Flying Fish Welcomes the World to Florida!

As we gear up for the ICF SUP World Championships next week, we had a chance to sit down with John Meskauskas, a key figure in Florida’s vibrant paddle boarding community, as excitement builds for the upcoming competition in Sarasota. John shares his enthusiasm for welcoming paddlers from around the globe and discusses the preparations taking place at the Flying Fish shop, including board production and rentals for athletes. He reflects on recent successes of Florida’s elite competitors and the evolution of stand-up paddle boarding in the state. With insights on local conditions, community involvement, and advice for participants, this conversation highlights the anticipation surrounding this prestigious event.

Welcome back to TotalSUP John! How excited are you for the world to come to your backyard next month?

We are extremely excited to welcome everyone to Florida! We have a very strong Paddle community here in Florida and we are stoked to share it with the rest of the world. Sarasota is located on the west coast of Florida about three hours from our shop in Stuart, FL which is on the east coast.

How is everything going at the shop? Is board production going well? Will you be sending lots of Flying Fish boards to Sarasota? Do you have lots of athletes renting boards for worlds?

Yes, production has been great. We built about 20 additional rental boards for the event in random sizes and they are all rented out. We are excited to have some international athletes have an opportunity to compete on our boards. Also for anyone wanting to own a Flying Fish all of these boards will be on sale after the event. Prices will vary depending on model but they will be discounted!

How does the performance of the Flying Fish team in recent races reflect the growth of the sport in Florida?

I think it was a huge accomplishment for three of our Florida team riders to win the USA national championships, Jake Portwood men’s US champ, Maddie Miller women’s US champ and Steve Miller men’s masters champ. It was awesome to see the support they received from our local Race community when arriving home after the USA championships I think it motivates other paddlers to continue training. The great thing about having so many talented athletes in one area is they drive the competition all around them.

What were some of the key highlights from the past year in SUP for the Flying Fish team? How do you view the evolution of stand-up paddle boarding over the past year in Florida?

There have been so many highlights, between Shrimpy being dominant in Europe, and the rest of our team being dominant here in North America, it’s so easy for me to be proud of the team. As for the evolution of racing in Florida, I feel like it ebbs and flows like the tide. There have been many races from the past that have either faded away or this year was there last year. Here’s the silver lining… I know of some new events coming in 2025 and I think we are going to play a much larger role in organizing races of our own. There have even been talks that we may bring back the Florida Paddle League. Details coming soon, but you can mark your calendars for the weekend of January 10-12, 2025.

What successes or challenges have you faced preparing for the upcoming ICF World Championships?

I really don’t think we have faced any challenges other than the logistics of situating the rental boards.  As for our athletes, I know they are excited and have been training hard, many of them have never had an opportunity to compete internationally, and they’re just excited to compete with the world’s best!

In what ways does the Flying Fish crew contribute to the local paddle boarding community in Florida?

I think that’s an easy one. I feel like our team does an incredible job of teaching and mentoring all paddlers in Florida, everyone is so personable. Kim Barnes is one of the best instructors I know and Steve Miller and Jake Portwood hosting free training clinics periodically throughout the year is a huge benefit to the local community.

How has Florida’s climate and water conditions influenced the Sarasota area recently?

I would tell everyone who is coming to Sarasota to compete to be prepared for heat, humidity, and some wind. However, it shouldn’t be as hot and humid as Thailand last year so that’s good news. Just a little update on the weather forecast there is a lingering tropical storm that’s going to be in the Gulf and affecting Florida, so be prepared for some rain and wind early in the event but the good news is after the storm passes. The temperatures will be cooler! It’s going to have a lot of interaction with the Yucatán Peninsula, so it should weaken it quite a bit. Hopefully, we will not see a hurricane, just a tropical storm.

What advice do you have for paddle boarders competing in Sarasota next week?

Outside of racing and having fun, if you can get a chance, be sure to explore some of the gulf coast beaches in Florida. They are the most beautiful beaches in the world, many of which have been impacted by this year’s hurricane season, but still worth the visit. There is so much more to Florida than Disney World! 😂

Siesta Key Public Beach, Sarasota Florida

How can fans and supporters get involved or support the Flying Fish team leading up to the championships?

I think it would be awesome to see a large spectator audience at this year’s world championships, Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota is definitely set up well for spectators, so just come out and cheer on the team!

Photo courtesy of Nathan Benderson

Anything else I may have missed? Or any updates you’d like to share?

I think you covered it all Maddi, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all you do not only for the sport but for us at Flying Fish. You have been a great addition to the team! See you in about a week!

Thanks again John for joining us at TotalSUP! We’re stoked to see you and the rest of the Flying Fish Crew next week! Best of luck to your team and we hope you have a great time in Sarasota!

To find out more about Flying Fish visit www.flyingfishboardco.com
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