Q&A with Sarah Thornely

Sarah is the passion behind SUPjunkie, a vibrant hub for SUP enthusiasts. With an infectious love for all things SUP, Sarah has spent years championing the sport, spotlighting paddlers, events, and innovations through her engaging content.

Interview: Peter Tranter
Photos: Sarah & Antony Thornely & Jonny Greatrex

Her mission is simple: to connect the SUP community, share inspiring stories, and to promote the joy of paddling – whether you’re a seasoned racer or a casual cruiser. Her ever-present figure at events and on the water herself brings authenticity, energy, and a genuine sense of community that continues to inspire paddleboarders. Take it away Sarah…

Before we start, Sarah, please tell our readers a little about yourself, your background, your family, etc.  
I was born in Guildford, Surrey, to a very normal family. I was sporty as a youngster, playing football and cricket aged six with the boys at school, and I loved running. However, as soon as I was a teenager, my interest waned. My happy memories are of teenage summer holidays in Cornwall, with my sister, cousins and friends. Lots of fun in and around the sea, with my father hand-making a surfboard with a wonderful Mary Quant pink and red flower design over the full deck – oh, how I wish I still had that board! 

In secondary school, I was encouraged away from my love of technical drawing, art, and woodwork to go into the safer route of being a secretary (not by my parents, it was just that era), so when I left school at 16, my life as a legal secretary began. I worked until I met my first husband, we then had children, and I was lucky enough to stay at home after that and bring my two children up ‘my way’. For a short period, I owned a shop with a girlfriend, but despite its success, I missed being there for my kids, so I gave it up. 
In 2007, I started my new life with Antony and have always been busy doing bits and bobs workwise, but never found my niche, I guess. 

Tell us about the start of your SUP journey. 
In 2012, I was watching a girlfriend who was into paddling, and I was intrigued, so I went along and had a lesson with her club, Blue Chip. I enjoyed it and tried it again on my honeymoon in Egypt. I felt confident and loved being on the water. I didn’t fancy paddling during that Winter, so I stopped for a while. In December of that year, I had an emergency life-saving operation and spent Christmas in hospital. When I came out, I knew I needed to crack on with my life and thought paddleboarding should be a part of it. I had to wait for the scars to heal, but as soon as they did, I got my feet back on that board and knew I was hooked. I bought a 12’6 Red race board from Blue Chip. Later that year, I entered my first race, bagged an age category medal, and bought my first hard board, a Starboard AllStar 14’ x 27, and I still have it – a classic board. I am also still a proud member of Blue Chip. 
 
When, where and why did the idea of SUPjunkie come about? 
I had been part of the Events Team with our National Series, had always taken photos when not racing and had started to get on a mic, cover races live and do the odd interview. Having never had any media training, I guess I was good at it because:
a) I can talk,
b) I know SUP racing, and
c) I was a friendly face amongst the paddlers, so they were happy to chat.

A couple of good girlfriends encouraged me to make SUPjunkie ’a thing’ so we designed some t-shirts and headed up to the APP World Tour in London in 2018. We had already covered a few UKN1SCO events for Alex Tobutt and interviewed Casper Steinfath. We blagged our way onto boats in London, interviewing 32 paddlers, including Kai Lenny, Michael Booth, Casper, Yuka, and many others – an absolute highlight that marked the birth of SUPjunkie, the brand. Three months later, we were off to the ISA Worlds in China as part of the team. 

What gives you a buzz from SUPjunkie? 
Really, just the people I meet, they are all incredible in their own way – being able to promote racers and adventurers or just the paddlers raising awareness for charities. I love SUP racing with a passion, and when I retired in 2017, this really did fill the gap. I love being on the mic and interviewing, and that is what gives me a real buzz too. 

What are the future plans for SUPjunkie, if any? 
2025 has been a slightly different year for me, so I’m fairly free rein at the moment. For the future, I want to continue to promote the sport and the paddlers within it and be able to get on the mic wherever I can. 
Which brands do you work with, and how do they specifically help you? 

I have been lucky enough to become a Brand Ambassador for Red Equipment and feel very honoured to be a part of their family. My first two inflatables were Red, and we had them for over ten years. Red has been able to support me by providing a beautiful new board, a 14 Sport+, and I know I can chat with them about future projects, and they would help. In return, I can happily promote what I see as a fantastic visionary brand, with excellent quality products and a happy team. 

I have known Dave from Paddle Logger since the APP event in London and have been part of the team since then. The progression of this award-winning App has been extraordinary over that time, and the features are fabulous. I have always liked the more straightforward and ‘colourful’ way of recording my training (I’m not a super stats and numbers girl!), so this fits the bill for me and really keeps me safe on the water too. Again, I’m proud to be a part of their family and have met some great paddlers through it, like Jordan Wylie and Nicola Volani. 

I’ve also become an ambassador for Kyloe in the Wild sunglasses this year – a fabulous small family brand that makes high-quality products. They have a huge following but are very hands-on with all the team. 

Oscar Propulsion have been a great support to me too, initially with gifting me a paddle to try out on Lizzie Carr’s Race for Rivers event. I loved it, reviewed it, and since then, Duncan and I have become firm friends, and he is incredibly supportive. I am very happy to use Oscar paddles and would encourage everyone to have a go at their innovative slitted designs. 

I am grateful to all the other brands who have allowed me to review their products – it’s probably one of the hardest things I do, with honest thoughts, road testing and taking Ant along for photographs – it takes a huge amount of time, but I do love it. 

Do you have any overseas SUP trips/expeditions lined up? 
I am very excited for the end of this year. I am hopeful to go to the ICF World Championship event in Abu Dhabi. I have been asked to attend and am just waiting for confirmation. This means I get to work with Matty from TotalSUP again! 

I am also going to be on the media team for the endurance event, Last Paddler Standing, taking place in Florida in December. I have wanted to get on the mic for this race since its inception, and now it’s finally happening – a big thanks to RD Greg Wingo for having me on the team. Having been on the mic non-stop for 12 hours, I’m looking forward to the challenge of over 48 hours! 

Who are your role models, and/what keeps you motivated? 
I always think of Chris Parker from SUP Racer, whom I used to listen to in the early days. His coverage of the races over the past ten years was second to none, and now I really look up to Matty from TotalSUP. Having worked with Matty, I appreciate his insane knowledge of all paddlers and true professionalism. He’s also great fun! 

My motivation is the paddlers – SUPjunkie has never been about me or self-promotion – it’s always been about showcasing paddlers of all levels and abilities. 

There is tremendous enthusiasm amongst women for SUP – why do you think that is?  
Paddling has a great community, and that resonates with women. We are very good in a group and at supporting other women. We generally like to listen and learn when taught, and we really think about how to improve so we can get a lot out of it. It’s also a great escape from life sometimes, whether you have a job, family, children or not.

Brendon Prince and you have become great friends – how did that begin? 
I think we need to jump back to Jordan Wylie, whom I met through Paddle Logger, and followed his great, great attempt at paddling around Great Britain. I have no doubt he would have done it without Covid getting in the way! I did a great series on Jordan in The Paddler (https://paddlerezine.com/foreword-the-wylie-diary/). 

So, I guess it was through that great adventure that I got to know the next man who was going to attempt the very same thing, one Brendon Prince. I also wrote a series about his journey in The Paddler (https://paddlerezine.com/the-long-paddle/). I was there on the water for his last few kilometres as he paddled back to his hometown of Torbay and finished his successful circumnavigation. Since then, I have interviewed him, written about and covered some of the great new events he has put on in Torbay, SUP Twelve and SUPer Festival. Brendon is a visionary and has, in a very short space of time, secured the ICF SUP World CUP, which is coming to Torbay in June 2026. 

I cannot thank Brendon enough for his unwavering support of me and what I do – he truly appreciates me and has my back, and I am honoured to call him my friend. 

If you could capture just one ‘feel good’ moment in your time paddling, which would it be and why? 
Maybe back in May this year, being on a great road trip with friends, turning 66, racing in an international event in Austria and then jumping on the mic with Matty when I got off the water – I’m not sure I could top that! 

What’s the best way to improve paddling skills? 
There are thousands of videos out there, but nothing can improve you more than a great one-to-one lesson from a good instructor/coach. What you will learn in those few hours will improve your paddling skills so much quicker! 
 
Which paddling locations in the world would be on your bucket list? 
The fjords of Norway and New Zealand for sure! 
 
If you could take part in only one race in the world, which would it be and why? 
I guess if I had the skill and chutzpah, the M2O in Hawaii. 
 
You attend so many SUP events and competitions in the year – where do you find the time? 
I guess most years, it’s been about the only thing I have done! 2025 has been a little different, and I have appreciated not attending all the races in the UK that I have over the last seven years. If I am not at a race, I am writing about the racing, and if I am not doing that, I am researching for it! Latterly, I have been able to train and race. 

You look a very happy and contented woman – what’s the secret to your good feeling?   
Thank you! I have children whom I am incredibly proud of. I did have a great first marriage, but my second one is so much better, as I feel I’ve found my soul mate. Being able to be honest with people and upfront, I love that, saves so much drama. Letting go of stuff, rather than holding on to it and having some great, great friends. I like to think I’m relaxed and go with the flow, and I also had a mother who passed on some great genes! 

OK – life isn’t all about SUP – so what else interests you when you get the time? 
I have always loved photography and have owned a camera since I was 18. I’m a point and shoot kind of ‘tog’ but think I have a good eye and have some great memories through the images. 

I love SUP surfing too – taught well by Sarah Perkins, I cannot get enough of it, and the smallest wave makes me whoop still. The simple things in life, too, like walking with my husband and, of course, time spent with my family. 

What’s the most enjoyable encounter with wildlife that you’ve had whilst paddling? 
I think it was a Water Skills Academy trip in Scotland, I was doing my Adventure Guide course, and we were followed by seals throughout the day, they were playing ‘grandmother’s footsteps’ with us for hours. 

Do you have an eco-message for fellow paddlers? 
Always clean your board after use to stop the spread of invasive species. I use Biomate, which makes my life so much easier – check them out and the #checkcleandry campaign. 

Also, if you have old boards sitting around, be they 12’6 race boards or old iSUPs, why not pass them on to youngsters? Don’t let them go to landfill, let them inspire the next generation! 

A big question – how does SUP keep progressing in your opinion? 
Ever evolving, from the huge participation growth during the Covid years, to the subtle changes in racing we see today. Paddlers seem to be gravitating towards stand-alone and unique events/races such as SUPTwelve, Race to the Castle and The Eliminator rather than the National Series. Commitment to a series of races, unless it’s local, seems to be wavering, yet new paddlers are prepared to throw themselves into some big challenges, including endurance paddling. 

What are you looking forward to in the next year or so? 
I am finishing the book I am writing with a great team. Travelling with friends to attend events, either to race, watch them race or be on the mic! 

Who are your SUP buddies? 
My SUP buddies are Sarah Perkins, Jonny Greatrex and Andrea Richardson. Together with Antony, we have some great road trips, and the girls are my go-to friends for advice, and they are the ones who pushed me to create SUPjunkie. Time on and off the water with them all is always a pleasure. 

My other SUP buddy is Simon from SUPfm Podcast. We have had some great times on the mic together, and he is another man who absolutely has my back and is a great support on and off the water. 

Quickfire fun questions:

Who would it be if you could paddle with anyone, dead or alive? 
My mother – she died aged 58 but loved the water. I am sure she would have loved paddling. 

If your board had a name, what would it be? 
I’ve only ever named one board, and that is my new SUP surfboard, a Starboard Spice – because it’s black and white, I named her ‘Pepper’. 

What’s the strangest thing you’ve seen floating in the water? 
Can’t think of anything! 

If you could only paddle to the beat of one musical track, what track would you choose? 
Sounds corny, but the music to Hawaii-5-0 always makes me paddle faster and puts a big smile on my face! 

What’s your essential gear? 
My Red Equipment dry pouch, I’ve had it for years and use it on most paddles. 

If you could only bring three items on a SUP trip, what would they be? 
My phone, a drink and a homemade flapjack.  

If your board could talk, what would it say about your paddling skills? 
I think it would say I was pretty good. I am generally always thinking about my technique, even on a social paddle. Larry Cain of Paddle Monster would be very proud of me! 

What’s your most unusual board ritual or superstition? 
I’m not superstitious at all, so I don’t have any. 

What’s the ultimate SUP superpower you wish you had? 
To have the body of a younger person so I could train and race harder! 

If you could only speak in SUP-related puns for a day, what’s your best one? 
Board and addicted. #whatsmyaddiction 

Finally, any shoutouts? 
SUPM and The Paddler Magazine for not only showcasing me and my brand with this feature but also allowing me to write about all the wonderful paddlers and adventurers over the years. 

Big thanks always to my husband, Antony, for being a huge part of SUPjunkie from the early days – you have deserved your well-earned break this year. 

Thank you so much Sarah for taking time out of your very busy schedule – happy paddling!