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Shilpa Rasaiah - Paddle boarding on a SUP board from London to Nottinghamshire

  • xtinecruzat
  • Dec 20, 2022
  • 3 min read

Renata Chlumska - Adventure athlete who became the first Swedish and Czech woman to climb Mount Everest and in 2005 did a circumnavigate of the lower 48 States of the United States by her own power.

Shilpa in her own words:

“I'm a British Indian gal who is about to hit 60 and feel that I am really only just starting to explore the wonderful joy of outdoor adventures.

I am happiest when I'm on the water on my paddle board, or cycling along a canal, or walking in the beautiful English countryside, or body boarding in Cornwall.

I leaned to swim in my late 40’s and this just opened up a whole new world of paddle sports.

My biggest personal adventure was this summer (2022) when I paddle boarded on a SUP board from London to Nottinghamshire, some 165 miles (and 144 locks) along the vertical length of the amazing Grand Union Canal.

This was such a joyful journey and revealed so much about myself that I had not been aware of - particularly how much I love to meet new people and how caring and kind strangers are.

Since then I have been exploring SUP journeys where I carry my camping kit on my SUP board and I absolutely love doing this.

I am extremely grateful to British Canoeing who accepted me as a #ShePaddles Ambassador and this really helped me to go out of my comfort zone and explore new adventures.”

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Show notes

  • Who is Shilpa

  • More about her friends and family

  • What Shilpa was like as a little girl

  • Growing up in Africa until 8 years old

  • Moving to the UK and the culture shock

  • Finding a different type of entertainment

  • Not having dreams or aspirations as a young girl

  • Leaving school to study economics and accounting at University

  • Retraining as a town planner

  • Getting back into the outdoors and sports

  • Meeting up with friends to go for walks in the local area

  • Setting up a local walking group which has been going for over 20 years

  • Building up her walking gear and kit

  • Learning to swim in her late 40s

  • Not having the opportunities when she was younger

  • Learning how to cycle

  • Going to adult only swimming classes to get coaching

  • Doing wild swimming for the first time

  • Getting into kayaking and water sports

  • Her first experience on a paddle board

  • Why she prefers paddle boarding

  • Her adventure in Summer 2022

  • Becoming a British Canoeing #ShePaddles Ambassador

  • Wanting to encourage more women to try water sports

  • Deciding to do a long distance trip on the Grand Union Canal

  • Knowing it was the right time to do the challenge

  • Being honest with herself of what she could and couldn’t do

  • Doing it at her pace

  • The planning and preparation for the journey

  • Researching the route and figuring out distances and accommodation

  • The Pirate Castle - boating and outdoor activities charity on the Regent's Canal in the heart of Camden Town, London

  • Struggling with her back and recovering from injury

  • Being helped and supported along the way

  • The kindness of strangers and when strangers become friends

  • Joining a gym and working out with a personal trainer

  • Focusing on getting strong

  • Dealing with injury

  • Cupping

  • Reflecting back on the journey

  • Feeling more confident

  • Plans for 2023

  • Learning new skills and becoming qualified as a coach

  • Becoming a She Paddles Club

  • How to connect with Shilpa

  • Final words of advice - “you'll never know if you love it or not until you try it”

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