When Surfers Against Sewage contacted us earlier this year to be one of the star prizes in the raffle, we thought about it for all of two or three seconds before saying ‘hell yes, please’.
It is incredibly humbling to be given the opportunity to support such an important cause, and even more flattering to be the only SUP brand to be given the chance to do so. For such an important national charity to select little old McConks, made us feel like we were really punching above our weight! And when we found out what other prizes were in the raffle, we realised we were in very esteemed company. Many larger brands would give their right arm for an opportunity like this, but having spoken a lot with the lovely people at SAS over the last few months, it’s clear that our principles and ethics align, and it makes us really happy to know we were chosen because of this. Principles matter, and it’s awesome to see that these principles aren’t overshadowed by the slightly dirty necessity of fundraising.
As the leading water environmental charity working on behalf of recreational water users, Surfers Against Sewage run deep in the veins of Andy and Jenny. Andy first worked on a joint press release between Friends of the Earth Cymru and Surfers Against Sewage back in 1998 (1), and both have been regular members and avid consumers of SAS hoodies and t-shirts over the years. So we just had to snap up the chance to help SAS deliver their purpose to ‘inspire, unite and empower communities to protect oceans, beaches, waves and wildlife’.
The only downside of being asked to donate, is that we can’t buy tickets. So of course we don’t need to win one of our own boards, but have you seen the other prizes? We’re rather gutted. We’d love the chance to build our own wood surfboard with Arbo, or have a to night off grid eco adventure with Kents of Cornwall! So we’re just a little gutted!
To find out more about the amazing companies who’ve donated prizes, click the pictures below!
But, most importantly, if you want to win one of these awesome prizes, you need to be in it to win it. And of course, winning is the reason you enter, but even if you don’t, at least you get a that farm fuzzy feeling of knowing you’ve done your bit to improve the water environment by supporting SAS!
An 11’4 Go Explore iSUP, with ankle leash, our acclaimed SUP sac with chunky wheels and stowable back pack, triple action double chamber HP6 pump, and carbon fibre V83 high aspect paddle. And the confidence of knowing you’re paddling an iSUP from an ethical and sustainable family brand, that puts ethics and quality ahead of profit.
The Go Explore 11’4 is the perfect entry touring paddleboard for those who want more than an all-round board. Designed as the ultimate balance for paddlers who want a bit more speed and performance in choppy waters, but who want to retain some of the manoeuvrability of an all round board. It’s the transition between water and air where a mundane iSUP Board becomes a great board, and this board has a long waterline for its length, and a rocker that cuts you through the water, and without creating too much wind resistance.
The price includes bag, belt and leash, fins, repair kit, but doesn’t include paddle or pump – because we want to give you options to choose the right one for you. If you don’t choose a paddle or pump from the options, then it will be delivered without a pump or paddle!
Total rider weight
Beginner – up to 90kg
Experienced – up to 120kg,
total carrying capacity – 150kg.
This doesn’t mean we’ve removed plastic – plastic is not the enemy, and in fact plastic always has been, and always will be, one of the best packaging materials for certain products. However, we have removed 100% all unnecessary plastic packaging (which was almost of all of it!), and most of our products will be packaged only in cardboard, paper, or vegetable based compostable plastic alternatives.
We don’t update our products every single year, with exactly the same technology rebranded as something new, or with slightly different colours. We leave that to almost every other SUP Brand whose debt levels require them to sell more and more every year. We just make great products with the best technology and make them to last for years. In fact, we’re so confident of our product quality, that we gaurantee them for 3 years and offer a 28 day no quibble return policy. In 2020, we are increasing that guarantee to 5 years!
It’s rather unfashionable in the world of sound bites and positive branding to define yourself by what you don’t do. But we’ve never followed the crowd. And we think what we don’t do is just as important as what we do.
The ultimate exploring board for kids and lighter riders!
Also a great whitewater board for smaller riders.
If you have got intrepid explorers in your family, or just children to want to keep up with you, then this is the perfect board.
Note 1 – listed price doesn’t include paddle or pump. The price will update when you choose pump and paddle.
What we don’t do is buy cheap t-shirts, baseball caps or car stickers in bulk from the cheapest factories in China just to give away and act as low cost advertising. We don’t make products just for the sake of making products and using our customers as free advertising. And when we do launch a new product line, we have considered the materials and the environmental impact of that product from the word go. So for example, our t-shirts, hoodies and rash vests are made of recycled plastic bottles and fishing nets, and salvaged fairtrade organic cotton waste from the textiles industry. Our floating shades are made of sustainable bamboo, and we really hope that our new changing robes will be too. And wherever possible our hardware products are made of sustainable materials; our standard fins are made of recycled plastic bottles as are our SUP bags. And our awesome dry bags are made from offcuts of PVC from the manufacture of inflatable SUP boards.
A stiff, light and resilient touring board designed for stability AND distance.
If you like to seek out those quiet beaches, breaks and bays, like exploring with your board both on and off the water, or simply just getting away from the crowds, then this inflatable paddleboard has been designed for you. This is the ultimate touring inflatable paddleboard!
The price includes bag, belt and leash, fins, repair kit, but doesn’t include paddle or pump – because we want to give you options to choose the right one for you. If you don’t choose a paddle or pump from the options, then it will be delivered without a pump or paddle!
p.s. if you’re not sure you want to pay out all the money now, you can split it over three months with PayPal pay in three credit, if you qualify.
We’ve got lots more detail on our sustainability principles and our GoInspire initiative if we haven’t bored you already!
Don’t forget to scope out other posts over in the McConks SUP Knowledge Hub –
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