Rise and Glide Paddle Logger

Marie is a waterwoman from South Devon, Great Britain. She’s got years of experience under her belt in almost every water sport you can think of. Marie’s well known as a SUP racer, having been paddling since 2007, but her journey started in competitive windsurfing and has evolved to all paddling disciplines since.

In this episode we dive back through the history of SUP, from the first boards and paddles, to the evolution of racing trends, all the way up to Marie’s recent experiences at the ICF World Championships, where she won gold in both 2022 and 2023. Marie tells us all about the preparation that helped her get there and why it’s all about having fun on the water rather than strict scheduled sessions.

We find out how we can encourage more female participation in sport, the importance of age categories in both national and international events and differences in equipment needs for men and women. Marie shares her

IG @mariebuchanan

Chris Freeman, the owner and founder of Black Project, discusses his journey in the water sports industry and the development of Black Project in the SUP and Windsurf worlds. Chris transitioned from competitive windsurfing to stand up paddling (SUP) and began creating high-performance fins and paddles in the process.

We learn about how good quality fins and paddles can dramatically improve your paddling experience. Chris emphasises what goes into product development and how Black Project finds the right balance between timeless designs and introducing new, exciting products.

Chris goes into detail about the testing and feedback process for developing new products; the creation of prototypes, how they get tested in different conditions, and feedback from paddlers with the goal of continuously improving the performance and quality of the products. Chris understands the needs of different paddlers and explains how he adapts the products accordingly. We chat about the evolution of stand up paddle boarding and he explains what’s changed with fins and paddles based on changes in the sport, such as board designs and racing trends.

We look at the rise of entry-level boards and the impact on the industry; the frustration of retailers with the quality of inflatables and the difficulty new paddlers have at distinguishing between high-quality and cheaper products.

IG @blackprojectsup & @blackprojectwindsurf

web www.blackprojectsup.com

Today we’re chatting with Seychelle, professional stand up paddle board (SUP) racer. A few months ago, Seychelle won the ICF World Championships 200m Sprint race only a few months after also winning two 70 mile and 80 mile endurance events. We chat about different SUP disciplines and the topic of specialisation. Seychelle tells us how it really is possible to do it all, and we learn more about the physiological requirements for different types of paddling.

Seychelle shares her insights on strength training for SUP racing and tells us all about SUP Stroke School, a program that focuses on improving stroke technique for paddlers of all levels. She explains how she practices drills introduces her app, which offers videos and a supportive community.

Seychelle has some exciting upcoming events and training camps, including a women's SUP and Love retreat and clinic dates in the UK. Seychelle reflects on her journey as a paddler, including her transformational year in 2019 and the importance of embracing different phases of life and finding joy in the present moment.

Content Warning: This episode contains a short discussion on topics that some may be sensitive to with reference to starting a family.

IG ⁠@seychelle.sup⁠

coaching ⁠Seychelle SUP⁠

web ⁠seychellesup.com⁠

Blake Carmichael is the winner of the 2023 Last Paddler Standing endurance event, where he paddled for a record-breaking 50 hours. He completed this just a few months after also winning the solo men’s division of the 80 mile Crossing for Cystic Fibrosis from the Bahamas to Florida.

In this episode, Blake shares his journey in stand up paddle boarding, going from beginner to ultra long distance paddler in just a couple of years. We learn about Blake’s recent paddle across the state of Florida to raise awareness about water pollution on marine ecosystems and his campaign for clean water. Blake also shares insights on the physical and mental challenges of these ultra long-distance challenges, and the strategies he uses to stay focused and motivated.

Blake emphasises the importance of gratitude, meditation and mindfulness. Gratitude teaches us to appreciate the small things in life, and he explains how it helps him to keep pushing through challenging moments on the water. Blake also discusses his preparations for 2024 races and we discuss training routines for different disciplines and tips for mental and physical preparation.

IG @blakecarmichael

web diveblu3.com

watch Paddling 3 miles every hour

Captains for Clean Water

Jon White is a para-canoeist and was the first para-athlete in an ICF event, has represented Great Britain at several world championships winning many medals, and recently won two Gold medals at the 2023 ICF Ocean Racing World Championships in Australia. He lives by “a strong will and a sharp mind can overcome almost anything”.

In this episode, Jon discusses his competitive journey and how he rediscovered his passion for paddling after experiencing a life changing injury in the Royal Marines where he lost three limbs. We learned more about the prosthetic arm Jon uses for kayaking, and how he’s working with engineers get the design just right. Jon shares insights into his training routine, including the balance between flat water and ocean training, club paddles and solo sessions. Jon also recounts his 100-mile kayaking marathon on Christmas Day in 2022, raising over £15,000 and the strategies that helped him to stay focused during the challenge. We asked about the 2024 Paris Paralympics and hear what the selection process is like and how Jon is focusing his training.

The paddling community is supportive and inclusive. Getting out on the water can help many of us overcome personal challenges and find a sense of freedom and independence.

IG @jonwhite50

3 x World Champion, a gold medalist in the Pan American Surfing Games, 2x Carolina Cup Graveyard Champion, Gorge Downwind OC1 Champion and APP World Tour World Champion. April has worked HARD over the last decade and shares her journey as a paddler, an athlete, a coach and now new parent.

She talks about how she started paddling from a background with zero fitness, and the challenges she faced as a beginner. April emphasised the importance of commitment and gradual progress in achieving success as an athlete. We spoke about training strategies, low hanging fruits, staying focused whilst paddling, and April’s love for audiobooks.

April’s story is inspiring and highlights the dedication and discipline required to excel in the sport of stand up paddling. We also chatted about April’s journey as a coach, the importance of keeping a training journal, advice for paddlers wanting to train more seriously, and the new challenges April is experiencing as a new mum balancing paddling with motherhood.

IG @aprilzilg

web aprilzilg.com

training paddletraining.com

training journal athlete-agenda.com

Books Mentioned


80/20 Running: Run Stronger and Race Faster By Training Slower by Matt Fitzgerald


168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think by Laura Vanderkam


Roar by Dr Stacey Sims


The Period Repair Manual: Natural Treatment for Better Hormones and Better Periods by Laura Bridon