A Quiet Union
SUP International|Issue 27 - Spring 2020
Once, it was the perennial question: where do you go for warm, quiet waves and a cool beer afterwards without locals regarding you as a walking ATM? We don’t even ask anymore, we accept that anywhere that fits the criteria had its day in the distant past. However, eight years ago Jeremie Tronet created a practical answer to this question and developed his own corner of paradise – the JT Pro Centre – on the south shore of a delightful speck of sand, coral and palm trees sitting in the Caribbean Sea…
Jeremie Tronet
A Quiet Union
Union Island is part of the Grenadines archipelago in the lower Caribbean. A few miles from the main island of St Vincent, the Grenadines have become one of the top cruising spots for sailing boats from around the world. Although there are dozens of islands and cays in the Grenadines, Union Island is one of only a handful which you can reach by air and find a variety of accommodation. Union Island’s main town, Clifton, is the perfect little Caribbean town: Rastas smoking on the side of the road, smiles on everyone’s face, colourful houses on every corner and a buzzing marketplace that displays the artistic flair of the locals. The place is long been popular with cruising (leisure sailing), but when we introduced the JT Pro Center a few years ago we started to offer our clients a new way of discovering the Grenadines with more time kitesurfing, surfing, paddling and foiling and less time sailing to get here. You can easily fly to our island from Barbados which is well served with daily international connecting flights.

What’s the skill level buy-in?

The past eight years have seen a really big increase in people taking on water sports activities. Sports like kiting and foiling, which in their infancy were thought to be accessible to only a few extreme sport enthusiasts, now see everyone from all generations discovering new ways to have fun on the water. SUP cruises and downwinders are a huge factor in the draw for people looking to explore the beautiful lagoons and mangroves gliding over the clear water.

This story is from the Issue 27 - Spring 2020 edition of SUP International.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the Issue 27 - Spring 2020 edition of SUP International.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM SUP INTERNATIONALView All
Turning Points
SUP International

Turning Points

With spring in the air and the start of a new decade, thoughts naturally turn to what we can do differently in the name of betterment. Finn Mullen reflects on some changes to consider when looking to improve your SUP surfing.

time-read
8 mins  |
Issue 27 - Spring 2020
THE CLOSE OUT- TREV'S GREAT BIRTHDAY ADVENTURE
SUP International

THE CLOSE OUT- TREV'S GREAT BIRTHDAY ADVENTURE

I have had my fair share of great birthdays, usually coinciding with a national holiday in a country that I’m visiting. But this one was a bit different.

time-read
2 mins  |
Issue 27 - Spring 2020
Paddle Science #18 - The Body Fortress. Boosting Immunity
SUP International

Paddle Science #18 - The Body Fortress. Boosting Immunity

At this time of year, the rate of infection for colds and flu normally tends to slow down as we enter warmer, springtime months. However, if you’ve been anywhere at all in the world recently, then there’s one word you can’t escape at the moment: Coronavirus. Infection rates, mortality rates and prognostic data are changing daily at the moment. As a new virus none of us have previously been exposed to it, meaning that currently, we have no immunity to it. It’s only through being infected by a virus that our bodies are able to make the right antibodies to not only enable us to recover but to also help protect us from any recurrent and future infection from it. If you’re keen to stay well and keep getting out on your SUP board this spring, then focussing on boosting your immune system is a positive step to take.

time-read
5 mins  |
Issue 27 - Spring 2020
SUP International

Ceylon Stories

Like a teardrop on the tip of the Indian sub-continent, Sri Lanka is a little tropical El Dorado of beautiful landscapes, rich cultural heritage and people with incomparable kindness. Thanks to its favorable exposure to the swells of the Indian Ocean, the has a large number of good waves along its incredible southwest coast where French pro Alexis Deniel and his partner Melanie had an unforgettable experience this winter. Discover their colorful journey through this dream destination sharing its jewels after decades of civil war and the tragedy of the 2004 tsunami.

time-read
10 mins  |
Issue 27 - Spring 2020
Polar Bear
SUP International

Polar Bear

In 2019, the Polar Bear showed the world his teeth. After a fourth place in the toughest SUP race in the world, the Red Bull Heavy Water, the now 19-year old Christian Anderson became World Champion in November in the Technical Race at the ISA World Championships in El Salvador. He also won the U-18 title on the Euro Tour with an 11th place overall. What’s behind the young Dane's rise to power?

time-read
8 mins  |
Issue 27 - Spring 2020
SHADENFREUDE
SUP International

SHADENFREUDE

TEST REPORTS

time-read
10+ mins  |
Issue 27 - Spring 2020
Desire Lines
SUP International

Desire Lines

We were on the outskirts of Helsinki, scouting a new destination for our sup camps. Just 45 minutes’ drive from the city, the untouched nature of the Nuuksio National Park stretched out before us. Mirror-smooth lakes, wild herbs and an impressive fauna waiting to be explored over on board or on foot via the many desire lines made by the land mammals.

time-read
4 mins  |
Issue 27 - Spring 2020
Magical. Mystical. Epic.
SUP International

Magical. Mystical. Epic.

Alexandra is a club ambassador and SUP racer for Bray Lake; relatively new to the SUP scene she completed her first race season in 2019. She participated in her first international event, the Gla Gla, 2020, and placed 1st Brit, 8th lady and 81st overall, out of a mass start of 637 paddlers. Here she shares the highlights of her first Gla Gla experience.

time-read
5 mins  |
Issue 27 - Spring 2020
Green Medicine
SUP International

Green Medicine

As a keen outdoorsman and busy GP, Paul Sampson has come pretty close to attaining the mercurial work-balance. When not busy with his patients, he can be found hiking, climbing, paddle boarding, wild swimming… anything that gets him outside soaking up the great outdoors and reconnecting with nature in the beautiful South of Cornwall.

time-read
3 mins  |
Issue 27 - Spring 2020
Depth Charge
SUP International

Depth Charge

Many of us have are staying away from the beach for a while, some are confined to our homes, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still train for the surf. If you try the following for just one week you’ll see results, never mind three months…

time-read
3 mins  |
Issue 27 - Spring 2020