BEYOND THE BOARD: AN INTERVIEW WITH ELAINE CAMPBELL

Vermont

I’ve been competing in white water kayaking for 13 years now and have made 5 US Kayak teams in Freestyle, Squirt, and Wildwater. I spend my winters in Southern Vermont snowboarding and nordic skiing and spend my Spring in a Sprinter RV traveling throughout the US and Canada on Paddling, Fly-Fishing, and Skiing adventures. Summers are spent on the Eastern Shore of Lake Ontario, SUPing and fly-fishing on the lake and paddling nearby on the Black River or traveling up to Canada to paddle.

I’ve been married for 15 years to Jeff and we have a rescue cat Laya who is about 17 years old and a recently rescued puppy named Bow. This past August we lost our dog Brook who lived an amazing life she passed away at 14 years old. I’m the Operations Coordinator and Pro Staff (customer service/tech support) at Pau Hana Surf Supply, a job I love doing from home, the RV, or the Lake.

In 2011 I was competing in WW events at the Reno River Fest in Nevada where Pau Hana was demoing their boards and competing. Todd, the owner, asked if I’d like to try a paddleboard and I said “Sure!” I had some amazing beginners luck and really made it look like I knew what I was doing, causing Todd to say “Whoa! Excellent” and talked me into competing in the SUP Slalom. Once in the competition, my beginner's luck immediately ran out and I was outed for the true freshman that I actually was on a SUP: I swam basically the whole competition, which had my husband/event announcer pissing himself laughing to all of downtown Reno. Not sure if Todd wasn’t watching or what but he asked me to join the team anyway, I’ve been a Pau Hana Team member ever since!

It was tough at first when I started full time only because I took on a brand new role and had a lot to learn. Once, I got in the groove I was able to prioritize my time between work and play. Get my work done and then I earn my time outside. Luckily, I live super close to the water and when I’m traveling I’m always near water so I never have to go far to get outside and paddle.

I love how quiet and peaceful it is. No matter if I’m paddling in whitewater, fly-fishing on my board, or paddling my race board I just always feel so relaxed and calm when I’m on my board.

My sporting heroes are pretty much anyone who is doing what they love and living their life to the fullest.

I’ve paddled in a lot of places all over the country and in Canada. Hawaii may be on the top of my list though. It felt like I was in a different world paddling there. The scenery is unreal and I can’t wait to go back.

I’ll be 50, yikes! I think I’ll still be paddling at a high level for a 50-year-old woman in whitewater kayaking and SUPing. My goal is to stay strong and keep on pushing myself as a paddler and fly-fisher.

FAVORITE FOOD: Donuts

FAVORITE DRINK: Seltzer

FAVOURITE MUSIC: Alternative Folk

FAVOURITE PADDLEBOARD: Cadence 12’6”

Written by Jennifer Chrimes