Meet The Community: Judy

It’s time for another Meet The Community blog! I’m so excited to be introducing you to our wonderful community members through these regular blog posts. I’m hoping through this process we can build a deeper and stronger community connection (even across locations), plus be inspired by each other!

This week, I would love to introduce you to a paddler who has been a member of our community since our first She SUPs Socials in 2019, and I’ve had the pleasure to witness her become a strong, confident paddler who is always up for a challenge, and continues to paddle further and further each weekend!

Today we are speaking with the awesomely adventurous Judy…

1. Where are you based? Northern Beaches of Sydney

2. Do you own your own board? If so, what board is it? 

I own two boards, an epoxy: Sic Tao Art 10" and an isup: Red Paddle Co Sports 2020 11"3

3. What do you do when you're not paddleboarding?

I work as an accountant in a local accounting practice as a business services advisor to help our clients with all kinds of accounting & tax matters.

To counter sitting all day in an air-conditioned office I like to do pilates and ashtanga yoga classes during the week, and then I go stand up paddling on the weekend unless it's too windy, in which case I'll go for an outdoor walk.

Before I started stand up paddling boarding I loved playing on my piano every weekend and feel out of sorts if I don't, but if the conditions are right I'll be out on the water paddling! 

4. What brought you to She SUPs/ why did you join She SUPs? 

I was looking for a group of friendly, supportive and welcoming people to socialise with while exercising and couldn't believe my luck when She Sups popped up in my meetups group search. Once I read Vikki's blog about her 30 days of paddling project I knew this is the community I've been searching for and went to my first She Sups social event at Narrabeen Lagoon & enjoyed my first time paddling in 10 years as it is exactly what I've been looking for. 

5. Do you remember the first time you tried SUP? Tell us a little about that very first experience... 

My first time trying SUP was about 10 years ago when I tried a Suplove board (epoxy board) via  3 x 1 hr private lessons at Winnererremy Bay with a professional paddleboard racer (former surfboarder).  I was instantly hooked as I was immediately standing up on the board on water and didn't fall in. I had finally found a sport I loved doing and was naturally good at it, but alas none of my friends were interested in trying with me so I didn't take up paddling until She SUPs came along.

6. What is your favourite paddle boarding memory/experience/ adventure so far? (with and/or without She SUPs!) 

Ooh do I have to pick a favourite? The She Sups basin camping trip is the clear winner so far for me, and I still paddle with a few of the ladies from that trip outside of She SUPs events.

7. Where is the number one place on your SUP bucket list and why?

I've been adding many many places to my Sup list....if had to pick a fave then I would list 'Sup Norway' as #1 for the epic adventure of long Sup trip over majestic fjords. 

8. If you were to describe the feeling you get when you're paddleboarding how would you describe it?

Every time I get on the water, I feel an immediate hit of absolute bliss & calm & focus, joy & wonderment at all the wildlife I get to see on the water, fun when I'm trying out new routes & getting past obstacles up creeks and then feel really energised after being out there in nature every time.

9. Has anything surprised or delighted you about being a member of the She SUPs Community? 

Many things have delighted me! To pick one, as an introvert putting myself out there to meet new people & socialising is quite scary for me so I am very delighted to find some paddling buddies pretty quickly!

10. Where's next for you and your board? 

I want to paddle around Pittwater, as well as other sup locations with my paddle buddies so maybe doing longer trips or driving longer to go somewhere we haven't yet tried.

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Thank you so much, Judy for taking part in our Meet The Community series! I’m so grateful to have you as a member of this community and I’m so glad we finally got to paddle around Pittwater together a couple of weeks ago!! I am so pleased that you’ve found your tribe within this community and have created some awesome SUP buddies to go adventuring with. I love seeing you girls power through the km’s and keep pushing yourselves further and further. Keep adventuring!!

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If you’d like to say hello to Judy or have any comments about this post - leave a comment below!!

This blog series is going to be continuing for a while as I hope to feature as many people as possible in the community (and there are currently over 500 of you!!), so if you’d like to take part please send me an email (vikki@shesups.com.au) and let’s celebrate the part you play in making our SUP-loving community so magical.

See you on the water!

Vikki x

Founder of She SUPs