Vote for your TOP 5 FEMALE PADDLERS below. When submitting your vote, there should be a different athlete’s name per ranking. Please do not select one athlete for all three rankings.
Annabel Anderson
HOME: Lake Wanaka, New Zealand
SPONSORS:
Starboard
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
• 2012 Standup World Series, Chicago, 1st sprint race & long distance (semi finals Mens Sprints, 8th overall men’s long distance)
• 2012 Standup World Series, Oleron Challenge, France,1st Distance race (1st overall men & women), 1st Sprint Race, 1st Overall women, (3rd Overall Men’s ranking)
• 2011 Molokai 2 Oahu World Paddleboard Championship, Hawaii – 3rd Elite Women
• 2011 Rainbow Sandals Battle of the Paddle, Dana Point, 3rd Elite Women, 2nd Elite Women Distance
QUOTE:
Standup has given me the opportunity to live my dreams and travel the world. It’s introducing me to amazing places and incredible people on a week to week basis. I never envisioned the experiences and challenges I would be presented with, but I’m loving every minute of it. The chance to share it with people is the icing on the cake.
Candice Appleby
HOME: San Clemente, CA
SPONSORS:
Surftech Paddlesports, Ocean Minded, Maui Jim, Joe Bark Paddleboards, Kona Red, Quickblade Paddles, Kona Brewing Company, FCS, Sweet Waterwear, Pualani Hawaii, Island Shade Shacks, WebItDesigns.com, WIDSIX.com
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Five-time Battle of the Paddle winner
• Race the Lake of the SKY Champion
• Two-time Jay Race Champion
• 4-Time Rainbow Sandals Battle of the Paddle Champion
• Co-Founder of Performance Paddling LLC
QUOTE:
“I’m truly honored to be nominated again for the SUP Awards. To be selected among all the wonderful female athletes in our sport is special and it feels really good to have all of my hard work recognized. I love sharing this sport with people around the world. That’s what it’s really all about.”
Heather Baus
HOME: San Juan, Puerto Rico
SPONSORS:
MHL Custom Boards, Kialoa, Don Q Rum, Maui Jim, Hinano, Sweet Waterwear, Onit Pro, Allison Race Fins, Raw Elements.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
• 2012 Carolina Cup, 1st Place
• 2012 Key West Classic, 1st Place
• 2011 Paddle Royal, 1st Place
• 2011 Molokai 2 Oahu, 2nd Place stock
QUOTE:
SUP is a lifestyle. Paddling offers on the water fun for everyone regardless of age, gender, or level of fitness. A really good downwinder gets me fired up any day!
Suzie Cooney
HOME: Maui, Hawaii
SPONSORS:
Naish, Kaenon, IndoBoard, True-Collection Team, OluKai spokesperson
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
• 2011 Olukai Ho’olaule’a, 1st Place Age Division
• Organizes free women’s SUP clinics
• Maui Maliko Run stoke-master
• SUP fitness guru
QUOTE:
What’s got me fired up? Sticking and holding a 10-15 foot wind swell going down Maliko! Plus I conducted the world’s first free SUP event anywhere, in January, 2010. 430 women showed up. Awesome.
Brandi Cumin Baksic
HOME: San Clemente, CA
SPONSORS:
Hobie, Quickblade, Watermans Applied Science
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
• 2012- Wold Stand Up Paddle and Paddleboard Championship Peru- women’s sup long distance- 1st place
• 2010- Cold Stroke Classic- 1st Place
• 2010- Hobie/ Hennessey’s Waterman’s Challenge- 1st Place Women’s SUP
QUOTE:
“Three years ago, the obsession began: training, racing, thinking, surfing, and sleeping SUP. I’ve tried to stop, but, “my momma didn’t raise no quitter.” It’s a love-hate relationship for me. I love to SUP, but I hate that I can’t quit.”
Talia Gangini
HOME: Maui, Hawaii
SPONSORS:
Coreban Stand Up Paddle Surfing, Maui Jim, Roxy, Quickblade, Dakine, Reef
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
• 2011 SUP Awards, 3rd ranked paddler
• 2012 OluKai Ho’olaule’a Stand Up Paddle Race- 2nd Place
• Kekoa Ink Koa Bowl Stand Up Surfing Event- 1st Place
• Pashey Designz/Manini Gangini- Jewelery/Bikini Business Owner
QUOTE:
“SUP is special to me because it can be done anywhere in the world. It gives you the opportunity to get a different view, and coming from a surfing background, you’re always looking for waves. With SUP, you can go to the middle of the country and still have fun. I love the adventure aspect SUP offers.”
Gillian Gibree
HOME: San Diego, CA
SPONSORS:
Roxy, Revo, SUP Company, and Ocean Minded
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
• 2012 Waikiki Paddle Festival- 1st place Survivor Race and 1st place Waterwoman’s Challenge
• 2012 Member of Team USA- ISA World SUP & Paddle Championships
• Paddle into Fitness- SUP Yoga Owner
• 2010 Battle of the Paddle- 5th place
QUOTE:
“SUP is such a diverse sport. It allows me to enjoy and explore so many different bodies of water around the world. And evokes so many different emotions depending on the environment I’m in: it’s exhilarating, peaceful, spiritual, fun, and energizing. SUP has opened up so many doors for me and lead me to meet amazing people. I couldn’t be happier to share my love and motto of the best sport in the world with others….Live, Laugh, Paddle!”
Helga Goebel
HOME: Fort Lauderdale, FL
SPONSORS:
Riviera Paddlesurf, Surf Nano Products
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
• 2011- SUP Splash- 1st place – women’s
• 2011- Quicksilver /Kam Islander Classic Race, 1st place
• 2011 Orange Bowl Paddle Championship 5 mile, Miami, FL- 1st Place
• 2011- Florida State Championship 9.5 mile- 1st place womens, Nominated Queen of the Beach
QUOTE:
“For me standup paddling is not just a sport. It has become an inspirational and motivational tool, making me feel in control of my life and my health. The minute my board touches the water, I relax and feel an incredible calmness and forget about everything.”
Nikki Gregg
HOME: Hood River, OR
SPONSORS:
Starboard, Werner Paddles, Teva
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
• 2012 Whitewater SUP Championships, Overall Winner
• 2012 Fibark SUP Cross, 2nd Place, 2nd Downriver
• 2011- Reno River Festival Downwinder Race- 1st Place
• NRG Lifestyle and Fitness Training- founder, owner, & personal trainer and stand up paddle fitness professional
QUOTE:
“SUP has so many avenues, including racing, surfing, river runs and downwinders. You can make it as extreme or mellow as you want, explore everywhere, anywhere. It never gets old.”
Morgan Hoesterey
HOME: Honolulu, HI
SPONSORS:
Vertra Elemental Resistance, Surf Stronger, Bark, Surftech, Maui Jim, Quickblade Paddles, Kona Brewing Company, Wet Feet, Futures Fins, Dakine
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
• 2012- Davenport Downwinder Race- 1st Place- women’s division
• As of 2010- she is 1 of 5 people in the world to SUP the entire Hawaiian Island Chain
• First woman to complete the Molokai to Oahu Channel Crossing Race on SUP
• 4th Place, 2011 Battle of the Paddle Elite Race, Women’s Division
Jenny Kalmbach
HOME: Kona, HI
SPONSORS:
Garmin, Kona Brewing, Naish, 2XU, The Mauna Lani Bay Hotel, Futures Fins, Watermans Applied Science, Navitas Naturals, Bonk Breaker, Oakley
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
• As of 2010- she is 1 of 5 people in the world to SUP the entire Hawaiian Island Chain
• 2011 SUP Awards, Number on ranked female paddler
• 2011- Tahoe Fall Classic- 22 mile- 1st female overall
• 2011- Battle of the Paddle Hawaii- 1st Place Overall
QUOTE:
“SUP, to me, means being active, traveling, exploring, having fun, living and enjoying life. Standup paddling has given me so many amazing and unique opportunities and I will always be grateful for that.”
Jen Lee
HOME: Honolulu, HI
SPONSORS:
C4, Maui Jim, Dakine, Pualani Swimwear, Hinano
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
• 2012 China Uemura Surf Contest, 2nd Place
• 2011 China Uemura Surf Contest, 1st Place
• 2011 Molokai to Oahu Paddleboard Race, 1st place, 2-man team race
• 2011 Teva Games, 3rd Place
QUOTE:
“SUP is a sport with endless possibilities and has helped me grow tremendously as a water woman. I’m truly greatful and blessed for all the people that have had a positive influence on my surfing and my life. Without them, this nomination would not be possible. Aloha”
Emmy Merrill
HOME: San Clemente, California
SPONSORS:
Hobie, Sweet Waterwear, Native Instinct
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
• 2012 ISA Women’s World Stand up Paddle Surf Champion
• 2012 Surfing America Championships, 4th Place in Men’s Division
• 2012 Surfing America Championships, 2nd Place Women
• Two-time San Clemente Ocean Festival Women’s SUP surf champion
QUOTE:
“I love to SUP because I love the friendly community and the people who do it and mostly because it’s super fun! I get fired up to surf when I see guys like Colin McPhillips ripping or when I watch a surf movie or just when it’s really hot outside.”
Andrea Moller
HOME: Maui, Hi
SPONSORS:
Maui Jim, Quickblade, Planet Sun, Dakine, Kaiwaa, Makia Productions, Maui Surfer Girls, S I C
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
• Record holder for Hawaiian Kaiiwi Channel SUP Solo Crossing
• 2010- Winner- Molokai to Oahu Stand Up Paddleboard Race
• 2011- Maui Jim SUP Triple Crown- 1st Place
• 2011-SUP Triple Crown- Overall Winner
• 2011- Olukai Race – 1st Place
• 2010- 1st place- Dukes Paddleboard Race
• 2010- “Most Important” Brazilian Waterwoman by the “Go Outside” (Brazilian Sports Magazine)
Terri Plunkett
HOME: San Clemente, CA
SPONSORS:
Premiere SUP Apparel, King’s Paddle Sports, H2o Audio, Indosole, SurfFur, Kole Gear
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
• 2011- Bend Paddleboard Challenge- 2nd Place
• 2011- Santa Monica Pier Paddleboard Race- 1st Place
• 2011- Hennessey’s Return to the Pier- 3rd Place
• The Loop Race on Coronado Island- 1st Place
QUOTE:
“Standup paddling has taught me so much: to be brave, strong and fearful and to laugh and play. Everyday, I’m surrounded by so much greatness and talent that has inspired me to push beyond what I think are my limits and that’s what’s gotten me where I am today.”
Mariko Strickland
HOME: Anahola, Kuai
SPONSORS:
C4 Waterman, Maui Jim, Kona Brewing, Kona Red, Hinano, Hanalei Bikinis, Sweet Water Wear
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
• 2011- Teva Mountain Games-womens division- 1st Place
• 2012- Noosa Festival of Surfing SUP Race- 3rd Place
• 1st person to paddle the Peruvian Amazon- 2011
• North Shore Paddle Challenge Surf Sprint Champion-2011
QUOTE:
“SUP has evolved into an adventurously fun lifestyle for me. The sport itself fosters camaraderie, relationships, as well as solitude in my life.”
Shakira Westdorp
HOME: Queensland, Australia
SPONSORS:
Hobie, Kaenon Polarized
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
• ISA World Championships, 2nd place, surf competition
• 2011- 1st Place- Australian National Championshsips
• 2009- Battle of the Paddle- Winner
• 2010- Battle of the Paddle Hawaii- 2nd Place
QUOTE:
“With SUP, I get to surf with my buddies and paddle in the creeks or do downwinders. It’s an amazing sport to be involved in and I love every minute of it.”
Karen Wrenn
HOME: Portland, OR
SPONSORS:
Naish, Kialoa, Kaenon Polarized, Vitamin A, Futures Fins, On It Pro, Camelbak
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
• 2011- Bend Paddle Challenge- 1st Place
• 2011- Carolina Cup- 1st Place
• 2011- Channel Islands Crossing- 1st place
• 1st stand up paddler to connnect all of California’s Channel Islands
QUOTE:
“I feel extremely lucky that I found standup paddling and was able to turn it into a fun lifestyle. I enjoy racing, training, going on adventures and paddling with friends and family. It is a healthy and a positive example for my kids to grow up around. The view from the water is so special.”
