Sam Perrett

Paddle UK

HTTPS://PADDLEUK.ORG.UK/

New Year’s resolutions for paddlers

Happy New Year from Paddle UK. It’s the start of a brand new year, which means opportunities for more paddling. Plus, it’s a great time to start thinking about New Year’s resolutions.

January is all about new beginnings, and it’s a great time of year to set out your goals and intentions for 2026, whether they are paddling-related or not. But if you’re anything like us, you’ve already started thinking about the many paddling adventures, challenges, and skills you can learn and do.

Whether you’ve already decided on your New Year’s resolutions or are still trying to decide, check out some of our New Year’s resolutions for paddlers and how you can make them happen in 2026.

Level up your paddling skills in 2026
As we enter a new year, it is a great time to reflect on your paddling progression for 2026. Whether you’re looking to develop your personal paddling skills, your safety skills, or become an instructor, coach, or leader, there’s something for everyone and acts as an excellent new year resolution for paddlers.

In 2025, the Paddle UK Awarding Body launched several new and improved courses and eLearning resources. Some great options to include

Head over to our Awarding Body website to explore our Paddlesports Instructor, Coaching and Performance Coaching Awards, plus much, much more, and start your 2026 paddling development journey today.

Discover new places to paddle
It’s time to start planning your paddling adventures for 2026. Is there a location you’ve always wanted to paddle or a paddling distance you’ve always wanted to achieve? Let us help you reach your paddling goals.

Our handy tool, PaddlePoints, can help you discover new places to paddle across the UK. It includes a detailed map of launch and landing locations, plus tips on where to park, or change from local paddlers who have visited before. Check out PaddlePoints here: https://gopaddling.info/paddlepoints/.

Or check out some of our bucket list paddles from around the UK here: https://gopaddling.info/blog/tips-and-advice/bucket-list-paddles/.

How many can you tick off in 2026?
Our Go Paddling website also holds a wealth of paddling route articles to help guide and inspire your paddling adventures. You’ll be able to find tips for different paddling routes, plus their distance and difficulty level. The perfect way to explore somewhere new this year. Find the ideal paddling location for your 2026 adventure here: https://gopaddling.info/tag/paddling-routes/.

Take on the SUP world
In June, the world of SUP racing is coming to Torbay, UK, for a World Cup race. What makes this race truly amazing is that it’s not just for the world’s elite. This festival of SUP has races for every level, as well as taster sessions, kit demos, SUP polo, and loads more!

This is a unique chance to take on the world on your SUP on the beautiful English Riviera, with loads of like-minded people having fun.

Find out more here: https://superfestival.paddleuk.org.uk/.

Keep our waterways clean
Together as a paddling community, we can help make a difference to the health of our blue spaces. A vital addition to your 2026 New Year’s resolutions would be taking part in a paddle cleanup of plastic pollution or invasive non native species on your local waterways.

Organising a paddle cleanup with your friends or paddling club is a great way to get outside and do some good for waterways near you. You can find a guide on the Clear Access, Clear Waters website to help you organise your own. Find out how you can get involved with our 2026 Big Paddle Cleanup here: https://paddleuk.org.uk/big-paddle-cleanup/.

Another key New Year’s resolution for paddlers could be to help stop the spread of invasive non-native species. All you need to do is check, Clean, and dry your equipment every time you go paddling. By following these three simple steps, you can help stop the spread of invasive non-native species in the waterways you love to swim in, allowing them to thrive. You can find out more through our informative video series here:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPnshMnHWb0LZnauTD4XcfEOAxkmLF-mO

We hope these ideas help inspire you to give a paddling New Year’s resolution a go and that 2026 brings you plenty of opportunities for adventure and growth. We are here to help you get the most out of paddling and enjoy another fantastic year on the water.