Nigel Waters
Paddle boarder & Co-Founder of SUP Funk
“At SUP Funk, we don’t just sell gear; we verify it. My background in engineering, high altitude climbing and Paddle Boarding experience has taught me one thing: when your equipment is the only thing between you and the elements, ‘good enough’ is never enough.”
From Mountain Peaks to Coastal Tides
A lifetime spent in the elements often behind a camera lens in sub-zero temperatures or on a technical climb has taught me exactly what it takes to stay safe and enjoy yourself when nature turns “interesting.”
I know that the gorgeous, calm summer evenings are only one part of the story. To truly enjoy paddleboarding for any length of time throughout the year here in the UK, you have to be prepared for everything else. Whether it’s a brisk morning on a mirrored lake or a choppy paddle against a sudden headwind, I’ve spent my life learning how to respect the elements and choose gear that won’t let you down.
Why We Started SUP Funk
At SUP Funk, we are passionate about the water, but we’re even more passionate about paddle boarding and the truth. Our business was born from a simple realisation that the gear you use determines the quality of your day.
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Tried and Tested: We don’t just “stock” products; we live in them. If we haven’t used it ourselves in the sun, wind, rain and chop of the UK, we won’t recommend it to you.
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Designed for the UK: My background has driven us to go beyond just selling other brands. We are now designing our own technical clothing specifically tailored for the unique demands of paddleboarding in the UK. We want you to stay warm, dry, and out on the water longer.
This is why myself and Kiriaki started SUP Funk in the first place, the market for technical clothing is limited and as a dedicated paddler I was always trying to find something that would suit paddle boarding on the water. Most often it was technical clothing designed for surfing or sailing which always meant compromises. Even clothing that was supposed to be designed for paddleboarding really wasn’t.
SUP Funk as a paddle boarding shop selling the gear we use from brands we trust was never the original intention of our business. But due to issues around our own technical apparel and continuous delays we decided to pivot slightly and why SUP Funk is the business it is today.
Our technical clothing range has been a labour of love for us now for well over a year agonisingly testing designs and materials from all over the world. It has been a very long and slow process but I can confirm that we are almost there. We won’t just be another technical clothing brand, we are developing the best Paddle Boarding Clothing on the market that is designed to keep you on the water longer into the seasons.
All I can say it has been difficult and a really hard long road but our final sizing samples are being manufactured as we speak so hopefully soon we can go into full production, watch this space.
The Engineer’s Mindset: Quality Without Compromise
While my heart is in the outdoors, my head is rooted in Engineering. I bring a logical, technical approach to everything we do at SUP Funk. To me, a paddle board or a piece of technical clothing isn’t just a product, it’s a piece of kit that needs to perform under stress and meet the demands of the type of paddle boarder it is aimed at.
My engineering background and experience has taught me to scrutinise the “how” and “why” of every item in search of perfection:
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The Build: I look for the integrity, quality, the grade of the materials, and the logic of the design.
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The Function: I’m always thinking about how we can make gear more efficient and more durable for our customers.
- Precision Curation: I use my technical mindset to filter out the “gimmicks” and only select equipment that offers genuine performance gains and long-term reliability from brands we know you can trust.
I’m here to make sure that when you buy from us, you’re getting equipment that has been vetted by a professional eye and tested by someone who has spent decades battling the best and worst of the British weather.
The “Zero-Fail” Mentality: From Peak to Paddle
This focus on quality was forged during my years as a mountain climber. In the mountains, as on the water, gear failure isn’t an option. My experience in extreme environments has taught me to value equipment that is over-engineered for safety and built for the long haul.
At SUP Funk, we are “built different” because we are a team of active users. We aren’t interested in selling the most gear, we’re interested in selling the right gear. Every recommendation I make is backed by a combination of engineering logic and years of experience paddle boarding and battling the elements.
Tried. Tested. Proven.
