Live Love SUP

We are stoked to be working with him. Watch this space for future European Summer 2014 events... hint hint... 

Fuerteventura is certainly one island that demonstrates the popularity and strength of our sport. On Susie's word, we traveled to the Canary Islands in the knowledge that there's plenty of opportunity to paddle: surf, flatwater, downwind and open ocean. We left with some awesome experiences, some more paddling friends and the realization that Fuerteventura is pretty much a paddler's paradise.



The surf was pretty damn good, but a little crowded, nice to see so many stand up paddlers though! We arrived there and instantly picked out two Naish SUP Surfboards. We ventured out every day to a break right in front of Corralejo called Third Reef and had some beautiful sunrise sessions. Getting out for the duke put us ahead of the crowds and often gave us a chance to catch some glassy sets before the winds picked up.



On some days we did some double sessions at Waikiki. This break is a small rolling wave that peals right and left (longer lefts though) and a good spot to work on carving. The bottom was volcanic rock but deep enough to not really worry but I admit, I rarely pinned straight off the board. This was the break where we paddled with a lot of gun paddlers on 12'6 race boards. We steamed into the wind over the small waves and then rode back in on little cruisers.

I'm not sure how many times I have written this but I am always constantly leaving our paddling holidays thinking that the best part isn't the paddling but the people we paddle with! Of course we were stoked to be paddling with our Swiss Brand Ambassador but she introduced us to the paddling community there, full of dedicated paddlers loving and constantly sharing the stoke. The Escuela de Nautica de Corralejo is the community epicenter of paddling there and we are very grateful to have met and paddled with new friends.



As we posted on Instagram, LLS became LLOC for two hours. Jen and I paddled a four man outrigger canoe with Tiago Silva (a superstar from Functional Paddling... more news on him at a later date!) and none other than one of Europe's finest Stand Up Paddlers, Eric Terrien. Eric actually calls Fuerteventura home and we thank him for sharing his knowledge surfing 12'6 race boards at Waikiki and at paddling (and steering) the OC4.



During the week we had the opportunity to do a Functional Paddling Clinic with the club by Tiago Silva from Functional Paddling. Only complaint about the clinic was that it was too short. Many of the paddlers in this clinic were already good paddlers and while most of us know what proper technique looks like, this was a unique opportunity for us to really become more aware of our what our bodies are doing while paddling. This is different to working on perfect technique, which was a refreshing change - and later to realize a much needed change. As Tiago explained, the ability for us to realize how our body moves and breathes while paddling, connecting each movement together in a seamless flow is really the key to paddling stronger, faster and without injury. We became more aware about what our bodies felt when paddling breaking down each part from our feet to our shoulders, we talked about mobility, balance and activating or core through different exercises. We're looking forward to putting to the test what we learned. I think we all walked away learning something new about how we paddle!



We did double sessions most days and probably spent more time standing on water than on dry land, but we did manage a non-water related activity. Our hike up the Volcano was greeted with gorgeous panoramic views of the coast.




 It was a week to remember and we'll definitely be returning in the future. We thank all the paddlers who jumped on board helping to SUPport Live Love SUP too!

You've probably heard a thing or two about or newest brand ambassador (you should've heard more by now to be honest though)! He's become a household name amongst the SUP community and for good reason. His passion for SUP is contagious, his willingness to help others is heartfelt and the expeditions he has completed, to many, would sound absolutely insane. Just wait and see what he has on his plate for 2014!

Shane Perrin who paddles extreme distances for charity is amongst our sport's elite. From the first paddler to finish and overcome adversity in the 300 mile Florida Everglades challenge, to the Iron Athlete paddle combining different paddles in different cities within 10 days accomplishing these paddles isn't just about paddling and being the first, it's about the journey and if you read about his journey into SUP in the first place, it's quite inspiring. Here, Shane's wife, Elissa, writes about where he started and what he has become.

He's commonly known as The Stand Up guy and not just because he's this ultra distance SUP'er doing extreme distance races. He's big into developing his local SUP community in St. Louis by starting SUP St. Louis and further afield hosting The Distance on Stoke Radio, a dedicated Stand Up Paddle radio show. He's a Glide SUP team rider and if that's not enough he's been busy developing his non-profit called Beyond the Board. Oh and we suppose now he's going to add Brand Ambassador to his plate. We're stoked and here's our 1st post with Shane:

Paddling near the iconic Gateway Arch in St. Louis

Location
St. Louis, Missouri.

What is your favorite place to paddle?
The Meramec river is 10 minutes from my house. It's not the best river by any means. It has alot of shallows and very rocky areas. There are lot of tree stumps, some car tires, and flying Asian Carp. I just love it for the challenges it presents. The river changes throughout the year an always surprises me.

Where do you dream of paddling?
I'd really like to paddle internationally more. I raced In Belize last year and the river was nothing special but the people and the culture made it a magical.  Camping on the riverbanks each night and just talking to folks and learning was the real adventure.

But if I had to narrow it down to a place,  maybe Abu Dhabi (hint hint). (No one has paddled from Dubai to Abu Dhabi. Yet. - Nick)

Cross training and incorporating land paddling into The Iron Athlete event.

What attracted you to SUP?
The freedoms you receive from stand up was nothing like the 20+ years of canoe and kayaking. To be able to stand and move is much more engaging than sitting. You experience nature in a special way that's unparalleled.

Describe your best SUP experience.
My best experience was not one of my own expeditions. It actually came while supporting a friend and Glide team-mate, Nathan Woods (and one that Live Love SUP partnered with Nathan - Nick).

He had a traumatic leg injury a decade ago which left him with as he says "1.5 legs". Coming back from the injury, he decided to paddle 164 miles from Eugene to Portland, Oregon. I paddled with him as support and filmed the experience. It was amazing to watch him go through the expedition and grow as a person. I'll always remember the experience.

Shane Perrin and Nathan Woods on their way from Eugene to Oregon in 3 days only.

How are you involved with your local SUP community?
SUP didn't really exist in St. Louis a few years ago. So I took the plunge in 2012  and bought a fleet of boards and created Supstlouis. It's been extremely rewarding to educate and teach SUP on the local level and build the sport here. This year we had just under 400 clients.

On the other side of the business I run a meet up group, SUP STL. Additionally I'm in the process of a 501c3 called Beyond the Board. BTB helps people smash through diversity with paddle sports. We offer a free service to help people learn to paddle, to racing, or going on an expedition.

Why do you keep paddling?
Paddling has given me so much I can't begin to scratch the surface.  Physically it allows me to push myself beyond a level I never have before while furthering the limits of endurance/distance paddling. It also allows me to help others through my paddles by raising funds for different charities.

The main reason why I keep paddling is the connection. SUP has allowed me to connect with so many people from all over the world and become part of their story as they become part of mine.

Friendships are made on the water. Shane with Nathan.

Why are you excited about Live Love SUP?
It's part of the connection. I believe in what LLS stands for, helping others. I'm excited that I can be part of something on an international scale while I'm based in good old Missouri.  To be able to connect with and help people across the globe, there's nothing better than that.

Two hands for beginners Shane...

What a stand up guy. Shane Perrin, we tip our Live Love SUP Baseball Cap to you. We are absolutely tickled pink to welcome Shane to the family and join the Brand Ambassador ranks. We are so stoked to promote his paddles and charities while he supports our community development and charity fundraising. We can't wait to see what paddles he has planned for the future and to be involved with him and support him along the way. Exciting times ahead! 

Mikaella and Jen met in Cyprus in the early part of 2013. They instantly clicked over flatwater stand up paddling and SUP surfing. Jen also met the Windsurfers on Tour group that SUP and windsurf around different places on Cyprus. Mikaella is an active member of this group promoting and converting people to stand up paddling. She's an awesome person full of passion who loves to paddle and share it with others. Meet Mikaella, our latest Live Love SUP Brand Ambassador.

Location
In beautiful Limassol, Cyprus.

What is your favorite place to paddle?
I have been very fortunate to live in this beautiful small island in the Mediterranean that has amazing weather all year round. My house is only 5 minutes from the beach and every single morning I paddle with my school 'Windsurfers on Tour'. During the winter time we surf as we have very good waves.

What attracted you to SUP?
I have tried surfing and fell in love with it back in Costa Rica in 2009. After that I was lucky enough to mee the 'Windsurfers on Tour' team and Costa Symeonides, who showed me the beauty of Stand Up Paddling and SUP Surfing in Cyprus. This was an amazing experience and wonderful opportunity for me. Since then you can't get me off my board!!!


Describe your best SUP experience.
The feeling that you can 'walk on water' and where there connection that I feel between 'me' and the 'ocean' is something that I can't describe! I love loooooong SUP rides and my best SUP experiences was paddling for 7 hours straight. (Mammoth paddle - Nick).

How are you involved with your local SUP community?
Without my coach Costas Symeonides owner and found of 'Windsurfers on Tour' school, I wouldn't be able to know the beauty of this amazing sport. In our school club, we are a family of ocean lovers that SUP, surf and windsurfing! Last year I came first on the Naish SUP Isthmus Speed Crossing in Greece, one of the best experiences I have ever had in my life.

Why do you keep paddling?
What I love most about stand up paddling is the ability to do whatever you want. We can surf in the waves, do downwinders, paddling on flat crystal waters, paddling under the moonlight etc... We can certainly see the effects on your health and on your body.

Why are you excited about Live Love SUP?
Live Love SUP is a great way of meeting new people around the globe that have the same passion as you. At the same time, we can all help an amazing charity (charity: water) and make a difference. I hope that more people will be involved in this great sport and share some Live Love SUP love.


Where do you dream of paddling?
My other love is travelling so one of my craziest dreams is to travel with a backpack, a Naish One SUP, and a paddle through the whole of Central and South America to SUP and surf in so many countries in two of the most beautiful continents in the world.

How many of us would want to join Mikaella to SUP in some amazing latin American places? Or even SUP'ing in beautiful Cyprus? Oh yeah! We do, that's for sure.

Laura Scully has the same last name as founder and driving force behind Live Love SUP, Jen Scully. Another similarity is their passion for the sport of Stand Up Paddling. We connected with Laura through twitter and instantly realized her devotion to our beloved SUP'ing. She's a home grown girl who is taking a new perspective of her surrounds because of stand up paddling. She's also devoted to building the grassroots through the Central SUP Club and ensuring that SUP touches all people within her local community. She's just finished first in her category at the 10 miler Battle of the Thames (female, 12'6 inflatable division), just behind Jamie Mitchell reportedly :) , and took fourth in the Midlands SUP winter series. Live Love SUP is proud to be a part of the Central SUP Festival August 2-4 and stand side by side, board to board with her and her club.

Location
I was born and still live in a town called Tamworth in Central England.

Favorite place to paddle
The canals and rivers around Central England because SUP has give me a new way to explore and appreciate where I was raised.

Describe your frist SUP experience
An incredibly fortunate one.

I've always had a deep love for the ocean and ocean sports - despite being totally landlocked in Tamworth. In 2010, I took myself off travelling around the world by myself. During that time, I went on a month-long visit to Hawaii, a place most water lovers dream of. After surfing, canoeing and trying my hand helping out with a tourist ocean rigger canoe, I was invited to try SUP. So my first time on a SUP was in crystal clea Hawaiian waters on a bright sunny day, with 3-4 ft clean surf and a gentle cooling breeze. After paddling a half mile out to sea and surfing a couple of sets, I was totally shattered by totally blown away.

I didn't touch stand up paddling again until 2012 when two amazing guys called Scott Warren and Chris Kenyon founded Central SUP, a club for landlocked SUP'ers and people who want to get into the sport. Meeting these gus and joining the club was life changing and from here I started to refocus my life around SUP.


Why do you keep paddling?
Stand Up Paddling is incredible and there are tonnes of reasons it keeps me paddlign. My top 3 are:

1. Most importantly, it allows me to enjoy being on the water where I feel at home as I always have.
2. Some people say that stand up paddling is easy but i find that it really challenges me physically and technically. Every paddle out is rewarding and enjoyable but I know that it will take me a lifetime to even begin to master it. 
3. There's so much about it to enjoy - you can paddle at home on the river, in the ocean, race, surf, downwind... Paddling has a huge history and culture to read about and explore. All the time, you meet more and more friendly and like-minded people. 

Where do you dream of paddling?

One of the original champions of Live Love SUP is Susanne Lier. We have known Susanne since 2011 when we spent two months living in Switzerland and she was instantly supportive and helpful. Her love and passion for our sport is clearly evident and infectious to others! Just check her out paddling and SUP'ping it up indoors here. She's also taking the huge steps towards developing the SUP community by building her own SUP brand IMUA designing boards, paddles and apparel.
We've paddled actually a lot together rivers and lakes in Switzerland. Check this video out from our fun trip down the Thun River with SUP Switzerland. We've also paddled in a few races together and we even SUP'ed together for Susanne's debut race. We knew she would make it in this sport and was recently unleashed as a Hobie Team Rider.

A great location. A burgeoning community. Weekly races throughout moored boats. A heart warming welcome and great banter throughout....

And the views! My gosh, the views!



The Race Briefing

We all sauntered down there under ominous skies above. The clouds were threatening to open on us at any minute and the winds were picking up. But that didn't stop Belly and the brave souls from attending the 97th Oz SUP Rose Bay Blast. The talk of the town was of the 100th blast and how BIG it was going to be! Shame I won't be here. Work always gets in the way...





Belly and me

Each Oz SUP Blast is a different course and a different length. Belly takes into account conditions and paddlers' experience to assess the right course. With the wind, the short 4km course for the all round boards was out towards the harbour with a tail wind and back into the wind before hugging the shoreline for another out and back. The race board completed two triangles with some tail, head and side wind included and the loop was approx 5km total.






Paddling with Oz SUP Centre is super fun and easy. Check out their community on facebook, the founder Belly, or their website online Oz SUP Centre.