This week Simon chats with three stand-up paddlers who are working across the University of Portsmouth, to assess the true benefits of the sport, and also to explore it as a method to improve the marine environment

Professor Alex Ford, Dr Heather Massey and Dr Zoe Saynor have combined with Andy Warner from local SUP brand Fatstick, to form a collaborative team and establish the facts behind the theory of SUP benefits.

In this episode Alex talks about the technology he is exploring with Fatstick to make us all citizen marine biologists, and Heather and Zoe talk about exploring the mental-health and the physical benefits of the 'blue gym'.

For the month of March 2021, the team are concluding a SUP study and we're asking all paddlers from any country to help the team and complete the study here. It takes less than 10 minutes! :)

Alex Ford

Staff profile here

Heather Massey

Heather's Podcast : Humans In Extremes is available on Soundcloud here

Twitter : @H_Massey1979

Staff profile here

Zoe Saynor

Research group Twitter  here 

Personal twitter here 

Staff profile here

Mentioned in this episode:

Paddle UK and ICF World Cup 2026

Book now to take part in 2026's most exciting racing event as the ICF World Cup hits the beautiful waters of Torbay between June 24th and 28th, combining with the PaddleUK Super Festival Book before the end of December 2025 for discounted entry

Paddle UK 2026 World Cup

Coffee and Coast

Our sponsor for this episode is Coffee and Coast. The Dorset based coffee company has a range of delicious roasts available for individual order or on subscription so you never run out of a quality brew. Why not buy a subscription as the gift which keeps on giving!

Coffee_and_Coast