Live Love SUP

Showing posts with label Surf Dubai. Show all posts

Live Love SUP's Fundraising Update

What a year! Without you, our awesome SUPporters, we could never have achieved such fundraising. It is because of you that we fundraised USD$7,881 to help communities get clean water for life. Mainly our money is going to water projects in villages and towns in Ethiopia and we are super happy to give to them. In a previous blog post we announced that we wanted to fundraise USD$5,000 in one project to go to a single water well project. Guess what? We did it. For the second year running, Surf Dubai fundraised for Live Love SUP and charity: water for their annual SUP Around the World Charity Paddle. These generous folks donated a whopping $2,297 and we are super stoked to partner with them.

Onwards from here, you can always help us fundraise for charity: water. Buy a wristband or donate directly to our current campaign!

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

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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.

New Live Love SUP Video

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Check our newest video from Surf Dubai's Around the World Charity Paddle in December

If you haven't already take a look at some of our past videos from years past on our Video Page. Goal of 2013 is to make more of these SUP memories!

Paddle Around the World Charity Paddle

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45 paddlers completed the 32km paddle on the 7th of December around the World Islands in Dubai helping to raise money for this year's charities chosen by Surf Dubai. We were stoked to have Live Love SUP's charity of choice chosen to be apart of the paddle. $1117 was raised for charity: water by UAE stand up paddlers helping us to get closer to reaching our first goal of $5000. Thank you for your support!

Surf Dubai Hosts Annual Fundraising Evening

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Surf Dubai's Annual Around the World (Islands) Charity Paddle is just around the corner, but the fundraising begins on November 20th with a BBQ and raffle night at Bidi Bondi to raise money for some great causes. This year they are not only raising money for Surf Aid International, but will also be supporting Live Love SUP's efforts to fund clean water projects through charity: water. We're super stoked to be involved in the event this year and it's a great way to really kick off our Live Love SUP charity project! Find out more by visiting www.surfingdubai.com