I’m doing part of it, but it’s tough to compete in both. Racing has been a big thing for me and I have a name it it now. I think it’s important to keep my feet in that world. My goal is to continue growing as an athlete and push the sport internationally – especially now that I am with Naish – and then continue to try new things.

I am very excited to have the opportunity to represent and work with Naish and the team. Everyone on the team leads a true waterman lifestyle, stand up paddling, outrigger, kite boarding, wave sailing, surfing and tow surfing at a world class level; which really complements my style. Naish offers one of the largest lines of Stand up paddle boards and products for SUP surfing, down wind & flat water racing and cruising; giving me a huge opportunity to continue pushing every aspect of this sport. For an athlete; it’s extremely important to be part of a great team and stoked with what you are riding, so that you can really focus on training and doing your best in competition.

I’m super stoked to be working with Naish doing R&D on some new flatwater race boards, as well as training for races on the west coast and building on my downwind skills for the Molokai 2 Oahu World Championships and the Naish Maliko races in July. I’ll also be working with my teammate, Karen Wrenn, putting on our stand up paddle race and endurance camps with Paddlewithpros.com at several SUP events throughout the US. In addition to my racing schedule, SUP camps and promoting the sport; I’ll be traveling to remote destinations, exploring new waves and rivers to paddle.

Sounds like a busy schedule! So what’s involved in your Paddle With Pros clinics?

We do a beginner clinic that’s available to everybody, and then more advanced clinics which focus on performance and technique. It’s great to work with Karen. With the two of us there, we can relate to both men and women and the different challenges that they face in this sport. That way, we’re not just catering to one type of person. The beginner clinic is everything you need to know to get to a level of enjoyment in paddling. Then the advanced clinic takes you to the next phase – to racing and the competitive side of SUP. We talk about equipment and finding the right gear, we teach different paddling techniques, we get into the whole mindset of racing – what to think about, what to train for (because it really can be a nerve-racking sport), and then we talk about nutrition and hydration. We try to cater to all the types of racing: short distance, sprint racing, long distance and channel crossings so that people get a sense that there’s all sorts of different things they can do. Then we get out and learn buoy turns, race starts, drafting techniques, overtaking competitors, and lots more.

Since SUP racing is still such a new sport, do you find that you are creating techniques that will pave the way for the sport as it develops?

There are so many great athletes out there, but I think that since Karen and I have had so much experience in other sports, it does feel like we have something special to offer. And that’s what’s so killer about it because now we get to give back to the sport and help new people get excited about it. We’re watching it grow and it’s exploding.

What is it about stand up paddling that appeals to you as an athlete?

Well, I think we all have that competitive spirit within us. For me, from all the different sports I’ve done, it feels like the natural evolution of my career. Competing with your friends and training hard…it’s a great gauge to see where you’re at, physically. And now with young kids like Kai Lenny and Connor Baxter, who are really pushing the sport in new directions, it’s neat to have had the opportunity to pave the way for them. Now they’re coming up and showing us how it’s done! It’s really rewarding for me to be able to share what I’ve been exploring my whole life with others. To see people who are new to the sport get better and have so much fun, that’s really satisfying.