In every stage of life there is the opportunity to grow, explore, transition and retain a sense of wonder around the water sports that so positively impact our lives. Writing this in April of 2022, I am mentally preparing for the next birthday when I turn 73 in June.

73!!! That’s a number that scares me, but ABSOLUTELY does not define me. I bet there are plenty of you at various decades and ages from 30-80+ who feel the same way. One comes to mind and that this a woman I met a few years back while paddling the 8-mile down wind course in the mighty, churning Columbia River from Viento to Hood River. That woman, Seddon Wylde – grandmother to Fiona Wylde – just turned 80. She continues to charge and play as a powerful water woman.

On the other end of the age spectrum is world champion SUP racer, Seychelle, – who is just entering a new phase of life as a mother. Uber-cool writer, Evelyn O’Doherty summed it up in her recent article for Standup Journal, SIC Women of WaterSports.

All of the women mentioned in the article shared valuable gems of wisdom and insight. To me, the most profound was this from Seychelle, ““Be patient. Hold your vision but don’t be afraid to let it shift or change as you evolve as a woman. Life never seems to unfold as we expect it to. Women, especially, can be hard on themselves when we have a goal. But, when we take the pressure off is usually when we perform better. So, rediscover your joy!  And just go have fun.”

So looking forward to the Summer I turn 73 I think my vision will shift a bit. From over a decade of SUP and surfing adventures, to the past few years windsurfing – I think flying with a wing on water is coming up. Living in the high desert of Central Oregon will make aspects of that vision challenging – but I am game!

How about you? How will you embrace your next stage of life or life situation? Envision YOUR evolution, your goals and, as Seychelle says, “Rediscover your joy.”

There’s no doubt that I will be paddling my favorite rivers and lakes throughout this cool 8th decade of my life, but when the wind picks up and whitecaps form, the Kialoa Paddle goes in the car and out comes my Starboard compact 4.5 sail. What a 1-2 punch combo of a water-fun day when the glassy goodness of morning transitions to the windy wild of afternoon.

Most of the summer I looped nearby Suttle Lake where a circumnavigation was just under 4 miles. Super-nuking afternoon winds are more common there than on my usual go-to: Elk Lake.

It has been about 10 months since I added air to my Starboard Zen inflatable 12’6″ Touring board that easily adapts for windsurfing with its removable mast track system.

I am 71 (as of Fall 2020) and I can easily manage hauling this beauty to and from my car. And it takes under 5 minutes to switch from be a SUP-er to a Windsurfer!

The coolest sail I had all summer was during a trip to the Southern Oregon coast, just south of Bandon to Floras Lake. I had scheduled a lesson with Floras Lake Kite and Windsurf – more for the security of someone watching over me in the 25-30+ winds than anything else. Since my sail is 4.5 I decided to use one of their lesson boards with a smaller sail, and a shorter, more agile board. The day was cold and intimidating. Like wild things, kiters were criss-crossing the lake with exhilarated grins. I stepped onto the unfamiliar board and felt its tippy shape test my balance as I hauled up the sail.

Then – BAM! I was off. Incredible feeling and challenging conditions. I never did get my harness connected, I just tacked that lake and zoomed around for about 45 minutes. By then my jelly legs were rebelling and I had my first swim. Whew! That fun could have gone on forever -but after a few more lake crossings I had to sail back into shore and call it a day – a GREAT day.

Meet YOUR SKYPE trainer, Suzie Cooney

So many beaches are closed and even surfing has been banned in certain areas around the world. Social distancing allows for a hike or a paddle in some open water areas – but for most of us, “in the house” is the new normal.

The unknown of the COVID-19 virus plays havoc with our mood, emotional state and ability to remain motivated to move and train the way we’d like to.  Gyms, fitness centers and even our yoga studios have closed down – further stressing out even the most disciplined and fit/healthy among us.

Whether or not you love water sports (or other sports and fitness endeavors) THIS is the perfect time to connect with a positive, motivated, inspiring and expert mentor/trainer. SKYPE training may be utterly foreign to you – but it is an incredible way to gain a solid base for your upcoming (and quarantine-free) summer fun.

My recommendation is easy! You can connect with an online trainer with heart, soul, expertise, one top-notch positive approach to wellness and a super sense of FUN! Right now, click this link and meet Suzie Cooney of Suzie Trains Maui.

Here’s YOUR invitation from Suzie, “In one click you can be with me in my studio on Maui! Technology has allowed me to successfully transport clients from around the world and deliver incredible, results driven, fun workouts no matter what their goals and needs are. People love to have me in their private home gym via SKYPE technology, which is super easy to set up and free. As long as you have a strong, high-speed connection we’re connected.

When you have a professional like me in your corner holding you accountable to show up and perform, I will drive you, push you and keep you highly motivated. I’m looking out for you and watching your every move. I can cue you technically just as if you were standing right in front of me. I can even give you a cyber high five for a job well done!

Don’t let the ocean stand between your success and the opportunity to train with me. Let’s get this job done. What are you waiting for? Make the investment in yourself and see what others are saying: Testimonials Here

If you have any questions – send Suzie a note.

I have been an entrepreneur all my life, before I had even heard that word or knew its meaning. Each time a challenge presented itself, I invented-created-imagined-designed a plan to solve it. When I taught school there was never enough money for any extras. You can bet I became a champion grant writer, creating an entrepreneurial sort of classroom. Lately I have been developing the Blue Life Journal for Kids and a curriculum to engage and empower the next generation of ocean stewards.

A weird thing happened about 8 years ago when I started this Elder SUP blog – in a way it has been an entrepreneurial adventure. Better – it has been a way to meet amazing people. That experience led me to coin the term “SUPrepreneur.” I plan to share a series of stories of people active and influential in the world of SUP that features their “not quitting my day job” foray into developing their small business direction.

Meet Jamie Uttley

I am very fortunate to be connected with Starboard and their North American distributors, Trident Sports.  Through that connection I met a cool, hard-working, innovative woman – Jamie Uttley. She recently posted on Facebook a call for all of us to support each other as we start our small businesses. I DEFINITELY want to support her business. It’s small, really new and right up my alley.

Jamie sells Pure Copper Water Bottles and Copper Straws both Retail and Wholesale. In her own words she explains, “I got my wholesale experience from my job at Trident, which I am grateful for every day! My website is www.coastcopper.com (or www.coastcopper.ca)” Check it out, you will LOVE her products.

There’s a bit of a story behind the bottles. Jamie explains, ” My husband’s mom is a Yoga/Ayurveda Therapist of 30+ years and she is often going to India to teach and travel. Last March, she brought us each a copper bottle and the rest is history!

Not only are they stylish and they are believed to offer certain health benefits based on Ancient Ayurveda. That’s a great value in itself. But, as plastic bottles clog beaches and ocean gyres all over the globe, a reusable bottle is a gift to the ocean.  A reusable bottle eliminates the need for plastic/disposable bottles.

Our products at Coast Copper are sold to pretty much 3 demographics –

• People who are interested in Ayurveda and Wellness,
• People who think they look cool (they do!) and lastly and my favourite
• The people who are looking for a sweet way to reduce their daily use of plastics.

Through my years at Trident I’ve learned so much about ocean conservancy and the issues our environment is currently facing. That is the beauty of the watersports industry – there is so much more than what appears on the surface. Literally and figuratively!”

A beautiful and easy solution to the problem of plastic straws!  Jamie has this to say about her copper straws. “After seeing video after video and email after email from Svein Rasmussen (Founder of Starboard) and my colleagues about the condition of the ocean, it was easy to change my habits.  I’ve always been pretty good but there was room for improvement. Being the type of person that I am, I feel like I need to do what I can to spread the message of reducing our habit of single use plastic. I have no problem now suggesting a restaurant carry paper or no straws – or giving a bartender a hard time for giving me a straw after I have requested not to have one. Straws are simply a habit – and straws are one of the most prevalent beach plastic polluter.

I often post on social media and now with my business I have another avenue to share with people the importance of reduction of our single use plastic habit.”