It’s never too late – paddleboarding in your 50s and 60s…

POV: You’re a woman in your 50s or 60s and you’re wondering: am I too old? Is it too late for me to start paddleboarding?

If you’ve heard how wonderful SUP can be for your physical and mental wellbeing but are worried that maybe your age is a barrier, then you’re in the right place. 

Because whilst I totally appreciate your concerns, I want to reassure you that you are absolutely not too old – and it is most definitely not too late. In fact, your 50s or 60s may be the perfect time for you to begin. 

My name is Jo and I’m 61. I took my first lesson in 2016, aged 51, on Derwent Water in the Lake District. I had injured my knee earlier in the year and was looking for a way to build up my strength and fitness. Paddleboarding is a full-body workout yet gentle on our joints, it can help our cardiovascular health and improve our balance. It was just what I was looking for and I fell in love that day. I always say that when I stood up on the paddleboard I felt “like a warrior not a worrier” – strong, confident and calm. I feel like this every time I put on my leash and buoyancy aid and head out onto the water. This confidence has had a ripple effect into my everyday life. 

Since that first lesson, in 2019 I became the first woman to paddleboard coast to coast from Liverpool to Leeds along the canal network, made a film about the challenge called Brave Enough – A Journey Home to Joy, created a popular podcast series The Joy of SUP – The Paddleboarding Sunshine Podcast and became a bestselling, award-winning author of three books about paddleboarding. All in my late 50s / early 60s. And simply because I gave SUP a go one grey September day. 

At an age when some might worry our best days are behind us, SUP reminds us there are so many new adventures and opportunities ahead.

How can SUP make us feel so strong and positive in our 50s and 60s?

Compared to other watersports such as surfing, SUP is very accessible with a much shorter learning curve. Within a lesson or two with a qualified instructor, most of us will be able to stand up, turn and stop the board safely. I would always recommend your first step is to take lessons with a qualified instructor to ensure you start off with a good technique and safety information. You’ll feel reassured and have a great feeling of accomplishment afterwards for being brave enough to try something new. 

There is also a huge body of scientific research showing that time on or near water is good for our mental and emotional wellbeing, plus there’s the positive impact of moving our bodies. For my third book, Adventures on the Water – The Power of Paddleboarding to Change Lives, I wrote about ‘blue mind’, a term coined by author Wallace J Nichols for the “mildly meditative state people fall into when they are near, in, under or on water.”

In his book, Blue Mind: How Water Makes You Happier, More Connected and Better at What You Do, Nichols shares studies, including fMRI scans showing how being near water can lead to decreased stress and anxiety, and increased feelings of wellbeing, as well as lower breathing and heart rates. 

Fellow Red paddleboarder Cathy Regan (63), began paddling five years ago – after a wobbly start and self-doubt, SUP became one of her favourite pastimes. “As soon as I’m on a paddleboard, the worries, cares and tensions of the day just drift away,” she says. 

Our 50s and 60s can be such a busy time, with many demands and responsibilities. Paddleboarding can be a wonderful way to find moments of peace and calm. 

Community is also a big part of paddleboarding, both in person and on social media such as the Red Paddleboard Owners Group on Facebook. Amanda Garner, who turns 60 next birthday, is one of the administrators. Good Facebook groups like this can be a special place for paddlers to share tips about locations, boards, kit and celebrate beautiful moments in nature, both online and on the water. Lee Lidstone, a member of the Owners Group and also in her 60s, says paddleboarding fosters friendships. She and her friends enjoy SUP birthday trips together “just because we can!”

SUP also offers so many opportunities to stretch ourselves – something Sarah Thornely, former racing champion, one of the UK’s foremost SUP broadcasters and founder of SUPjunkie knows all about. Sarah, now 66, has been paddleboarding for 14 years and jointly won the UK SUP National Series in 2017 – not just her age category, but the series overall! Sarah is a great role model for paddlers who want to step out of their comfort zones and get into one of the many more specialist disciplines within SUP. As Sarah told me: “being a beginner at SUP racing, whitewater SUP or SUPsurfing really is a privilege, especially as you get older. Feeling safe in the environment and having an open mind to trying new things is very rewarding.” Sarah loves being a competitor in her 60s. Whilst she might not be as fast as she was in her 50s, it keeps her fit, active and involved with the community who, she says, are incredibly supportive and welcoming to all age groups. 

Top Tips

Here’s some quick-fire advice from Amanda, Sarah, Lee and Cathy…

• Take a Paddle UK or BSUPA lesson.
• Invest in a buoyancy aid or PFD that fits your body properly and feels comfortable to wear.
• We can all fall in – so learn how to get back on your board confidently and safely, however that works for you.
• Join local social paddles as you will meet some amazing people that quickly become great friends.
• Start with shorter paddles to build up your stamina.
• Step outside of your comfort zone – challenging yourself can be fun and builds your confidence.
• Learn about safety, kit, wind, tides and currents so you can build up your confidence and skills.

See you out there?

Whether you’re looking for new friendships, the peace of a quiet paddle, the thrill of a race, a sense of achievement, or simply a reminder that health, happiness and adventure still lie ahead in your 50s, 60s and beyond – starting SUP really could be one of the best decisions you make.

We really hope you will – and would love to hear how you get on… Maybe see you on the water or in the Facebook group?

Jo Moseley is the author of three books about stand-up paddleboarding, all published by Vertebrate Publishing: Stand-up Paddleboarding in Great Britain – Beautiful Places to Paddleboard in England, Scotland and Wales (2022), Stand-up Paddleboarding in the Lake District – Beautiful Places to Paddleboard in Cumbria (2024) and Adventures on the Water – The Power of Paddleboarding to Change Lives (2025). Find more from Jo at www.jomoseley.com or on Instagram @jomoseley

Find Sarah Thornely on Instagram @supjunkie.uk

Amanda Garner and Lee Lidstone on Facebook @RedPaddleboardOwnersGroup

And Cathy Regan on Instagram @themindsetstylist