Race Directors' words - The Big Dippa
- Scott Warren
- Aug 29
- 8 min read
We’ve just wrapped up Round 6 of the 2025 Black Project x GBSUP National Series, the Big Dippa, held at the stunning Whitley Bay.
While the location was beautiful, the day was anything but tranquil. It was a true testament to the hard work and energy of the local team, led by Anna Little and her son James, along with the Northern SUP Race Team. They worked tirelessly in very challenging conditions, putting in countless hours and days behind the scenes to build this event alongside Mark and the crew from Northerly Swell.
We were honoured to be invited to participate in this year's Big Dippa, held alongside a local festival featuring music, food stalls, and numerous activities.
The Big Dippa 2025 Race Directors Report
A Deceptive Start
The morning of the event was deceptively calm. As I got my first look at the bay, a small, clean swell pulsed in, and the calm seas and light winds made for a beautiful morning run along the seafront. By the time our morning setup began, the forecast for cloudier skies and increasing winds ensured we'd have yet another event in 2025 that would challenge our procedures and race management. We just didn't expect the test that was to come.
The Race Against the Conditions
The local team was in full swing. Buoys were being pumped up, tents were erected, and event partners were setting up their gear in what I affectionately call "organised chaos." I love the event setup phase, as we discuss the best places for people to be, finalise the running order, and nail down how we'll manage our paddlers and all the other elements that go with an event.
After setup, it was time to discuss racing, review the courses, and ensure the check-in team could perform their jobs smoothly. Of course, we also needed to finalise the start lists for the day's action on the water. We had scheduled a 6km distance race and a shorter, but exciting 2km tech race for the GBSUP National Series. Alongside this, the Northern SUP Race Team was organising fun sprints, kids' racing, and multi-person dragon board races. Everything was looking good as the morning progressed.
The weather, however, had other ideas. It was soon apparent that our plan A would have to change. The wind kicked up from the south, and an increased swell from the north meant the surf was bigger than forecast. This brought about our first challenge. Our safety boats and teams launched from several miles away, with a plan to collect the course buoys from the beach and relocate them to their designated locations. With the increased swell and waves breaking at 4+ feet, and a heavy kelp field across the shoreline, it was impossible to bring the boats in close to shore. Several members of the team, our partners, and even a couple of incredible competitors tried to paddle our huge 2m square buoys out through the surf. Eventually, after what seemed like forever, the team's will made it happen, utilising ingenious techniques to pull the buoys out through the breaking waves.
As the course was finally set, the incoming tide meant our paddlers would face a very tricky launch from the beach, right into a 3-foot shore dump and then at times 5-foot sets rolling into the bay. The course was triangular in shape, with paddlers completing three laps.
The Distance Race: A Battle of Skill
It was all about the start. If you could make it out past the breakers, the relative chop of the open sea seemed calm in comparison. The course was shortened, and anyone even thinking of taking on these challenging conditions was already a winner in our eyes.
In the men's fleet, Hector Jessel spotted a rip to the right side of the course, using all his lifeguard knowledge to run at a diagonal into the waves rather than ploughing straight ahead. Living in Cornwall, his water knowledge and skills shone in conditions where only a handful of paddlers in the whole fleet looked even remotely comfortable.
A clean start for him meant it was a surefire win if nothing untoward happened in the remaining laps of the race. Local charger James Little demonstrated his skill in navigating the inner shore breakers and skillfully navigated the course to finish second. Paul Drake persevered to come home third after a time penalty was given to Ally Findlay of Glasgow for persistently paddling on his knees. With the conditions as they were, our competitive fleet rule of five strokes on your knees was impossible to enforce, as the majority of the fleet on skinny all-water boards tackled the open waters of the North Sea coastline.
In the women's race, it was a particularly brutal affair. As the fleet launched, a powerful, unrelenting wall of water—what surfers would call a cleanup set—hit them hard. The start was a chaotic mess of boards and bodies as everyone got a good battering. It was here that Anni Page truly shone, showing her skills and proving why she has become one of our best female paddlers, and very much belongs on the international stage. Anni negotiated the waves with precision, storming off from the start after getting over the initial breakers. The rest of the fleet had a challenging time punching through, with Suzanne Lier and Sarah Perkins ultimately finishing second and third, respectively, utilising all their surfing skills to manage the conditions.
The Tech Race: A Hardcore Showcase
In the afternoon, it was time for the tech race, and the promise of high tide gave us hope of flatter conditions. That didn't really come to fruition, and we still had big waves and shore dumps to contend with. This was where the team faced its biggest challenge of the day: finding a format that worked for everyone to give it a go safely. It was always going to be carnage, and with plenty of spectators up on the promenade, it was going to be quite a showcase of
British paddling at its most hardcore.
The course was set for a square with two buoys just beyond the breakers, and paddlers completed a 25m beach run with their boards to make a two-lap square course. Many paddlers chose to sit this one out, the conditions beyond them. Making the sensible decision to watch and learn from a few of our best sea paddlers instead was a wise call, and one we fully supported. For others who gave it a go, just being on the start line was an achievement, and many didn't make it out past the waves.
A huge shout must go to the challenge tour novice fleet paddlers for giving it a go and getting stuck into the breaking waves.
Boards were everywhere, people were being given a good workout, and the local team helped where they could to keep everyone safe. James Little gave Hector a run for his money in the tech race after a great start, and in the ladies, Anni shone again.
The Spirit of the Event
Ultimately, this day wasn't about the podiums. It was about the spirit of the event, supporting everyone to challenge themselves safely, and providing them with support if they chose not to participate. It wasn't the day for some, but I hope they look back on the 2025 Big Dippa as a truly incredible spectacle. Not since the 2019 BaySUP event have we seen conditions like this year's Big Dippa—a true ocean tech race at its most hardcore.
Juniors and the Starboard Airline Cup
A huge thanks must also go to our juniors. Due to the conditions, the fun racing, dragon boards, and juniors' on-water events were understandably cancelled for safety reasons. However, we were still able to get the kids doing some fun lifeguard-style beach racing, running around flags.
It was a massive achievement for several of our junior competitors to even take on the conditions.
Any other race will now seem easy by comparison, and we are grateful to those who took part and continue to grow the sport. We hope to encourage more young paddlers to challenge themselves in a safe environment.
We must also give a special mention to the Starboard Airline Cup, which saw paddlers on Starboard's inflatable Airline boards battle it out. This initiative is a fantastic addition to the series, and we look forward to building on its success in 2026, providing a dedicated and competitive platform for inflatable racers.
Event Gallery: Photos by P3T Photography - GBSUP Official Media Partner
A Final Word of Thanks
A massive thank you to our hosts, the Northern SUP Race Team and Northerly Swell. The North East of England, with its accessibility to Scotland, is a vital hub for our community, and the passion of the local paddlers is second to none. It was incredible to see competitors who travelled far and wide to compete here, with many from Scotland and southern England making the worthwhile trip. Whitley Bay, with its stunning coastline, fantastic facilities, and nearby hotels and camping, is a beautiful and welcoming venue.
Well done to everyone involved, including those who supported the event, the paddlers, and Anna, James, and Mark, and their respective Northern SUP Race and Northerly Swell teams, for delivering an incredible event that will long live in the folklore of UK SUP Paddling.
A Huge Thank You to Our Partners
This incredible event wouldn't have been possible without the generous support of our partners and sponsors. A massive thank you to everyone who helped make the 2025 Big Dippa a reality.
A special thanks to our headline event and prize money sponsors, Permatt Fork Lift Trucks Ltd., whose commitment helped deliver the biggest prize purse in UK domestic SUP history. We're also incredibly grateful to Succorfish, Bio Mate, and Tyne Valley Wind & Solar for their support.
We extend our sincere thanks to North Tyneside Council for their outstanding support in helping us organise the event at Whitley Bay.
Safety on a day like this was paramount, and we're hugely grateful to the teams who worked tirelessly to keep everyone safe. Thank you to Red Seal Safety Boats for providing safety cover and to the St. John Ambulance for their professional medical support.
We're also delighted to highlight our official GBSUP Media Partner, P3T Photography, who captured the spirit and intensity of the day. You can view all the amazing photos and relive the action via their event albums: https://bigdippa2025.p3tphotography.com/sets.
And of course, we must give a huge shout-out to the local teams who went above and beyond:
The Northern SUP Race Team and Northerly Swell for being the backbone of this event. Their passion and hard work are what make the North East such a vital hub for the UK SUP community. You can find more from Northerly Swell here: https://northerlyswell.com/.
Thank you to our trophy providers, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558382169705, for creating such a fitting tribute for our winners.
For the full race standings, you can find the official results on the GBSUP website: https://www.gbsup.co.uk/results.
Thank you again to all the racers, supporters, and partners. We can't wait to see you all at the next event!
Scott Warren
GBSUP Chair, Events & Race Director
Photos: P3T Photography
Event Overall Winners Podiums
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