SUP THE LOUGH FESTVAL 2012!
21st, 22nd JULY 2012. Antrim Shore, Lough Neagh.
‘SUP stand up paddle boarding is an emerging global sport with a Hawaiian heritage. The sport is an ancient form of surfing, and re-emerged as a way for surfing instructors to manage their large groups of students, as standing on the board gave them a higher viewpoint’
Laird Hamilton and Dave Kalama re-introduced the ancient sport of paddle surfing to the modern water sports world. Hamilton and Kalama are regarded as the epitome of the “ultimate waterman” and have respect and admiration from their peers and sports personalities worldwide.
The gossip magazines promote SUP’s possibilities as a “core” workout. Hollywood stars such as Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey have been photographed on a paddleboard, and if the accompanying reports are to be believed, they espouse its benefits as a fitness regime.
Cross-over athletes are also training with SUP. Another reason for the rise in popularity of stand up paddle boarding is that, unlike surfing, paddle boarding is very easy to learn. Within one hour you can become very comfortable in the water and on your board.
River SUP’ing and flat water SUP’ing is gaining popularity in the boating community due to the skill and agility required to navigate rapids and obstacles. It is a great way to explore the rivers and waterways
Stand up paddle boarding is already established in the USA and Australia. Stand Up Paddling is predicted to boom in the UK and Ireland over the next couple of years.
SUP THE LOUGH FESTVAL – Lough Neagh Was Made For Stand Up Paddle Boarding
Lough Neagh is the largest inland water mass in the United Kingdom and Ireland it is the perfect environment for stand up paddle boarding. Lough Neagh is steeped in a history that is interwoven with many myths and legends surrounding its origin.
There is a community of stand up paddle boarding enthusiasts within the Antrim borough who can be seen on occasions SUP’ing along the six mile water or across Lough Neagh.
SUP THE LOUGH FESTVAL - Eye Feel Good Outdoors proposes to stage a 2 day stand up paddle boarding event at the lough shore in Antrim. This will be the first year of such an event and represents the growth of this fast emerging sport. SUP competitions are held worldwide and recently the first Irish SUP team was invited to Peru for the International SUP contest. No such contest or festival exists in the North of Ireland at this stage. This year has seen SUP starting to boom and by the summer everyone will be trying it.
The contest will be the 2nd of the Irish Surf Association (ISA) 2012 SUP tour. The 1st will be the Dublin Bay SUP Classic.
The Festival has received a massive interest already with many sponsors and supports coming on board from across Ireland.
Not just for competitors… the festival is a family friendly event offering many other activities.
For more information join the SUP The Lough Facebook Page Here
Register for the Festival on the Eye Feel Good Website Here
Here is a video showing Lough Neagh and the Six Mile Water where the contest will be held
