MAD Water Sports, based just outside of Wadebridge’s town centre on Dunveth Business Park, is a water sports retailer specialising in surfing and paddleboarding, amongst other activities.
A family run business with Lesley, Steve and Tom Kirk at the helm, MAD Water Sports is keen to encourage more local people to make the most of Cornwall’s beautiful coastline and plentiful rivers. With October half term approaching, and with the rush of the summer holidays finished for another year, it’s the perfect time for people to embrace their adventurous side.
Selling everything from wetsuits and surfboards, to paddle boards and kayaking equipment, plus outdoor clothing and accessories, MAD Water Sports prioritises quality products and expert advice to ensure customers go away feeling confident to ride the next wave. The MAD Water Sports team are passionate about water sports, with son Tom surfing since the age of five, and Steve taking a particular interest in paddleboarding and kayaking, plus a love for windsurfing which started in the 80s.
The Kirk family formerly owned the Manor House Activity Centre at St Issey, and when the world came to a standstill in 2020 with the arrival of the pandemic, they decided to make the move to Wadebridge to sell some of their old equipment. Realising there was a need for this in the town, they rebranded to MAD Water Sports and began to stock everything one would need to equip themselves for a day by the sea or the river, or get started as a newbie!
The business also aims to be as sustainable as possible, purchasing from suppliers who reduce the amount of plastic in their packaging and ensure their products are designed to have a long lifespan and endure the elements.
Water sports isn’t just a great way to spend your spare time; it actively gets you outdoors, which is proven to support mental health, encouraging you to be active and take time out of your busy daily routine. You may come away feeling less stressed, more relaxed and even more confident in your ability.
So, you’re interested in taking up a new hobby, or you’ve had previous experience in water sports but haven’t picked up a wetsuit or board in a long time- what should you do next? The answer is simple - head over to MAD Water Sports to speak to the knowledgeable and friendly team. Steve has a number of qualifications through British Canoeing and has experience in being an outdoor instructor, plus Tom is highly educated on surfing.
Co-owner Lesley told Wadebridge Life: “Our knowledge of water safety is really important when speaking to customers, and we work alongside Surf England and British Canoeing to ensure we can provide the best advice possible.
“If you’re looking to get started with a new watersport, come in and chat with one of our specialists. Tom can generally pick out a board by considering height, weight and whether they are beginners or more experienced. We spend a lot of time with our customers to ensure they pick the right product for them.”
This summer they added the SUPER73 electric bikes to their offering, from the American adventure lifestyle brand, making it quicker and easier to get to the beach with all your watersporting gear or to make the commute to work much more fun - plus no fuel and parking costs makes this a no-brainer! Pop into MAD Water Sports to enquire.
MAD Water Sports is open seven days a week during school holidays. During term time, they are open every day other than Sundays and Mondays.
For more information about MAD Water Sports, visit www.madwatersports.co.uk or follow them on Facebook and Instagram - MAD Water Sports Ltd and @mad_watersports.
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