2023 West Beach Challenge

17th June 2023

This event was all about giving our club members an opportunity to push their skills and endurance in a coastal challenge. Let's dive into the highlights of the event, despite the wild and unexpected weather!  We thought we'd have light winds, but instead, we faced a gusty winds and a hefty swell. Talk about a surprise! These challenging conditions added an extra level of excitement and truly put our paddlers' skills to the test.

Originally, we had planned a 5k and 2k race, heading out of the bay and towards the lighthouse. However, the evolving conditions led us to make some adjustments, and we had to limit the course to the bay.  Competitors had to compete with the wind and navigate an undulating swell, making it quite a demanding challenge. 

The Lossiemouth West Beach Challenge embraced the spirit of personal achievement and camaraderie, prioritizing the individual accomplishments of participants over fierce competition. While we did record the challengers' timing for those who wanted to set a benchmark, the true spirit of the event lay in personal growth, enjoying the experience, and fostering a supportive community. 

Looking ahead, we're already excited about the future of the Lossiemouth West Beach Challenge. The Moray SUP Club would love to make it an annual event that grows in popularity each year. Building upon this year's accomplishments, the club is excited to investigate the following expansions and improvements for future editions:

Prone Category: To embrace the diversity of paddleboarding disciplines, the Moray SUP Club would look to introduce a prone category in the upcoming events. This addition will invite prone paddleboard enthusiasts to participate, fostering inclusivity and attracting a wider range of water sports enthusiasts.

Open to Non-Club Members: In the spirit of community engagement, the club will investigate opening the Lossiemouth West Beach Challenge to non-club members. By welcoming participants from outside the club, the event will create new connections, broaden its reach, and further strengthen the local paddleboarding community.