Team
Our Motto: Travel. Paddle. Explore
Solace SUP is a community and family of paddlers living a journey of fitness, traveling and exploring. Some may express this through yoga, fishing, SUP racing, surfing, art or just living in the moment on a stand up paddle board soaking up the sun. Wether its a couple hours on the weekend or 7 days a week; Find your solace. Check out our team members and Solace ambassadors below.
ERICA- JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA |
I love my life.
I was raised on the St. John's river in Florida. Love and respect for the water has been with me from the very beginning.
After college, I tried "land based jobs" but was never passionate about them. I belonged on the water. That's when I decided to become a scuba diving instructor. I got paid to share my passion with others.
I currently reside in Jacksonville with my husband and two boys: Lucas (4) and Dyess (2). I stay home and hang out with my two best buds all day, instilling in them my deep love of all things water. I wouldn't have it any other way.
In my free time I enjoy doing yoga.
We are currently living a life of adventure on a 43 foot boat, and traveling to tropical places.
SARAH- ATLANTA, GEORGIA |
I have been doing yoga off and on for about 12 years; it was only within the last 2 years that I really started to dig in deep and get into my practice and making it a way of my life. I had made the decision to get my 200 hour RYT certification last year with no idea where I would be taking it at the time. Ever since, I have continued to dig deeper in my practice and everything that surrounds yoga.
I can honestly say that it has changed my life, spiritually, physically, emotionally and helped me develop some great new relationships. This year I decided to get certified as a Stand Up Paddle board Yoga Instructor; I chose to do this after taking a couple classes and laying there in Savasana with the water touching my fingers and toes, softly rocking in the warm water with the sun hitting my skin that ‘This is it! This is my happy place, this is what I want to do and I want to share it with everyone!’
My intention with yoga and SUP is to reach out, share my experiences in how it has helped me and how it can help you in your life. Most of all you don’t have to be an expert to do it! With yoga and Sup, you can receive not only the physical experience but also a mental shift; to feel the freeness of your thoughts and feelings that can take over your mind and daily life. I feel that I am here to help anyone that fights with anxiety, depression, daily stress, and learning to love yourself. I have been told that when I teach I have a very soothing voice; and I love to combine that with the feeling of being on a board just floating on the soothing waters…for you to experience something like no other.
I would love for you to join me in this experience; get yourself a board and come join me, let’s have some fun together and even learn something about ourselves!! #LearnSomethingNewEveryDay
Richie #2- Berlin, Maryland |
Raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, I naturally gravitated to water sports. I remember when I was younger fishing and crabbing in the back bays of the Chesapeake and really appreciating the diverse sea creatures, wild ponies and landscape.
I took up surfing early on and learned on my local breaks and eventually started to travel to places like Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, and Indonesia in search of different waves. Its fun meeting new people and learning more about the different cultures through my travels.
I'm still finding some secret spots right here in my own backyard with my Solace paddle board now. It's great to SUP surf too and keeps things fun!
Danielle- Carlsbad, California |
My name is Danielle, I am an outdoor enthusiast that eats, sleeps and breathes adventure. I grew up in Pasadena, Maryland but now I am happy to call Carlsbad, California home.
My Dad introduced me to paddleboarding a couple years ago and I fell in love. We enjoyed paddleboarding all over the Chesapeake Bay from Annapolis to the Eastern Shore. But now you will find me paddleboarding on my Lagoon here in Carlsbad and in the ocean! But I am on the search for new adventures and spots to paddle along the California coast! My other passions include surfing, snowboarding, yoga, and swimming.
Michael, Jes and Taylor- Hilton Head, South Carolina |
Tourists turned locals. We have been working in the water sports industry for a combined 15 plus years on Hilton Head Island, in South Carolina. It came natural to each of us to move to the island after college, as we all began spending holiday on the island at a very young age. We all meet and worked at the same water sports company prior to opening our business. Our water sports business, Island Head Watersports, originally started as just a parasail company. Over the course of the past three years we have extended our fleet of activities too not only including Parasailing, but Jet Ski rentals, Banana Boat rides, SUP Guided Tours and SUP Yoga!
All three of us have our USCG Masters License and are actively involved; captaining all of our tours, with our 6 crew members. Taylor, is our Parasail Captain while Michael and Jes captain the remainder of the activities. Jes, a certified yoga instructor, also leads our SUP division teaching Sunrise and Sunset SUP Yoga and guiding our SUP tours throughout the day.
At Island Head Watersports we invite our guests to adopt the Island Head mentality: “A state of mind achieved by following one’s passion in the right place with the right people; if it’s only for a day or a lifetime…”
We are super passionate about what we do and try to sustain a healthy happy life, while also caring about our environment in which we are so lucky to operate in. We were immediately drawn to Solace Sup Boards, after learning about their eco friendly products and knew this would be a perfect match for us!
We look forward to representing Solace Sup Boards as Brand Ambassadors and are ecstatic to continue our growing relationship, while feeling proud and confident about the equipment we put our guests out on.
Kick Back, Relax, and Cool Off with Island Head Watersports!
PEACE, LOVE & WATER SPORTS
Katie- Las Vegas, Nevada |
On the journey back to my truest self:
I was born and raised in Las Vegas,NV. I was an athlete my entire childhood, playing softball competitively. My mom always got us out of the desert and into nature whenever she could. I moved to Reno/Tahoe, NV for college for 5 years. Here my love for nature grew and became apart of my lifestyle. I began yoga at 17 and have been getting deeper into my practice each day. Graduating UNR with a degree in Nutrition, my goal is to help promote an overall healthy lifestyle.
I am about to begin another journey, where I will be backpacking for an extended amount of time in Southeast Asia, as well as receiving my 200 YTT & basic Ayurveda training in India. I cannot wait to share my knowledge and experience with others to help inspire and promote wellness in all areas of life. Mind, Body & Soul. Namaste
Natalie- Baltimore, Maryland |
I have always been the adventurous one. On any given weekend, you are likely to find me in the woods or on the water. I live to try new things and to see new places. I find myself most at peace when I am in nature. I am also most in awe in nature.
I have had the good fortune of always being a stone’s throw away from all that nature has to offer. There are large, scenic mountains to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, with Baltimore being nestled snuggly in the middle, on the largest estuary in the United States – the Chesapeake Bay. There are countless adventures to be had and places to explore in this unique state, and I intend to experience them all.
I am an avid paddle boarder, as well as an environmentalist. I try to spend equal parts of my time enjoying and protecting our natural resources. You will likely find me advocating for healthier waterways at local rallies and volunteer opportunities. I am a member of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Surfrider Foundation, and the Assateague Coastal Trust.
I enjoy all aspects of paddle boarding, including paddling with friends, yoga, fishing, surfing, and especially racing. The boards of choice within my quiver are the 12’6 Solace Spear race board, and the 10’6 Solace Pura Vida. I take pride in supporting a local company whose values are in line with my own.
Wayne- Ocean City, Maryland |
I was born in Clearfield, PA. I grew up skateboarding and spent a lot of time on a lake nearby. I started waterskiing at 8, learned how to barefoot waterski, got into kneeboarding, and eventually into wakeboarding. I was always drawn to water.
When I was 30, I was given the opportunity to move to the beach. Looking back, it was the best decision I've ever made. I immediately got into surfing. Was into that for 6 - 7 years. A friend asked if I've ever been on a standup paddleboard. We dropped in on a late November afternoon. I knew I was hooked. I've been paddling pretty intensely ever since. I spent the first few years cruising around the bay, learning the channels, and building my speed and endurance.
A couple years ago, a friend asked me to go to NYC for a 25 mile SUP race around Manhattan for Autism. That was another life changer for me. I never considered myself very competitive. Since that first race, I've done quite a few in MD, DE, VA, and I've done the NYC race twice. I love the competition now. Events are so much fun, the people are great, the competitors are so much fun. I can't get enough of them now.
If I had to pick, I'd say SUP surfing is my favorite. There's a soul to it you can't find in a race, but I still love all aspects of the sport. It's growing and changing so much. I'm so glad to be a part of it right now. I absolutely love being on the water, any time of the year.
Outside of paddling, I still love staying fit. I'm at the gym a lot, run a couple days a week, and do plenty of yoga. I'm a huge sports fan with my love going to the city of Pittsburgh. Penguins, Steelers, and Pirates!! I go to as many games as I can. I have a Victory motorcycle I ride as often as I can.