SUPPAUL Podcast

Jack Nelson is my guest in this episode. He is a whitewater paddleboarder based in Asheville, NC. He helped organize the NoliFest river SUP race. And be is the SE Hala Gear SUP rep (my counterpart in the south east). Over the last few weeks he has showed me his hone rivers including the Nolichucky, Nantahala, French Broad, Pigeon, Ocoee, and Green rivers. We talk Appalachian rivers in this episode...

In this SUPPAUL Podcast episode we talk with Dallas based climber Mario Stanley. He is a coach, mentor, and businessman who preaches the gospel of the rock. Rock climbing that is. After moving to Texas to go to seminary school, he discovered his path for ascension was by leading others on climbing routs and pursuing a rich life of meaningful experiences. We talk about "Type 2 Fun" as he calls enjo...

Norm Hann is a paddle boarder, instructor, and First Nations advocate. He was one of the only few people I knew of when I started paddle boarding who was doing what I wanted to be doing, namely paddling on long trips with a dry bag tethered to the deck of the board and heading into wilderness. He documented the experiences of one of his expeditions with the movie Stand. It highlighted the culture...

Christian Shaw is the founder of Plastic Tides, an environmental awareness organization focused on spreading the message of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle plastic waste in an effort to save the ocean. In his early 20s, he began the organization in 2014 as part of a paddle board expedition in the Caribbean after experiencing the alarming amount of plastic waste in the ocean. Six years later Plastic Tid...

In this episode we are talking with Alex Mauer. He's a river surf and SUP paddler based in Denver, CO. We are chatting about being ambassadors in the outdoor industry, recovering from injury, content creation, and the "photo contest scams" media houses use to get your images without paying. And we talk about the Flow State that perhaps is that transcendent experience both athletes and spiritual pe...

In this episode I am overlooking Smith Rocks in Central Oregon as I chat with Mike Tavares in his home office in Salt Lake City, UT. Mike is one of those river SUP paddlers who has helped define the sport, both river surfing and downriver running. When I give pointers to people getting into SUP surfing rivers, I suggest that they be like MIKE T! Enter the wave on your toe side. This requires an am...

In this episode, we talk with river surfer Ben Smith. Chasing waves throughout the western states, Ben is not your typical surfer. He's passionate about river waves and will travel far and wide to ride the best waves. We talk about surfing, of course. But also access to and diversity in outdoor recreation. His gear review site is:https://www.riversurflab.com Here is a clip of mine featuring Ben su...

In this episode, I have the great pleasure to have a conversation with Dan Gavere We learn about his history as a paddler and where he is leading us into the future with board sports. He was one of the first people to run a river on a SUP board way back in 2007. And he remains a strong influence on the sport's growth. When I started paddle boarding in 2013, his was some of the only videos featurin...

In this episode, Alan Pace returns to the podcast. We chat about staying fit, surfing on the Wenatchee River, and board design. All with the characteristic personality that is Alan.

In this episode we have a conversation with one of the principal builders or river board sports in the US. Mike Harvey designs whitewater parks across the country, co-founded the river surf board brand Badfish, and has helped create one of the more respected teams of river SUP paddlers in the industry. Sit back and enjoy the origin story of Badfish as well as learning about whitewater park design....

Natalie Zollinger is an inspiration. Hard working, hard playing, and a true inspiration to be a better person, she has been a leading example to the river SUP community for years. In this episode we get an insight of her life starting on the farm in rural Utah to leading on commercial raft trips, to coaching river SUP clinics. Enjoy.

In this episode, we talk with Emma Love. She's one of only three whitewater SUP certified coaches in the UK. Awesome accomplishment for a person who's introduction to rivers was entirely standing on a board. She's based near Nottingham, home of the National Whitewater Sports Center where she trains and offers coaching for people getting into the sport of river paddle boarding. She is also a contri...

In this SUPPAUL podcast episode we are talking with waterwoman Brittany Parker. She’s a river surfer, paddle boarder, educator, and adventure traveller. And she was one of my influences getting into the sport of river SUP so many years ago. Enjoy the conversation. http://bpsurfs.com/

In this SUPPAUL episode we talk with “the River SUP Guy” Davide Sartoni. Over the last few years he’s retired from his former passion of climbing rocks to hitting the river on paddle boards. And not simply as a recreational pursuit, but as a job where he offers clinics and hosts international paddling trips. He’s teamed up with outfitters providing raft support SUP trips on some of the most sought...

In this SUPPAUL podcast episode, we have a conversation with Andy O'Brien. He's a guy who lives life to the fullest. You can find him on rivers and rocks and on the slopes of Colorado. You can also find him in some of the best hair salons in the West. What you ask? Take a listen. And follow his Instagram @royalblueobrien

In this SUPPAUL Podcast episode, we go to Hood River to talk with T.J. Gulizia. An avid river paddler and wind sport enthusiast, T.J. talks with us about life in the Gorge and his background as an outdoor athlete. He also gives us some insight on how his retail store, Big Winds, is adjusting to over a month of being shuttered because of the coronavirus quarantine. https://bigwinds.com

In this episode, we talk with Tim Thornton. He owns River Drifters, a whitewater rafting outfitter based near Hood River offering commercial rafting trips on some of my favorite rivers in Oregon and Washington. We'll get his perspective on river SUP as well as his predictions for commercial raft guiding this summer. He's one of the better river SUP paddlers I know. And does it "for the love of the...

In this episode we have a conversation with Reta Boychuk. You will here here smile, and her laugh, and her genuine love for river adventures, as well as her enthusiasm for getting people to explore amazing landscapes with her. Enjoy www.retasups.com

In this episode, I describe my experiences travelling to Tennessee from Oregon during a quarantine. Empty airports, confrontational southern accents, and going to a funeral viewing with no social distancing. Like a scene from the 1983 movie Night of the Comet, the Portland airport was a ghost town. Is the US in an intellectual civil war? Why is even a global pandemic merely political partisanship?

In this episode we talk with Ian Smith, owner of Surfs Up Adventures and First Waves. Both of these are some of the earliest outfitting and instruction for river paddle boarding in the US. Ian has focused on safety and adventure, as well as creativity, introducing the river to many people who may otherwise not have appreciated moving water. Check out what he is up to: https://www.surfsupadventures...

In this episode, we have a conversation with adventure paddle boarder, Robyn Bell aka Robyn In The Rockies (on Instagram). When not skiing, climbing, running rivers on a SUP board, she's trip planning and looking for more places to explore. Her home is decorated with maps and gear hangs from the walls like art work. It was great to get an insight into her background as an athlete. Enjoy. www.suppa...

In this brief episode, we celebrate 30 days in quarantine. Thirty days of frustration and bewilderment. During a global pandemic, the world is burning with a health crisis and socio-economic catastrophe. But there are signs we may be tip toeing to a brighter future. There are signs that the worst is over, for now. At least the first wave of this thing. Over the past 30 days I have begun a podcast....

In this episode, we have a conversation with James Martin, CEO of Copa Di Vino. During the coronvirus pandemic and subsequent quarantine, Copa as well as his other business ventures are on hold. As is his dream project called Eturnity which is a reusable bottle platform intended to save the planet through tech enabled business solutions by reducing carbon gasses and plastic waste. Many questions r...

In this episode, we talk with photographer Jill Rosell. Raised in New Zealand she lives in Bend, Oregon raising her children and working as a portrait photographer. I reached out to her to hear her perspective of working as a professional creative during a quarantine. Visit her site @ www.jillrosellphotography.com and her numerous Facebook Pages. Enjoy the episode.

Two weeks into this thing. In this episode we remind each other to stay connected. Reach out to those loved ones you haven't talked with in a while. Take advantage of this time to reflect on the things that matter and give us meaning. Be well, stay healthy and sane. And reach out to me. Would love to hear how you are doing. Watch the YouTube episode I published this weekend here: www.youtube.com/w...