Flow State Interview: Ginnie Betts

I first met Ginnie on a sup instructor training course, though I knew her name from her victory at the 2016 Battle of the Thames. Two things were immediately apparent – firstly that Ginnie was a naturally rapid paddler, though she might deny that herself, and secondly that she was incredibly modest about her ability. See point one, QED. Since then we’ve paddled together, and crossed paths plenty of times and Ginnie is currently sitting 12th in the APP women’s overall race ranking, but I realised I still didn’t really know what had made Ginnie so quick. So, in between races and work, we caught up with Ginnie to find out the mindset, skillset and toolset behind her performance….

Wosson Ginnie, please tell us, where did it all begin? I’m from West Cornwall and I live in Penzance. I was introduced to leisure paddling in autumn 2013 and pottered around St Michael’s Mount on an inflatable for most of 2014, but even then I’d always feel the need to push myself and figure out how to go faster. I stumbled across SUP racing by chance when a leg of the Eurotour was held in Carbis Bay, May 2015. I went to watch and was completely mesmerised. My immediate assumption was that I was too old to start, but I was convinced otherwise and since then competitive SUP racing has been my primary interest. That said, my other love is coastal ‘adventure’ paddling. Living in West Cornwall, with its stunning coastline, that love is inevitable.

And how does your event schedule look for the rest of the year?

I’m about to complete the US ‘hat trick’ of races having done the Pacific Paddle Games for the first time last October and the Carolina Cup in April, I’m now fortunate enough to go and race the iconic Gorge Paddle Challenge in Hood River, Oregon (August 17-19). Much like the PPG and Carolina, the Gorge is very much a ‘rite of passage’ for sup racers. If the wind plays ball, the Gorge provides some of the best down winding conditions in the world. My travel to Carolina and the Gorge was made possible by Barrachou Paddle who took a punt on sponsoring a slightly anomalous candidate. I’m very grateful.

I’ve qualified for the national team again this year, but we’re still waiting to hear whether the International Surfing Association is actually hosting a World Championships and whether it’s Home Nations or Team GB like last year. If ISA fails to come through I hope to head to either the World Cup in Scharbeutz or the International Canoe Federation World Championships in China… maybe both if I can come up with a hustle!