Autor/-in: Richards Anna

Anna Richards (annahrichards. com) began paddleboarding in Cornwall, where she grew up. During lunch breaks from her office job, she would grab a board and set off on jaunts across the Penryn River. These soon turned into multi-day trips, often camping and participating in river- or sea-cleans. To hone her skills, she joined a Stand-up Paddleboard (SUP) club, where she learnt about all the other possibilities that SUP opens up (SUP yoga, SUP surfing, racing and touring). In 2021, Richards moved to France to become a full-time writer about travel and the outdoors, and started keenly exploring as much of the country as possible. She established her base in Lyon, a landlocked city with two waterways, and was pleased to find that living inland didn't mean giving up SUP. Far from it: it has helped her explore the country through a fresh, unique perspective. Bradt's Paddling France is her first book.