SUP Contributors

Andre Niemeyer

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San Diego, California

Surfing & Academia

Online Marketing

'79. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

La Jolla, California

Rick Thomas

Biographical Note: (profile page)

Andre Niemeyer got hooked to stand up paddle boarding just as the sport was making its way outside of Hawaii and into mainland US. One day, while surfing at his home break in Southern California, his friend Rick Thomas once again asked Niemeyer if he wanted to try stand up paddling. Having already had his share of waves on a regular surfboard and a bit frustrated with the mediocre surfing conditions of the day, he decided to give it a shot, even though he wasn't quite sure about that. But once on the board, Niemeyer was surprised by the difficulty of paddle surfing, a challenge which drove him to embrace the sport wholeheartedly and which forever changed his life.  

Chuck Patterson

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Dana Point, California

Extreme Sports

Professional Standup Paddler

Dana Point, California

San Onofre, California

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Chuck Patterson is one of the most diversified extreme sports athletes on the planet. From death-defying snowboarding and big wave riding to kite surfing and standup paddle racing, he has done it all -- and some more. And in all of that, Patterson has managed to maintain a trademark smile, which (counter to his intimidating muscular profile) is uniquely friendly and welcoming. In all his years as an athlete, he has been a key player and ambassador of the action sports world.

Dan Gavere

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Hood River, Oregon

Kayaking & Product RND

Professional Standup Paddler

'69. --

Hood River, Oregon

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Dan Gavere is a professional standup paddle racer and white water guru, who pours all his field experience into developing some of the best paddles in the market. Having spent nearly all his life around inland waters and competitive kayak circles, the credentials he earned along the way have turned him into one of the most respectable authorities in white water standup paddling. Also, all the years spent developing paddles have helped him to harness a deep understanding of equipment and stroke technique.

Nikki Gregg

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On the road!

Fitness

Fitness Pro/Coach

'74. Haleiwa, HI

Hood River, Oregon

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Biographical Note: (profile page)

Nikki Gregg is a standup paddle fitness expert and owner of NRG Lifestyle Fitness Training. Proud of years of experience as a personal trainer and now being one of the world's greatest ambassadors for women sup, she offers keen insights on the fitness aspect of standup paddling and is one of the biggest proponents for taking fitness classes out of the "gym" and onto standup paddle boards, where the dynamics of the water and the beauty of the environment make it for a much more effective and motivating body trimming experience.

Corran Addison

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Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Kayaking & Product RND

Board Manufacturer

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

San Clemente, California

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Corran Addision is a superb kayaker, product developer, and prolific writer in the sport of standup paddling. Having spent many years finding his way in and out of white water kayaking, he has a far reaching network of connnections in the world of rivers and rapids and also boasts of an exceptional understanding of the appeals and dangers of fresh water bodies.

Haywood Newkirk

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Wilmington, North Carolina

Surfing & Fishing

Real Estate Appraiser

1963

Wrightsville Beach

Mike Barden at Surf City Surf Shop in Wrightsville Beach

Biographical Note:  (profile page)

Haywood is the 5th Generation of a family that began exploring the waters of Wrightsville Beach in the 1820's and by the age of 7, Haywood had his first skiff. Fishing, crabbing, clamming, seine netting, surfing, hunting and water skiing were all requirements for a young man growing up on the Carolina Coast in the 1970's. By the late 1990's Haywood had become an avid surfer, taking winter trips to the North Shore, summer trips to Mexico/Central America and chasing Hurricane Swells in the Fall. In the late 2000's Haywood's wife gave him his first SUP as a Father's Day Present and he has been hooked ever since. Wrightsville Beach is one of the World's Premier SUP locations and it's "aquatic diversity" make it perfect for Standup Paddling. "If the surf is good we'll hit one of our local breaks, the best of which can only be reached by boat. If the surf is flat we'll flatwater paddle or fish. If it's blowing 20+ knots we'll go downwinding."  Haywood is heavily involved in the local SUP Community and  is a well known Coastal Advocate in the Carolina's. Haywood's primary goal is to pass along the skills he learned from his Father to the next generation of Watermen along the Carolina Coast.

Alicia Barry

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San Diego, California

Outdoors & Writing

Writer

San Diego, California

La Jolla, California

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Biographical Note:  (profile page)

Alicia Barry is the epitome of the standup paddle transformation sweeping the globe. An outdoors person her whole life, she was well accustomed with both playful adventures at sea and recreational trips to lakes and rivers. But that experience was taken to a completely different level when she began standup paddling. Her passion for the ocean was rekindled, new friendships formed, and an intense sense of discovery and exploration sparked. Barry has become one of the most enthusiastic standup paddlers around, constantly eager to learn and share about new chapters of sup's exciting journey around the world.

Morene Dekker

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Amsterdam, Netherlands

Outdoors & Water Sports

Journalist, Sup Bus. Owner

'72.

The IJsselmeer

Anne Marie Reichman

Biographical Note: (profile page)

Morene Dekker is one of the familiar faces in the rising tide of standup paddling in Netherlands, quickly making a name for herself in the race scene, especially after she  and her group of friends claimed the top spot on the 11 Cities Tour Holland race in 2010. An avid athlete on several other watersports and an outdoor enthusiast, she has embraced the sport passionately and has become one of its greatest ambassadors in the Dutch country.

Jason Pereira

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Óbidos, Portugal

Fishing, Surfing & Tourism

Adventure Tourism

69, Guildford, UK

Peniche, Estremadura

A burning desire for new experiences

Biographical Note: (profile page)

Jason Pereira is an outdoor enthusiast and travel addict, bringing his experience from a lifetime of alternative sports as well as a need to know ‘what’s round the next bend’ to the sport of standup paddling. If you're cruising around one of Portugal's rivers or saltwater lagoons or ripping it up in the wave’s, chances are you'll soon come across him on his standup paddle board.

Andrew Cassidy

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Sydney, Australia

Surf/Journalism/Multi-Media

Magazine Editor

'70, Sydney, Australia

Mona Vale

Tom Carroll

Biographical Note: (profile page)

Andrew Cassidy is the Publisher, Managing Editor and Art Director of Australia's first SUP magazine - Australian Paddle Surfer. He was one of the first stand up paddlers in Sydney and fell in love with the sport from the first day on his new board. Andrew founded the Sydney Paddle Surfing Club in 2009 which has now grown to be the premier SUP club in Australia. Andrew holds an impressive list of SUP surfing results from competitions around Australia.

Rob Casey

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Seattle, Washington

Sea and Surf Kayaking

Travel Photographer/Writer

6-23-69

Shilshole Bay, Seattle

visit to Kona Village, HI in 07’

Biographical Note: (profile page)

Seattle based, Rob Casey is the author of 'Stand Up Paddling Flat Water to Rivers and Surf', a Mountaineers Outdoor Expert Series book published in April 2011. The book instructs novice paddlers the basics of paddling on flat water, rivers, tidal currents, surf, at night, and on busy urban waterways. Readers will learn which gear is best for them, how to pack for overnight trips, how to race, and learn cross training and tips from SUP fitness guru, Nikki Gregg.

Rob teaches SUP and offers tours through his business Salmon Bay Paddle. He contributes images and technique articles to SUP Magazine, Canoe Kayak and Stand Up Journal Magazine. Rob has been kayaking for over a decade, and enjoys sea, surf and whitewater kayaking. Rob is also the co-founder of the Hobuck Hoedown, the NW's only SUP and surf kayaking surfing competition. A commercial photographer for 20 years, his images are represented by Getty Images and Corbis. Much of his SUP and surfing images are available through his office in Seattle.