Paddling in Sweden with SUPdriven
Early morning on a Swedish lake. The water is still, the sky is deep blue with puffy white clouds, and the only sound is the drip of paddle strokes breaking the silence. This is where SUPdriven was born, a business built from a love of being out on the water and a desire to share that feeling with others.
The founders, Leah Richardson and Per Vallbo, came to stand up paddling from different directions. Leah spent much of her life moving between countries, working in humanitarian projects and searching for a sense of place. She found that grounding on a paddleboard, both on calm water or tucking in to the wind. Per grew up by the Swedish coast and was drawn to endurance paddling, founding the Yster SUP brand and designing boards built to handle long distances. When the two met, they realised they shared not just a sport but a way of life, and the idea of SUPdriven began to take shape.
It is surprising that Sweden, with more than 100,000 lakes and one of Europe’s longest coastlines, had no dedicated SUP expedition company until SUPdriven came along. The country offers space, silence, and natural variety that seem made for paddleboarding. Yet until recently, visitors had to explore it alone. Leah and Per wanted to change that, not by offering packaged tourism, but by building expeditions they themselves would want to join: multi-day journeys through water and forest, mostly wild camping, great food, and time to connect with nature and other people.
SUPdriven now runs three distinct expeditions in three very different landscapes. Each one has its own style and rhythm, designed for paddlers who are looking for different things.
The Lake of a 1000 Islands Expedition is the most relaxed of the three. Sweden’s lakes are vast and Lake Åsnen has at least one thousand of them, so every paddle reveals a new shoreline, a hidden cove, or a forested campsite. Days are unhurried, with time for floating stops for fresh brewed coffee and swims from the board. For many people, this trip is about slowing down and enjoying the peace that comes with big landscapes and very few people.
Sweden’s Longest River Expedition is for the paddler who wants a little more time paddling. Here we cover distance, tracing the same waterways once used to float timber downstream. The river twists and winds, each turn revealing completely new scenary. It is best suited for paddlers who wants to challenge themselves a little and spend longer hours on the board. The reward is a rhythm that builds over the days, and a deep sense of connection as the river carries you through wild forgotten countryside.
The Remote Coastal Archipelago Expedition is different again. Along the southern coast hundreds of islands scatter out into the Baltic, and conditions can change quickly. This trip is as much about learning as it is about paddling. Participants help plan routes, set up camp, cook meals, and navigate the waters together. It is participatory, sometimes challenging, but always rewarding. By the end, paddlers have not only explored a remarkable stretch of coastline dotted with red cottages flying Swedish flags, but also gained skills to take on their own expeditions.
A big part of what makes these trips work is the equipment. SUPdriven uses Yster iSUP 14’ x 28” inflatable boards, designed specifically for long-distance touring. The boards are flat with a slight nose rocker, stable under load, and built to track well over distance. Handles are placed where they are most useful, not just one in the centre but along the sides and at the front and back to make lifting, carrying, and launching easier. Extra D-rings are fitted to secure bags and gear, and each expedition uses waterproof 60-litre bags that Per co-designed to clip directly into those rings. Every participant gets one of these bags to take home as a way of encouraging people to keep adventuring after the trip is over.
Across all three journeys, SUPdriven keeps the focus on quality and simplicity. Groups are small. Days finish with home cooked meals shared around a camp fire and begin with fresh brew in the morning. What guests remember is not just the paddling, but the feeling of being part of a small team moving through big landscapes. Sweden is a country defined by space. Forests, lakes, and coastline stretch on without interruption, and often you can paddle all day without meeting another person on the water. SUPdriven was created to share that experience. Whether it’s a gentle lake journey, a demanding river expedition, or a coastal masterclass, each trip opens a door to the peace that comes when you step on your board.
To learn more, visit: SUPdriven.com
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