The Shaka.

First, hold your fingers in a loose fist. Then, stretch only

your pinkie and thumb in opposite directions while keeping

your three other fingers curled. Now make a gentle waving

motion from side to side.

This is the Shaka sign, sometimes known as “hang loose”, which is a gesture of friendly intent, of greeting, or thanks. It is often associated with Hawaii and surf culture to convey the aloha spirit. It would take me many years to understand the meaning of this gesture and its connection to a culture so foreign to me at the time.

We lived in a quiet New England town, sixty miles from the Atlantic Ocean, where it took until the early 2000’s for the first and only stop light to find a home on Main Street. I was introduced to all the major sports: soccer, football, hockey, basketball and baseball. But thanks to my

parents, I was also exposed to lake life when we moved to a small, man-made lake situated on less than 500 acres and stretching 2.5 miles at its longest point. Here I learned watersports and fishing, and forged a connection with the water.

I can’t remember my first trip around the lake on skis, nor my first cast. I know I was young - maybe four or five - but they have stayed in my life in monumental ways, igniting a passion and creating a life in the watersports world.

I started with water skiing, then moved on to kneeboarding, and eventually found myself standing sideways on a wakeboard. This was my first association to the surf world. The boards I learned on were modified surfboards: thruster set-ups, pointy noses and bungee straps to keep the feet locked on. I was still young, still unable to drive a car, but not too young to drive boats!

Fast forward to 2011: I was living in Orlando, Florida, the mecca of wakeboarding. My days behind boats were slowing and my time on the water dwindling. I really thought my passion and pursuit of watersports was complete until my good friend and fellow wakeboarder, Ned Johnson of ‘Paddleboard Orlando’, invited me out for a paddle.

Now, this was a pace that I was not used to and an experience totally foreign to me. Moving under 3mph? On a glassy lake with a group of people? I didn’t know it then, but this first paddle would change my life. A few short months later I was introduced to SUP racing, and on the same day to SUP surfing. Shortly after, I added SUP yoga to my repertoire.

The sport of Stand up paddleboarding was growing rapidly, and I found myself following suit. A move brought me to Northern California, then down to the mecca of SUP, Southern California. During this time, my introduction to all the disciplines was happening organically: downwinding,

SUP Surfing. SUP Yoga, SUP Racing. And teaching! With eight years of paddling behind me, .

I found more and more new passions being added to the paddle mix as well as a rekindling of some old loves.

The Stoke of Paddleboard Fishing and Foiling

A few years ago, inspired by my good friends Chris Hollingsworth and Ken Hoeve, I took some casts from a stand up paddleboard. This blossomed into a full blown passion and one that has put me on iconic New England lakes in pursuit of smallmouth bass. In the salt waters of South Florida I chased in-shore fish and I paddled deep in the “Old Florida” lakes in pursuit of the legendary largemouth bass.

Paddling on the freshwater lakes brought me back to my childhood of cruising around my New England home. Powered by a paddle, I now spend hours trying to land that catch of a lifetime. It now also helps me with other disciplines of paddling, since on many of my trips, I find myself paddling a hefty distance to seek out the fish.This provides a unique way of training and putting paddle miles under my belt. The practice of yoga comes into play as I find myself just casting back and forth for what feels like days, with no sign of a fish.

The recent addition of foiling into my paddling world was one I was slow to get into. Not for the fear of it, but because I knew how quickly I could become enthralled with the learning process since it taps into my connection with the watersports world. Back in my mid-twenties we spent time on an early version of the foil, the Sky Ski. Many of my friends pursued it heavily and they were launching themselves high into the air, flipping, spinning and landing with ease as we played around. The technology then was nowhere near what it is today. Foils were challenging then, heavy, and a bit scary.

In January of 2019 I found myself standing atop a foil. The feeling was the same as the Sky Ski from years ago - the sensation of flying, of floating through the air freely with an endless glide. There is a learning curve with the SUP Foil or surf foil. Taking the time to get behind a boat and learn the “feel” is the key ingredient. I skipped this step my first day on the water and was instantly humbled. However, the next session found me behind the boat learning to catch the glide, lift and hover. It truly provided a break-through experience. The ocean still serves up humble pie while foiling in the most beautiful ways, but being able to feel the glide with the power of the ocean behind it is a euphoric experience. It is one I encourage everyone to try.

These two disciplines of stand up paddling are the latest sports I’ve embraced. The others, SUP Fishing, SUP Surfing and SUP Yoga have been a part of my life from the beginning and have evolved into the platforms of my teachings and workout routines.

I started practicing stand up paddleboard yoga in 2011. I had no idea about the names of poses, I only knew that I enjoyed the challenge they provided for me and my board. As my studio yoga practice began to grow, I found myself in a Yoga Teacher Training with Core Power Yoga in 2014, which paved the way for my own teaching. Wanderlust Festivals have been a regular stop on my teaching tours. Wanderlust is an event that spans North America throughout six stops including Turtle Bay on the North Shore of Oahu, HI, Snowshoe Mountain in West Virginia, Stratton Mountain in Vermont, Squaw Valley in Northern California, Whistler Mountain in British Columbia Canada, and Mont Tremblant in Quebec, Canada. The festivals provide an avenue to introduce people outside the world of stand up paddling to both yoga and SUP. They all deliver an excellent teaching experience.

My personal SUP Yoga practice varies throughout the year. When I make my way to the water to practice, it taps into many aspects of what I love about watersports. The poses and sequences connect me with the freedom to move and express what wakeboarding once did. Asanas also provide an understanding of how to move on the board to increase balance and board awareness skills. SUP yoga pays off dividends for SUP Surfing, racing and downwinding.

Over the past few years the realm of SUP racing has begun to change for me. In my younger days I was passionate, focused and dedicated to a heavy training and race schedule. It is now my main source of fitness. I head out on the water for one hour workouts 2 to 3 times per week, with the goal of staying in shape so that I can tackle any water activity thrown my way. SUP race training has also allowed me to stay fit and take part in other activities that I enjoy, such as hiking, mountain biking and ice hockey.

Another piece of racing that the communities in Jupiter and Stuart, Florida introduced down south - thanks to the team at Blueline Surf and Paddle and Liquid Aloha Paddle Co.- is our weekly race league. This has filled the “need to compete” void, and has also added a friendly community vibe. We all get together for a solid workout and then share stories and catch up after. The result has been a connection to people whom I may not have been able to meet at other events, and has formed a stronger community for us all.

Like the other disciplines, stand up paddle surfing has evolved for me as well. When I first began the journey of learning to SUP surf I was riding boards in the 10’ range. As my skills developed I began to chase smaller boards, both in width and length. However, I found myself in a unique place, questioning why I was bringing a board out on the water that could only surf the perfect wave. So I began to transition into finding the ideal board that would allow me to get the most enjoyment on the water and to make any wave a fun one.

As a result, I am now into riding boards in the 10’ range and my raceboard. On certain occasions and locations I will paddle a board around on an 8-footer, but the majority of the time, I usually find myself atop a bigger one.

In the past eight years, stand up paddleboarding has brought me to countless breathtaking spots throughout North America, introduced me to people who have become best friends and opened up my world to a healthy and active lifestyle.

The beauty of paddling is this: it has something for everyone, no matter our backgrounds, ages

or ability limits. It is my dream to keep on paddling. I hope to join you on the water soon.