Media Team

Sarah Thornely

Hi, I’m Sarah and I head up the GBSUP Media Team and SUPjunkie which fully supports our race series. I have been paddling since 2012 and although I never took part in any other sports until I was in my 50’s, I competed in SUP for five years. This culminated in 2017, when I jointly won the National Championships in the UK in the 14’ class. I promptly retired and started to volunteer on the Events Team with GBSUP and SUPjunkie evolved from that.

I am a qualified instructor with the ASI and British Canoeing and still get great pleasure in getting complete beginners on the water. I have learnt to SUP surf and have been paddling an OC1 for nearly a year. I have met some wonderful friends through this lovely sport.

Antony Thornely

To be brutally honest, as a cyclist and fond lover of land, mine has not been a calling into the SUP world, more like a inevitable submission (due to my wife's love of the sport!) Over the last few years I have competed in sup.bike.run, UKN1SCO One design racing and the Trent100 Challenge.

The cycling has now taken over but Sarah and I now run SUPjunkie which covers races with live feed and interviews - we have been lucky enough to travel to all corners of the UK and went to China in 2018 with the GB SUPTeam who were competing at the ISA World Championships.

The one thing that is apparent to me is the community feel to the sport. People are looking out for each other and this is what I want to be part of. Antony

Adrian Soper

I was a late comer to the sport, when I fell in love with it one summers day in 2016 when I was scratching around trying to find things to do in Geneva and thought i'd give it a go on a small nearby lake.

It was less than a couple of years before I took up SUP racing in 2018 after spending many lost weekends going round and round in circles learning and training on Leybourne Lakes in Kent. It was then I thought it was a good idea to enter the London APP at the Royal Docks, since then I have not looked back. Spending my first season on the Naish N1SCO series in the GBSUP events and then pushing my luck in the 14' classes. Striving to get better year on year.

Giving something back to a sport is always something I aspire to and taking on the role of website captain to help in keeping everyone informed is my current challenge, along with racing of course.

Geoff Mather

Hi I'm Geoff Mather and never stood on a SuP paddle board in my life! I'm the guy hiding behind the lens of a camera, having become involved with the sport supporting Philip Mather, my son, at various events.

Formally retired, but have been associated with various forms of photography for the last 20 years or so it seemed a good idea to continue my interests whilst campervanning around the country. Based in Worthing, Sussex I try to cover as many SuP events as time and distance allows see http://suptog.sphericalvisions.co.uk/ for the events I've covered over the last few years.

Other interests include Amateur radio (G8DHE), Panoramic Photography and High Altitude Ballooning."

Eugenie Verney

I’m using my background in journalism and marketing communications to lend a hand with media relations and web content.

My love affair with all things SUP began in 2016 with a Fuerteventura intro session and has largely been nurtured at my local lake, Bray, where I also swim open water year-round.

The 2020 season is my third on the GBSUP circuit, and I’ll once again be competing in the Grand Kahuna age category on my trusty 12'6" Starboard Race.

Anna Nadolna

Hi, I’m Anna, a Google trained Digital Marketer, storyteller, blogger and I’m stoked to be a part of the GB SUP Media Team. I have been paddleboarding since 2010 and I’ve been hooked on this awesome sport ever since. I’m the Founder of SUPer Whale, a Cambridge based stand up paddleboarding community, an ISA accredited SUP Flat Water Instructor and an Yster SUP Brand Ambassador. With the first SUP racing battle under my belt (the iconic Battle of the Thames), I look forward to further progressing my SUP skills on a competitive level!

Jade Rogers

I first tried SUP in 2017, and initially said I wasn't going to take it seriously.... just enjoy it as a leisure activity. 12 months later I found myself buying a 14ft race board, taking part in the GBSUP series and UK Paddle Endurance Series, and Round Jersey Island Challenge. Previously I've trained and competed in running, cycling and triathlon, and its great that I've found a water-based sport with a fantastic community and friendly, inclusive events, which I also now love. Most recently SUP took me all the way to Australia, where I took part in the Massive Murray Paddle Marathon (404km over 5 days). Apart from sports, my other main hobby has always been photography - mostly landscape for the last 20 years. Last year (2019) I decided to concentrate on paddling in the longer SUP events and so took the opportunity to join the media team with GBSUP. Very glad I did, as I also enjoy sports photography far more than I expected! I'm now trying to branch out and photograph other events, but am always torn between photographing an event and taking part. I'm very much looking forward to a second season with the GBSUP media team and will also paddle some events myself. I'm based in the South West and am now trying to make photography (outdoor, landscape, travel and sports) my main occupation. My pictures at: www.jaderogersphotography.com

Sam Rutt

Hi, I’m Samantha I might as well be honest upfront I am a complete and utter SUP addict (it’s a real disorder!) If it’s SUP related you can guarantee I’m either involved in it or doing it...I own Barefoot SUP and am hugely passionate about developing Racing and SUP Fitness I guess being a PT helps...I’ve been lucky enough to train with some of the world's best paddlers which really helps my understanding of SUP and race techniques...I hope having a look at GB SUP has tempted you to race...I promise you won’t regret it

Steve Rutt

I’m Steve, I am new to the race scene but loving the training. I train under the guidance of BarefootSUP owned by wife (which obviously helped influence my decision to race) and love nothing more than being on the water no matter what the weather. I’m definitely not a fair weather paddler and very much looking forward to the GBSUP race season. I would recommend this to anyone for the sport, the fun, and friends you make at the events. Hopefully, see you on the water!

Ben Longhurst

I love of all things water which started as a competitive swimmer, a junior member of county squads, soon moving into surf lifesaving, competing at regional and national levels and took part in the World Championships in 1994. Stand Up Paddling was a natural progression for me, joining 2 of my favorite sports. I'm married my long-suffering and the most understanding wife in the world, having spent most of my marriage waiting for me to come out of the water! I manage Cardiff International White Water and I'm the Technical Advisor at the Water Skills Acadamy.