QUESTION: How did you get into paddleboarding? Were you doing any other sports at the time?
Answer: I pretty much grew up in the water surfing with my family before I could even walk.
I first fell in love with surfing, then windsurfing and motocross racing and now stand-up paddling (SUP).
I have competed all over the world for these sports, but lately I have really taken a grasp on SUP, since there is so much opportunity in the sport, and since it is very diverse and can be practised anywhere in the world.
I first got into SUP through Svein Rasmusen, one of my original sponsors.
Svein is the owner of Starboard, one of the largest windsurfing companies out there.
When he started to produce SUP boards he sent me one of the first boards back in 2006, and from that day on I fell in love with the sport.
What did you like about it that made you take it seriously?
What I loved about SUP was that it was a mix between surfing and rowing or canoeing, where you can perform high performance manoeuvres on waves but also enjoy a leisure paddle or a great workout in a lake, or on a flat day in the ocean or any body of water for that matter. What I really loved was how innovative we could be with the sport.
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Who has influenced you the most?
My father, Matt, an 18-time world champion windsurfer, has taught me so much more than just the sports I am passionate about today, but also to always leave a positive foot print behind everywhere I go and to always respect anybody and everybody. Also my brother, Matty, my best friend and coach. It is so special to me to be able to travel the world with my brother.
When did you decide to start paddleboarding as a full-time professional?
Once I started really practising I got offered to be sent around the world by Starboard and Maui Jim Sunglasses to promote the sport.
The sport was growing so fast and I was falling in love with it, there were and still are so many opportunities as a professional athlete with this sport, which is now the fastest-growing water sport in the world.
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What has been your most memorable win so far? Why?
My most memorable win was at the Stand Up World Tour Abu Dhabi All Star Challenge, where I was the overall champion for the stand-up paddle surfing event and racing event last year.
The event was held in the world’s best wave pool at the Wadi Adventure Park, and this is something so unique that I will never forget.
How big an achievement was winning this championship?
This was one of my biggest accomplishments in my career, because of the venue here in Abu Dhabi.
Every wave ridden by the athletes is the same, so it really did show who is the best of the best.
There is no luck involved like in most events – and we were treated like rock stars.
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Can you expand on your daily training routine?
I always try to eat healthy first of al – organic, non-GMO food products.
Physically, I try to stay active all day every day, working out in the gym in the morning and evening and training in the water.
Most of the time, especially when home, I’ll do all surfing, SUP and windsurfing in one day.
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Mentally, how do you prepare for a competition?
I practise meditation daily and know that with my preparation and this opportunity in front of me, I can achieve my goals.
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What are your targets for the next couple of years?
My goals for the next years are to become SUP world champion. I also am going to continue teaching clinics to promote the mental and physical health benefits of the sport.
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How do you see the future of the sport?
I see SUP being one day part of the Olympics. I also truly believe that it will become much, much bigger than the surfing industry, because of the diversity of the sport and also the range of places you can compete – not only along the coastlines but in lakes, rivers, ponds, fjords, oceans, seas and even pools.
apassela@thenational.ae
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