WhatSUP paddleboards
Our very own brand paddleboards!
Why own a WhatSUP board?
If you're reading this, you probably already have an idea of who we are and what we do. WhatSUP is not a profit-driven business, it purely exists to keep us out of personal costs when we are doing what we love best:
In 2020 the demand for paddleboards soared as this was one of the very few activities that people of all ages and abilities could enjoy outdoors, together with the whole household. We helped many of the people paddling with us selecting the boards that were right for them to buy.
But we very quickly realised the gap between cheap (but perhaps only fun for once or twice) and durable, quality (but not so affordable) SUP boards was very large. So, we designed our own range of boards.
The quality is similar to the high-end brands, but because we do not make a living out of WhatSUP we work on very small profit margins and we have been able to keep the cost to the buyers down. There are 5 boards in our range - the HYBRID, the EMBARK, the PACE, the EMBRACE and the INSPIRE. All our boards feature a double-skinned edge design, so they are durable and less likely to develop slow-punctures and leaks, and will maintain their shape throughout their lifetime (unlike some of the very cheap boards sold online, they are a bit more like an inflatable lilo...)
- Providing free or discounted (paddle) activities for disadvantaged people in our society and charities
- Making SUP accessible to anyone and everyone
In 2020 the demand for paddleboards soared as this was one of the very few activities that people of all ages and abilities could enjoy outdoors, together with the whole household. We helped many of the people paddling with us selecting the boards that were right for them to buy.
But we very quickly realised the gap between cheap (but perhaps only fun for once or twice) and durable, quality (but not so affordable) SUP boards was very large. So, we designed our own range of boards.
The quality is similar to the high-end brands, but because we do not make a living out of WhatSUP we work on very small profit margins and we have been able to keep the cost to the buyers down. There are 5 boards in our range - the HYBRID, the EMBARK, the PACE, the EMBRACE and the INSPIRE. All our boards feature a double-skinned edge design, so they are durable and less likely to develop slow-punctures and leaks, and will maintain their shape throughout their lifetime (unlike some of the very cheap boards sold online, they are a bit more like an inflatable lilo...)
Buying one of our boards is not the same as buying a board from a large corporation. Your money goes back into the community, and we are always on hand for any help, tips and tricks you might need. We believe SUP is for everyone, and we want to see people having fun with their boards!
The WhatSUP HYBRID
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This is the first board that we developed in our range. It is aimed at intermediate and advanced riders. The board is nimble to turn easily, and compared to other inflatable SUP boards on the market it is very easy to paddle and pick up some speed. Yet, if you are a little insecure in your balance, you will find the Hybrid a lovely stable board, giving you confidence to ride it and try new tricks!
Dimensions: 335*81*15cm Comes with: hand pump, bag, premium 100% carbon paddle, leash, repairing kits Price: £600 plus postage if required and if not local |
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The WhatSUP EMBARK
Our second introduction is for the EMBARK. These are the boards we are using in our SUP school now, for people to have their first few experiences on a paddleboard. It is designed with maximum stability to give everyone confidence to enjoy paddleboarding.
Dimensions: 305*83*15cm
Comes with: hand pump, bag, aluminium paddle, leash, repairing kits
Price: £450
Dimensions: 305*83*15cm
Comes with: hand pump, bag, aluminium paddle, leash, repairing kits
Price: £450
The WhatSUP INSPIRE
Designed for catching waves, but also for our younger and smaller adult paddlers. The WhatSUP INSPIRE is smaller than our other boards. This makes it easier to handle for children and for small adults.
It also makes it very nimble to be able to catch a surf! For larger/heavier paddlers this board would suit them if catching waves is the main intention, and if they have some experience of SUP. For some people, the HYBRID might suit them better for surfing, depending on experience, size and weight. We'll be happy to chat to you if you are unsure!
Dimensions: 285*74*15cm
Comes with: hand pump, bag, aluminium paddle, leash, repairing kits
Price: £450
It also makes it very nimble to be able to catch a surf! For larger/heavier paddlers this board would suit them if catching waves is the main intention, and if they have some experience of SUP. For some people, the HYBRID might suit them better for surfing, depending on experience, size and weight. We'll be happy to chat to you if you are unsure!
Dimensions: 285*74*15cm
Comes with: hand pump, bag, aluminium paddle, leash, repairing kits
Price: £450
The WhatSUP PACE
If SUP is mostly about sport and physical accomplishments for you, you might well be entering a race or two, or some endurance paddles. The PACE will be your best friend here, enabling you to cover more distance at great speed at relative ease. Because of the narrow and long shape, required for optimal race performance, you will not find the board very stable at the lowest speeds, and will enjoy rivers more than average-sized lakes where you might run out of water all too soon!
The WhatSUP Embrace
The EMBRACE unites all our core values, it is the board we are most proud of! We only sell these to existing SUP schools with the inclusivity mindset and will not sell this board to end-users, but it deserves a place here because it is so important to us in achieving what we want WhatSUP to mean for people.
The EMBRACE 14' is large and incredibly stable, allowing wheelchair access and space for one or two paddlers to be on the board and paddle too. The size of the board means there will be some resistance and we would be unlikely to set a top speed record, but it is a versatile board that can also be used as a MEGA SUP.
The EMBRACE 10' is modelled on our Embark, but with anchoring points for the adapted chair and comes with our SIDEKICK boards (similar to 'stabilisers') for fantastic stability and where the paddler is able to reach the water with a paddle from the chair, to actively participate. An instructor can stand and paddle behind the chair too.
If you are a SUP school who would like to enquire about our EMBRACE package (either board, adapted chair, incl training, risk assessments etc) please get in touch via the form below. If you are an individual who would like to paddle in this way please see here.
The EMBRACE 14' is large and incredibly stable, allowing wheelchair access and space for one or two paddlers to be on the board and paddle too. The size of the board means there will be some resistance and we would be unlikely to set a top speed record, but it is a versatile board that can also be used as a MEGA SUP.
The EMBRACE 10' is modelled on our Embark, but with anchoring points for the adapted chair and comes with our SIDEKICK boards (similar to 'stabilisers') for fantastic stability and where the paddler is able to reach the water with a paddle from the chair, to actively participate. An instructor can stand and paddle behind the chair too.
If you are a SUP school who would like to enquire about our EMBRACE package (either board, adapted chair, incl training, risk assessments etc) please get in touch via the form below. If you are an individual who would like to paddle in this way please see here.
FAQs
Can I try a board before I buy?
Yes, and we would encourage that! We are passionate about the sport and want everyone to have fun on the water, so it's best to find a board that suits you perfectly! We run paddle sessions most weekends in the summer, and you can book via the 'book now' button on our facebook page (active in summer months) or via the FAQ & BOOKING page on the website (see website menu on top of page).
The school boards are EMBARKS, which we think is the most suitable board to learn on. We also have one or more HYBRIDS available for demo during these sessions, which we think some people might want to progress to and eventually purchase. Logistically, with social distancing, we cannot keep on coming back to shore to switch boards during a paddle session. If you would like your session to be on a HYBRID instead on an EMBARK because you want to compare them before buying then please let us know in advance. There is a 'comment' section during your booking, but we don't get notifications so might not see that comment in time before the day. So please message us via our facebook page, or contact us via email (whatsupukteam@gmail.com) before the day of your booking so we can make sure the demo HYBRIDS are not double-booked.
Because our margins are so small as it is, we do not give discounts for potential buyers on our paddle sessions. We simply cannot afford to run at a loss! Please note our paddle sessions are significantly cheaper than most other providers.
We cannot post/deliver boards to you for a trial period, we are a small company and do not have the resources for this, plus we think trying a board during our paddle sessions works best.
The school boards are EMBARKS, which we think is the most suitable board to learn on. We also have one or more HYBRIDS available for demo during these sessions, which we think some people might want to progress to and eventually purchase. Logistically, with social distancing, we cannot keep on coming back to shore to switch boards during a paddle session. If you would like your session to be on a HYBRID instead on an EMBARK because you want to compare them before buying then please let us know in advance. There is a 'comment' section during your booking, but we don't get notifications so might not see that comment in time before the day. So please message us via our facebook page, or contact us via email (whatsupukteam@gmail.com) before the day of your booking so we can make sure the demo HYBRIDS are not double-booked.
Because our margins are so small as it is, we do not give discounts for potential buyers on our paddle sessions. We simply cannot afford to run at a loss! Please note our paddle sessions are significantly cheaper than most other providers.
We cannot post/deliver boards to you for a trial period, we are a small company and do not have the resources for this, plus we think trying a board during our paddle sessions works best.
If I buy now, when will I have my board?
We have our boards especially made for us to our standards by a manufacturer abroad, and only keep a small stock in the UK. So, delivery times will vary immensely, depending on if we have stock on our hands at the time you wish to buy, or if we are waiting on the next manufacture/delivery/import dates. Please get in touch if you'd like to more about delivery times right now.
Will you deliver my board to my home address?
We think the majority of our boards will be bought by people who know us, know the standard we work to, the good we do for the community, and have tried our boards. So, if you buy a board you might well be very local to us. If you are local, we can either arrange to meet up during a WhatSUP paddle day to give you your board, or we can bring you your board (local delivery only and time/day to be arranged to suit both you and us). If you live further away, we can get the board sent to you via courier. The prices for this are currently around £20 per board uninsured, but we would recommend to add insurance for the shipping too.
I'm a complete beginner and would like to buy a board, what do you suggest?
Ideally come and try the boards during our paddle sessions! We think you'll get most confidence on the EMBARK initially, but depending on your progress and ambitions, you might sooner or later prefer to try or buy a HYBRID. Buying one board and then progressing onto the next is possible of course, but not always cost-effective for everyone. So we suggest you come and paddle with us for a few times, to see how well you suit each board and to see what you prefer! Paddle sessions can be booked via the button on our Facebook page (active in summer months) or via our website (top of the page, menu, select FAQ & BOOKING to book)
I'm buying bulk. Can I get a discount?
WhatSUP is a community focussed business. We are not here to grow our brand or make lots of profit, we want to do right by all the people in the community. Our profits get put back into charitable events. Also, because we want to make owning a quality SUP board achievable, we have kept our prices low and our margins are very small. That means we cannot give any further discounts. You get value for money, even if you buy just one board!
Will the WhatSUP board prints look different every year like other brands?
The short answer is no. We will update our prints and make small tweaks every now and then. But we do not have a new range for each season. This is because we think that people will want to buy a board for life, not as a yearly fashion-statement. We do not employ designers to update everything every year, we keep our overheads small so that you can enjoy a quality board at a reasonable price, for a lifetime!
What's the difference between the carbon and the aluminium paddles?
Carbon paddles are lighter and have a high-end finish. They are more expensive to make (and so to buy) than aluminium paddles. We do recommend to store them in their protective sleeve, to avoid scratches on the material. The aluminium paddles are a bit heavier but still very comfortable to paddle with, and are more scratch&bash-resistant than carbon paddles. We use the aluminium paddles for our school boards. By default, HYBRID boards come with a carbon paddle and the other boards with an aluminium one.
Do you recommend any electric/car cigarette lighter-powered pumps?
Depending on how sporty and motivated you are, you might prefer to use an electric pump to pump up your board ;-). There are many pumps available online, and we think for most people it is most helpful if the pump can be powered by the cigarette lighter socket in the car.
We have used an ION pump for years. It is not the cheapest, but did a good job of pumping boards up to pressure in a reasonable time. Eventually, it caught fire. To be fair, we had pumped up many many boards and used it for prolonged times each day before it did that!
We recommend the boards to be pumped up to 15 PSI. So when buying a pump, make sure it can achieve this pressure, or ideally even more so it doesn't have to work (and burnout) at the top end of capacity. Or, pump up the board by your electric pump until low pressure, then put more air/pressure in with the hand pump that comes with your board.
We'll post some links here and our experienced/opinions on some pumps in future.
We have used an ION pump for years. It is not the cheapest, but did a good job of pumping boards up to pressure in a reasonable time. Eventually, it caught fire. To be fair, we had pumped up many many boards and used it for prolonged times each day before it did that!
We recommend the boards to be pumped up to 15 PSI. So when buying a pump, make sure it can achieve this pressure, or ideally even more so it doesn't have to work (and burnout) at the top end of capacity. Or, pump up the board by your electric pump until low pressure, then put more air/pressure in with the hand pump that comes with your board.
We'll post some links here and our experienced/opinions on some pumps in future.
how do i look after my board?
No question is ever too silly to ask! We will create a page on this website with some how-to video's, explaining some o the do's and don'ts when going paddling, and show you how to repair a board should that ever become needed.
When it comes to storage, just like with any other item, we recommend to have the board clean and completely dry before packing it away and storing for a prolonged time. Don't give mould a chance to attack your lovely board! If you have used your board at sea, and are looking to store it for a long time, then it might be best to rinse the board with fresh water and letting it dry before storing. Salt water is less likely to allow mould, but can be corrosive to many materials in itself.
When it comes to storage, just like with any other item, we recommend to have the board clean and completely dry before packing it away and storing for a prolonged time. Don't give mould a chance to attack your lovely board! If you have used your board at sea, and are looking to store it for a long time, then it might be best to rinse the board with fresh water and letting it dry before storing. Salt water is less likely to allow mould, but can be corrosive to many materials in itself.
Can I still come paddle with you guys after i bought my own board?
Of course. Once a part of WhatSUP, always a part of WhatSUP! Especially in this time of social distancing, and when we are on private land, we do need to know you are coming though, please see the FAQs on the booking page for more info.
Do you not like Fanatic boards anymore then?
We still love and use Fanatic boards alongside our own-brand WhatSUP boards. They have always been and still are a high-quality brand and we enjoy the Fanatic boards we have too. We are also still a Fanatic retailer outlet and can still help you find the perfect Fanatic board as well. We do have some fanatic boards available that you can try during our paddle sessions, but these are not the latest year, and we do not have their full range.