Favorite Cooler:
The Kailani KS45 if the perfect size cooler for road trips. It typically keeps my ice frozen and my food cold for 4 day trips and holds a ton of food. I have the "mint" color. It has been the best cooler I have used. Kailani coolers are tough as nails, and they look awesome!
Inspiration for competing:
My daughter Melia was my inspiration when I first started. She was paddling and racing SUP back in 2015-2017 in San Diego. At that time, I used an old race board, had my son sit between my legs, and paddle while Melia trained with her team. I was then invited to participate in a 5km race in Mission Bay that was organized by Melia's team. I entered and tried my luck and finished in dead last! I was hooked and accepted the challenge to improve. I began to train daily and became obsessed with the sport. I entered as many races as I could and soon found that I was improving and being competitive. Before that year was over, I was winning races.
When I moved to Canada in 2017, I was happy to find the racing scene in Alberta and B.C. to be very inviting with a great community already established. I have adopted the great David Goggins mentality when it comes to training since coming to Canada, which is that "comfort is the greatest killer of dreams". I have trained in the ice and snow, in freezing December water in Banff, and in the dark hours of fall and spring. I have taken bad weather, altitude, and location challenges on, and I see them as a means to become better. Water is life, it makes up sweat, tears, and the ocean, and is what we need to sustain life! Paddling will always be a connection to the earth, the water, to friends, and family. I consider myself a waterman and have huge respect for the rivers, lakes, and sea. It has changed my life for the better, and I now compete, coach, and organize events to help others progress. I LOVE paddling.
Favorite places to train:
Canmore reservoir, Ghost reservoir, Minnewanka lake, and Mission Bay in San Diego.
Favorite Races/Events:
Hood River paddle challenge, Hood River Oregon
Queen of the Valley, Cochrane Alberta
Sonoma Coast Surfrider Blue Water Paddle Race, Sonoma County California
Indian Arm Challenge, Deep Cove BC
Community Highlights:
I love teaching paddling and have held training camps for all ages. Due to COVID in 2020, I was forced to stay home and couldn't travel the world and compete, which gave me the opportunity to coach local athletes in Canmore and Calgary. I also organized many events such as the annual Canada Day River race in Calgary, the Queen of the Valley in Cochrane, and the Tuesday Night racing/training series in Calgary and Cochrane. I have also been fortunate to coach some amazing up and coming athletes in Alberta.
Race Highlights:
2017
- Morro Bay California Spring Series – Overall Elite Champion
- Paddle x3 San Diego Grand Prix – 5km Elite Champion
- Canadian National Championship – Marathon Silver Medalist
- Sonoma Surfrider Paddlefest – Overall elite champion 5k, 10k
- River City Festival, Sacremento – Course record, Overall Champion
- Spring Splash Orangevale California – 1st overall
- Canadian National Championship Marathon - 2nd
- World Championships, Denmark – Team Canada
2018
- Telford Lake Alberta Summer series - Overall Champion
- Canada Day, Fort Calgary River Race - Overall Champion
- Rednik river SUP race - Overall Champion
- Tekolate 5000, San Diego - Overall Champion
- Indian Arm Challenge – Champion
- Board the Fjord – Prone Stock – Silver Medal
- Kelowna Waterman – overall champion
- Chattajack, Tennessee – 2nd place - Sprint
- Surf to Sound – North Carolina – 4th overall Elite
- Carolina Cup – North Carolina - 5th overall Double Graveyard
- Hood River SUP Challenge – technical race 1st overall
- Surf Canada National Championship
- Sprint Race Silver Medalist
- Technical Surf (Prone) National Champion
- World Championships, China – Team Canada
2019
- D’arcy Island Dash for Cash – Overall Champion
- Kelowna Waterman – Overall Champion
- Duel in the Desert, Penticton – Outrigger Canoe, 40+ Champion
- Spokatopia, Washington, 2nd overall
- Windermere SUP CUP, Montana - 2nd overall
- Santa Cruz Paddlefest – 1st place
- Tecolate 5000, San Diego Ca – 1st place
- Off Da Couch Race, Newport Beach Ca. – 1st place
- Surf Canada National Championship
- Marathon 2nd place
2020
- Hanohano Huki, California – Overall Masters champion
- 12 towers, Australia – 4th place, Masters
- ONO CUP, Alabama – Champion
- Bow Valley Time Trial - Champion
- Secret Race, Cochrane - Champion
- Dam Jam 10k, Cochrane - Champion
- *All other races were canceled for 2020
