Making a splash at 70 years old: Imke shows that Paddle Boarding is for anyone
Monikie Country park is beautiful, picturesque and is home to a range of water sports hosted by the ANGUSalive Countryside Adventure team.
In recent years, we’re proud to be hosting “SUP Ladies” – a stand up paddleboarding session that is exclusively for women. Over the years, it has built up a fantastic group of women to the level that they have their own WhatsApp group and socials together.
Someone who has recently been “added to the chat” is Imke Thomson. Originally from Kiel in Germany and has lived in Scotland for the last 48 years. She has recently celebrated her 70th birthday and is proof that age is only a number when it comes to embracing the rigours of stand up paddle boarding.
“I always wanted to do it…”
Walking her dog one day around Monikie one morning she had heard about open water swimming and after speaking to ANGUSalive’s Sandra Spink, she was encouraged to attend a SUP Ladies session. Sandra had said to her “…you must!”.
And since going, Imke has never looked back.
“I thought I might as well give it a go now because if I don’t do it I never will. I always thought the worst that can happen is that I fall in the water, I get a little bit wet then I go back on the board again.”
“The community of women in the SUP ladies is brilliant and are a key reason I keep going back. I never thought I would be doing this but the staff have been so helpful, so supportive and is proof that anyone can give it a go and I’m glad I did.”
“An inspiration”
Sandra from ANGUSalive said “We are really proud of Imke and all of our SUP ladies. She’s been an inspiration to the other ladies and proof age is only a number. It’s been a really busy summer despite some terrible weather but we’ve been able to make great memories over the course of the season”
You can view a whole host of Countryside Adventure Activities here https://angusalive.scot/countryside-adventures/