the Government is now also looking into setting design standards for boards.
Mr Foyle says decisions are needed today, to make changes ahead of next summer, warning: "All eyes are on it.
"I just hope that the group can come together now that British Canoeing have become the Governing body and bring the groups together - and any fractions within it and differing opinions - to come out with some decision-making that will actually improve safety."
Ahead of today's summit, Cheltenham MP and Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk has recorded a message for the around 80 delegates attending the summit:
He said: "You have made progress since we all came together at the Parliamentary reception (in March 2022).
"British Canoeing has been appointed as the joint governing body for the industry and is undertaking research into the issues and safety - and the Department for Business and Trade is now looking into paddleboard safety standards."
Last Summer a follow up summit took place at the RNLI's headquarters in Poole and major retailers have also changed how they sell the boards
Speakers today will include Emily Evans, the Stand Up Paddleboard Lead for Canoe Wales, Sam Hughes from the RNLI and Darren Sherwood the author of research project ‘offshore winds and their effects on stand up paddleboards’.
There will also be round-table discussions on point-of-sale safety messaging, leashes and 'how we can all work together to provide and promote clear, consistent safety messaging'.
Ahead of the summit, the new joint governing body for the sport conducted the first ever research into the different types of paddleboard leashes. Dr Loel Collins, the lead behind ‘Stand-up Paddleboard leashes in flowing and white-water’ will be reporting back to the summit.
The research tested the different types of leash on the market and found '42% of 130 test releases did not release as expected', suggesting 'quick-release waist belt systems could need to evolve.
What other changes have been made?
In February, the family of North Wales woman Emma Louise-Powell who drowned welcomed a decision by the UK's biggest retailer to change the way it sells paddleboards- but warned more needs to be done. The 24 year old died within hours of buying a new board from Tesco at Conwy Morfa in North Wales in July 2022 - having sat and read through all the information provided before heading out and running straight into difficulty
Last year a**** report into the deaths of four paddleboarders in South Wales criticised the safety planning that day by the tour organisers.
Where can I find advice for buying or using a paddleboard?
Click here for a wide range of advice and articles about paddleboarding from the new joint governing body, which is a partnership between British Canoeing and Surf England