Janna started her boardsport love by skateboarding at age 13. Growing up in Florida, she was exposed to the surf culture and naturally developed a love for warm water and the beach. She has spent most of her career working at skateboarding and clothing companies throughout the US and Canada. However, after developing a love for surfing and wanting to do something new, she tried SUP and has found a new passion ever since. “SUP is a fun, creative, all-over workout. It’s fluid movements give you a sense of relaxation and peacefulness.” She feels blessed to be able to be one of the first to bring SUP to Toronto. Janna is also a Registered Yoga Alliance yoga teacher and Lifeguard.

I have always been mesmerized by the oceans size and power, and its one of the few places I feel truly at peace. Growing up in California allowed me to be close to the ocean, but it wasn’t until I moved to Maui in 2006 that I began surfing, and discovered SUP (stand up & paddle) . The first time I tried SUP I was completely hooked. You can be out at sea gazing back at beautiful islands and sea shores without worrying about getting completely pounded by waves and wiping out on reef. Instead you can glide over reefs filled with turtles, schools of fish, dolphins, seals, and the occasional shark. I love SUP for it’s many different levels of difficulty, you can go for the mellow down wind that borderlines with meditation, or take it as far as big wave surfing. I spend my time between Malibu, CA and Maui, HI and Paddleboard whenever weather permits. I love to travel and Paddleboard the world. I just returned from an incredible trip in Thailand formed around SUP and can’t wait for many more adventures in the future.

Jenifer’s love of board sports started on the epic hills of Ontario with her snowboard and the busy streets of Toronto on a long board.  Then, on a snowboarding adventure to the back country of B.C., a faulty bungee cord caused her to loose her snowboard off the top of the car. Bummed about her loss but staying true to her zen-like nature her solution was to keep heading west to Tofino to give surfing a try. With rented gear and a little advice (including how to keep warm in a wet suit and just stand up) Jenifer jumped into the pacific and with a little patience, caught her first wave-initiating her love of surfing. On the same trip she and her friends continued south to California, where they surfed with sea lions in San Francisco and great whites in a secret hippy surf town off Highway 1. Jenifer’s most recent travels brought her to Peru where surfed everyday (except the days she spent hiking to Machu Pichu of course). After her travels and with a renewed desire to be on the water, Jenifer was introduced to Paddleboarding by Toronto’s leading and hottest SUP girl Janna, who taught her how to paddle. Paddleboarding’s balancing connection to body, breath and water compliments Jenifer’s Yoga roots and she looks forward to early morning paddles and sun-salutations on Lake Ontario this summer. Jenifer is a registered yoga instructor and is currently in training to be a Doula.

Stand up paddle boarding is so addictive! I first tried it in Florida and had so much fun going through mangroves, and seeing all the wildlife on shore and in the ocean. I even saw dolphins swimming close by! It is one of the easiest non impact sports to learn which just requires a bit of balance and patience. This summer I plan to be out suping on lake erie and hopefully some other lakes with the some of the other sup girlz!

Paddleboarding is truly an awesome sport for any outdoor adventure seeker. I am a Florida native that absolutely loves the water and the entire beach scene! The fact that you can paddle out so far & still be able to see down through the deep sparkling blue water is a wonderful sight. It is as though looking at a fish tank, observing brightly colored fish swimming in their natural habitat. I loved the fact that I could see something at the bottom and dive straight down and check it out up close. Paddleboarding can also give you an up close glimpse of nature and wildlife in the mangroves. This is definitely a must do for any lover of water, nature and wild life.

Lori the explorer – that’s me! Whether it’s on my snowboard in the B.C backcountry or canoe tripping in Quebec and northern Ontario sharing my love for nature with others as well as a smile/laugh is where I like to be as often as I can. Thanks to SUPGirlz Janna and Jenifer I have been blessed by their positive energy to go exploring in my backyard – Lake Ontario. Now I look forward to a couple hours of discovering the shoreline on the way to the Bluffs and Leslie Spit or challenging myself with a yoga position as a way to be transported. I always feel more centered after a paddle – with the bonus of improved core strength and balance. Paddleboarding is not only awe-inspiring it’s just plain fun– just ask any of us who were out on the moonlight paddle or the girlz who went SUPsurfing. Get out there and do SUP’ting!

Paddleboarding embraces countless experiences. From the calm smooth waters that provide a relaxing meditative flow, to the dynamic experience of strong powerful waves. Each experience teaches you something new, not only about paddleboarding, but also about yourself.  Paddleboarding to me is about learning when to hold on and learning when to let go. It’s about connecting to the water, feeling the movement of the waves and allowing your body to harmonize with this sensation. What an incredible feeling! Yoga on the board enhances this connection to nature and the gifts the water offers.  So much love to Janna and her incredible skills, kind spirit and open heart. Stephanie is a Toronto based yoga instructor, art therapist and fine art photographer.

Growing up on on the Toronto island, Samantha was introduced to water sports at an early age. A love of travel and adventure combined with a passion for both the inward and outward journey, soon lead her to discover Yoga and SUP (stand up paddle) boarding. Samantha is now thrilled to be living her dream giving eco tours and offering SUP yoga classes in the Florida Keys.

Lindsay Layla grew up in northern Ontario in a small town called Timmins. Loving the outdoors and many sports she would always find invigorating ways to explore new sports and outdoor adventures. Lindsey first tried paddle boarding in the Toronto Beaches on lake Ontario and like many others was hooked from the start. “I love it so much I now crave it with my morning coffee.” You can follow Lindsey and her hear hear sing (like she does on some paddles!) at listentolayla.com