Where are you from? (Hometown)
Providence, Rhode Island.
How long have you been paddling? How did you get started?
I’ve spent the past 5 years down at water level with the other prone-doggies. On a whim (read: looking for a way to build and maintain strength and endurance for surfing and to simply spend more time in the water) I decided to pick up a prone. It was the best decision I could have made and would highly recommend everyone standing promptly lay down… just ask Nick Brown 😉
Where is Your Favorite Place to Paddle and Why?
Most recently, I’ve felt my chakras aligning on the prone at Braveboat Harbor in waist to head high swell. For me, there’s nothing better than a 20-30 minute paddle through a wildlife refuge to then arrive at a perfect left point break all to yourself. It feels like a dream every single time.
And when the swell is down, I’ve gotten great pleasure taking the short paddle down Chauncey Creek to Pepperell Cove, stopping off for a quick workout on one of the secluded beaches on the west side of Gerrish Island, then heading back in the same direction.
And I’d be remiss not to mention the downwinder from Seapoint Beach in Kittery to Nubble Light in York. Catch the right wind-swell combo and you’re just catching runners the entire time.
Crazy to think that all three of these paddles take off within a mile of each other. How lucky we are to live in this place!!
Do you have a favorite board? What is it and why do you love it?
Probably my 12′ Bark Commander prone. And I can’t forget my 9’8″ Hanlon log. Oh, and the 7’0″ Humberston that I don’t ride enough. Aaaaand I suppose the 4′ Limey bellyboard I picked up last fall. And who doesn’t love a set of fins and a hand plane?!?! Hrrrmmmmm, I sense a pattern here. I suppose it’s whatever board is underneath me at the time.
But really, my favorite board is probably (definitely?) my prone. I can do anything on it, from long open-ocean distance paddles to catching knee-high peelers at the local beach break. For me, it’s close enough to the ideal “one-board quiver”.
Do you have a favorite paddle board event? What is it and why is it your favorite? (i.e. Blackburn Challenge, Chattajack, IOS Invitational)
I’ve generally avoided the competitive/organized paddle world (for better or worse), so the only paddle board event I know is the IOS Invitational, which I’ve done twice. Each time was an absolute delight, given the wildly different conditions. My favorite is meeting up with all the paddlers once we get back to shore in Rye and celebrating the safe crossing together.
If you could take a paddling trip anywhere in the world where would you go and why?
Hawaii ’21, because Nick Brown is going. And because it’s Hawaii.
Have you changed boards/paddles/equipment since you started? If so, why?
Nope. I’m a firm believer in training the body first and thinking about equipment later. For this, I’ve stuck to my Bark Commander since I’ve started and will ride that thing until I outgrow it (which won’t happen) or it doesn’t float anymore. It’s also a truly amazing board, so why get rid of it?
Do you have any advice to new paddlers?
Respect the water, weather, other paddlers, and the environment in which you are paddling. And don’t take it too seriously. We’re just floating, after all.
How long have you been a Seacoast Paddleboard Club Member? How did you first hear about SPC? Why did you join?
This will be my 5th year as an SPC member. I actually learned of SPC while I was out on a solo paddle and ran across a few group members who told me to come join on Tuesday evenings, so I did! And, I suppose, the rest is history.
What do you like most about SPC?
The best part of SPC is it’s welcoming atmosphere and camaraderie. Pulling up on Tuesday evenings or Sunday mornings to the community paddles feels like meeting a big group of friends. I love that there are a variety of skill levels at every paddle, so you can always find someone to push you along and help sharpen your skills (or just mosey along and talk to). Just thinking about these weekly events and the people who attend is giving me a warm feeling inside 🙂 Thanks to Chris and the SPC leadership for growing this organization over the years. It’s provided me with a great sense of community and I’m looking forward to many more years of that.
What is your favorite non-paddle thing to do?
Too many to list, but mostly coffee, biking, skiing, cooking, reading, gardening, and just generally being outside. I’ve also grown quite fond of wood working, but there’s a daunting amount to learn there, so I’ll probably stick to making frames and headboards.
