Archive for March 2013

Limassol, Cyprus

No Comments »

Stand Up Paddle Cyprus @livelovesup

Limassol, Cyprus






Limassol Marathon SUP diversion, we'll be back to beautiful Cyprus to Stand up Paddle and Surf!

#goprofail #needmorepictures

Check out: Windsurfers on Tour 

From Sri Lanka and Dubai With Live Love SUP: Meet Tati Coco SUP

1 Comment »

Say hello to Tati Coco SUP, our Live Love SUP brand ambassador making herself known in the worldwide paddling community. She's constantly on the water sharing her passion, love and energy for SUP. 

 She's also a teacher of French and Spanish in Dubai, leader and instructor of the youth SUP Kiki team and philanthropist in her endeavors to build a SUP school camp in Sri Lanka. Live Love SUP supports the Sri Lanka SuProjekt and supplies the instructor and grommet t-shirts for all in the school. The school is based on the river and students are given opportunities that they don't get normally. They develop their English language with games and activities, explore our wonderful sport of Stand Up Paddling, play in a safe way in the water and interact with other children in a supportive environment. Tati is joined by Chamara Indika from Sri Lanka, Yohann Authouart from France, and Jorge Gonzalez Melero from Spain.
We sat down with Tati and asked her some interview questions to get ideas on paddling, her work in the SUP community, and her involvement with Live Love SUP.

Favorite place to paddle?
I don’t have a favorite place to paddle in particular. Whether it’s a lake, the sea or a river, I don’t mind as long as I get to paddle because that is my passion. I love it.

 What attracted you to SUP?
I have always loved the water however I was extremely intimidated of open waters as I have only ever swam in lakes, pools and rivers. The first thing who attracted me to SUP was the inflatable board. I bought a 10,6 from Red Paddle Co and I realized immediately that this sport was perfect for me as I love to travel, explore and discover. Actually Red Paddle Co help me a lot in all my projects and adventures. I was quite scared to experience the mysterious sea. However SUP gave me the opportunity to overcome this fear. After lots of practice I have become completely dedicated to this sport.

 Describe your first SUP experience.

My first day was in Gadji in New Caledonia which is a beautiful place. It was very windy and the water was choppy but I was so afraid of falling that I tried my best not to. I was extremely afraid and I didn’t have any idea how to use the equipment correctly and my first board was an inflatable. I was also afraid of falling and was paranoid about the possibility of being attacked by a shark as I was paddling in New Caledonia in the Pacific, which is an area where many sharks can be found.

 Why do you keep paddling?
Simply LIVE, LOVE, SUP… :). It’s the best kind of therapy and I love being in the middle of nowhere with just my board and feel completely free as if weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

 Where do you dream of paddling?
All over the world from North to South and East to West. 

 How are you involved with your local SUP community?
I am quite independent and therefore I love to paddle alone. However I have a lot of friends around the world and in Dubai who also like SUP and we sometimes go together. But in general they like to paddle shorts distances whereas I prefere to do long distances. Also I love to wake up early and begin paddling while watching the sunrise. It feels magical! Paddling during sunset is just as spectacular! 
I also help in Surf Dubai when I can and I have my own SUP Team named the KiKi Team: there are 4 boys and 1 girl whom I love so very much. These were students who were not great at school but each brought a unique characteristic to the group: shyness, naughtiness, easily distracted. But through Stand Up Paddling, we found they had big hearts and were keen to learn in a team. It was the exact opposite of what was happening in school. SUP made a difference in their education and lives. The young teenagers are now more confident in school, their energy is more focused, and their behavior has changed thanks to SUP.

Why are you so excited about Love Live SUP?
Firstly I think you are doing a great job and I love to help people. I grew up in a poor family and understand how hard life is at times. I’m also excited because I know that LLS is very generous and that makes a big difference in the world. It’s not a business or just a way to earn money but it is hard work and dedication in helping others.

You are also sponsored, right?Yes I am a Red Paddle Co Explorer as this typifies the travel and fun mind of the spirit of the inflatable boards. They call me Tati Explorer :) I travel everywhere with my inflatable SUP wherever I go I just love to take my Red SUP. I am also sponsored by Hoe Nalu and we have a close relationship. They are based in Spain and I want to promote them too. The Sri Lanka SuProjekt is also sponsored by Red Paddle Co and Hoe Nalu.

 Wow Tati Coco SUP We support Tati in her endeavors as she supports us in ours. Follow Tati and the Sri Lankan SuProjekt on Facebook. 

$95 in February for charity: water

No Comments »

 
http://www.mycharitywater.org/live-love-sup

We raised $95 from the sale of our charity wristbands for charity: water in February. That will be provide clean water to another 11 very deserving people. Thank you! Let's keep going! For many the rivers and lakes are starting the thaw, spring is on the way and that means paddling season is upon us! While we get to enjoy this sport and the water in which we paddle on, remember so many don't even have clean water to drink in order to survive and lead healthy lives. Every little bit helps. You can help by donating to our fundraising page or by buying wristbands for yourself, your friends, your SUP club...thank you!


From Amsterdam, with Live Love SUP: Meet Morene Dekker

No Comments »

SUP Amsterdam during the HISWA Tour
Photo by Jasper van Staveren 
Morene Dekker is a Live Love SUP Brand Ambassador within the heart of one of Europe's happening Stand Up Paddle scenes: Amsterdam. She's at the center of SUP Amsterdam, which is a community that paddles along Amsterdam's scenic waterways. Check out their SUPventures and all the press that got recently for their HISWA tour of the Amsterdam Canals. Over 145 paddlers on the water... you gotta see this. Oh, and they did the Harlem Shake. http://www.facebook.com/supamsterdam. I caught up with Morene to find out more about her SUP world, the Amsterdam SUP community and why she's on board with Live Love SUP.

Where are you located?
My stand up paddle school is located in Amsterdam. I have two locations. One in the center of Amsterdam and one 10 minutes outside of the city at a beach at the IJ-Lake.

Where's your favorite place to paddle Morene?
In Holland I love to go for a long paddle on the ‘sweet sea’ the IJ-Lake 2 minutes from my house. I also love to go paddle in new places to explore. 

What attracted you to SUP? 
The freedom of it and the ability to go on the water in every condition. For surfing you need waves, for kiting you need wind, for wakeboarding you need a boat, for snowboarding you need hills and snow etc etc… I love that you do not to gear up but can go for a paddle just like that. I love to be outside and I love the water and the feeling of being able to get ‘lost’ on my board.

Describe your first SUP experience for me.
It was bad! In the waves on the Dutch shore while the wind was blowing hard. I couldn’t stand up and paddle on this huge board… but… a week later I tried it again on flat water and I loved it. Within a week I got my own board. I live right on the canal and parked my board in front of my bedroom. How easy is that?

Why do you keep paddling? 
I love the workout and that I can always decide where to go. Sometimes a short paddle in the canal or if I have the time and the weather allows it I go for a long training session and sometimes I go for a long tour with a good –paddle- friend. When it became my business in 2011 I paddle every day in the season and still love it. I really like to share the sport with all the people and let them enjoy being outside and moving/working out in the same time! 

Where do you dream of paddling? 
Every blue water and where the sun shines 365 days a year… In Holland the season is only from April-October. I do go paddling in the wintertime but it feels different in a wetsuit and boots. The best thing is paddling in a bikini and being able to go for a swim when you have a break or found a beautiful new spot. 

How are you involved with your local SUP community? 
Pretty involved. I organise tours next to the lessons and help organise special tours and some races in Holland. 

Why are you excited about Live Love SUP? 
For SUP you need water, as for so many other things in live and for us it is so normal that we have running water and clean drinkwater but there are so many countries where water is like gold… Love to give out this message through SUP and being able to pay something back for using the water while paddling….

 Thanks Morene

 Check out Morene's facebook page for her business M&M Stand Up Paddle http://www.facebook.com/MMSUP and official website http://www.mm-sup.com/. Heading to Amsterdam? She's got all you need for a paddle adventure through the heart of Amsterdam! #livelovesup !

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »