A stand-up paddleboarding champion is among the founders of a new club for the sport in Swansea.

Emily King, a national stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) champion set up Swansea SUP Club with fellow paddle-boarders Kevin Jackson, Melanie Allen, and Ian Rees.

"We met each other on the water one day and said, there's a gap for this – something the local community had also been saying – so why not do it?" said Ms King, who is the head coach at the club.

The team has set up the club put together their website within just six weeks.

"It's such an inspirational team and everybody has such good skills which we've brought together. It's on fire, we are just flying," Ms King continued.

The club requires members to have their own kit and intends to bring paddle-boarders together in a safe environment to progress their skills. Some of the coaching will include racing, SUP fitness, and mindful paddling.

"It will bring together people who are like-minded and want to exercise," Ms King continued.

"Hopefully, it will be something for everybody and have that inclusivity. If you have a paddleboard and you're not very confident, it's a group that can help you develop as a paddler and create friendships. Mainly, it's to promote safety within paddling too."

Ms King has raced at the elite level in the UK and internationally, qualifying as GBSUP Technical Series Race Champion last year. She has also taken the Welsh team to international competitions.

Ms King started paddleboarding after she began suffering with PTSD, following an attack by dogs.

"I suffered with anxiety among other things and was pretty much house-bound and broken, as anyone who suffers with severe mental health is," she said.

"I moved to Swansea and saw this strange thing happening on the water, but I couldn't go outside because of my fear of dogs.

"My husband loves to surf and said 'Look, come out on the water.' I went on my first paddle and that was it.

"It just inspired me to take control of my life through mindfulness. It's completely turned my life around."

Ms King added that she has now converted her son to the sport, and raced throughout her pregnancy.

"I know what the benefits of SUP can do from making people physically fit to helping them with their mental health, especially at this time," she continued.

Due to the pandemic, the club has had to adapt by providing preliminary online training, webinars, and online get-togethers.

"It's quite nice for people to get to know each other," Ms King said.

"Sometimes, on the water, it can be a bit busy and you don't always get the time to ask the questions you want to discuss, so it's quite nice to have a chance to do that side of the training as well."

The club is affiliated with the Water Skills Academy, a national governing body for paddling, and has been following government rules for best practice during the pandemic.

Those aged between 14 and 18 can join the club, as long as they are accompanied by a parent or guardian, with anyone over the age of 18 being able to paddle independently.

"It doesn't matter who you are, what kit you've got, as long as you're keen to have a go," Ms King said.

To find out more about the club, click here.