“The water has given me a community”: US-based Honu SUP Rider Elisabeth Brown on finding more than a sport

We’re about to head into the second half of the SUP racing season, but with summer in full swing, there’s another side of the sport that’s impossible to ignore. Lakes, rivers and coastlines are packed with people enjoying stand-up paddleboarding – whether it’s a family day out, a first paddle, a touring adventure or simply spending time on the water.

That connection to the water is what draws us all in. It’s what makes SUP so versatile and accessible, and it’s where every paddler starts. Some are happy to keep it that way, while others push into racing, endurance challenges, downwind paddling, coaching, or even make a career from the sport. Whatever path they take, it all begins with that first paddle – and that’s what keeps bringing us back.

It’s a philosophy that sits at the heart of Australian brand Honu. While the brand is known for its premium materials and innovative board construction, its real mission is simple: to help more people fall in love with the ocean and the outdoors, because paddling is about far more than performance alone.

We caught up with US-based Honu rider Elisabeth Brown, who paddles her Honu Byron 10’6″ year-round on the waters around Kansas City, to talk about how SUP has become much more than a sport, helping her reconnect with the outdoors, reconnect with nature and find balance in an increasingly busy and complex world.

Hi Elisabeth, can you take us back to the beginning of your SUP journey? What first drew you to paddling and what made you fall in love with being on the water?

My SUP journey began in 2018 with my first iSUP. My very first experience on a SUP was a little before that when I was visiting my sister in California. She knew that I had wanted to try paddleboarding, so booked us an experience in Redondo Harbor. It ended up being an anchor yourself yoga session. I tried to be in the moment, but really just wanted to get up and paddle around. (I did still enjoy being on the water!) I knew that I wanted to get back out on the water again! Since I lived in the Midwest, Lawrence, Kansas at the time, I knew rentals were scarce here, and definitely not year round options, so that’s when I began researching options to purchase.

An inflatable style made the most sense for me with space and for traveling to different water locations. I definitely learned very quickly with each paddling session about wind, inflating the board, what to pack, and much more! There may have been one time where it was so gusty, that I ended up on the other side of the lake, walked a mile to the road, and my friend gave me a ride back to my car. That was my first time out on a big lake in Kansas, I thought it surely would be easier than the ocean, I was incorrect that day. I’ve learned a lot since then, and more precautions to look for before heading out too.

I think the water is what first drew me to paddling. There has always been a calming effect for me with water, I call it my water therapy. When I first started SUP, I had been going through a very hard time. I had been dealing with debilitating depression and anxiety.

This was a time that I really reconnected with nature again as well. The water was a place where I could calm my mind, be active with my body, and just breathe. I loved it from the first paddling adventure!

What was it about Honu that stood out to you when you first connected with the brand?

I had been looking around to decide what new board I wanted since my old one had been very loved, and a little patched. My mom mentioned Honu that she had heard about, and after doing some research, I decided this brand, and the Honu Byron 10’6, was the board for me! My mom has the same board out in Santa Barbara too.

Honu stood out to me because it appeared that they put love and a lot of thought into their construction of the boards and details. For an iSUP to be 4.7 inches instead of 6 inches tall as well, had me in awe!

I didn’t want just any board, I wanted an iSUP that was well made, would last me a long time, and also, I have to love the colors. My mom also had a great experience over the phone ordering and asking questions about the boards as well, she loved the customer service she received from Mark Travers and the Honu team.

Honu’s philosophy is built around creating boards that help people feel more connected to the water. How do you experience that difference when you’re paddling a Honu board?

My Honu board handles amazingly on the water, and I feel at peace every time I see it cut through the water, more importantly, it gets me out on the water! It gives you a rigid board feel with an iSUP that still makes it easy to transport and store. It also gives you peace of mind to enjoy the day knowing that you have a quality board to guide you, and you can focus on what is around you, and not have to worry about any issues with what is under your feet. The design of the board is great for navigating different water conditions.

The lower height helps be more aerodynamic and not catch the wind, while the more rigid psi option helps with the overall experience in cutting through the water whether more choppy or calm. From windy more skill challenge days, to glass-like reflections where I sit to take a moment, I feel secure and stable with my board!

Was there a particular Honu board or paddling experience that changed your perception of what an inflatable SUP could be?

The Honu Byron really does feel great under your feet, and more like a rigid board specially in a windy situation. That’s when the thicker iSUP will really get you, but the Honu designs have been created with a lot of thought to every detail. At times in the past, I would go from a hard board when visiting Santa Barbara, back to my old iSUP when traveling on the road to different locations.

I definitely felt the difference each time I’d go back to my old iSUP from the hard boards. The Honu gives me the best of both worlds with being able to have an amazing board that is still an iSUP, but not have to haul, load or find a place to store a hard board.

In a world where stress and digital overload are becoming part of everyday life, do you see time on the water as a form of mental reset or wellbeing practice?

I most definitely use paddling for water therapy, trying to be in the moment, and to practice mindfulness. I do have my phone with me on paddles because I love to attempt to capture a moment in nature, a fun moment for my activewear shop, and to track my paddle. I try to keep it mostly in my dry bag though.

If I’m in the Kansas City area paddling, I tend to try to get all my energy out, paddling around, maybe some sprints for fun, and then, I’ll sit, maybe tie myself to a buoy and just take in the nature sounds, and see what animals, birds, fish, (hopefully not snakes…) that may appear! When I’ve traveled with my board, it’s always been fun to take in new places, and see sights and creatures that I’ve never seen before and be in that moment!

Do you think people underestimate the mental benefits of spending time outdoors and on the water?

I do think some people underestimate or lose sight of what is around them that they can enjoy in this world, a lot of times at no monetary cost. I also do notice others that understand how the outdoors and being on the water can positively impact them. Even in winter, when it can be a struggle to get outside when it is colder, the outdoors has so much beauty to offer that can be missed. Also, the water when frozen, is very effective in a different way for a calming effect. It can be so quiet and still, it seems surreal.

I do feel the outdoors has so many benefits to all. Even if it may be hard to get out sometimes, once you are, you will immediately feel the impact it has on you. The simple things in life can honestly be the most grounding and beneficial at times. If you haven’t tried being on the water yet, I highly recommend giving it a try at least once, and you never know, you may keep wanting to go back!

We are living through a climate emergency, and many people are looking for a stronger connection with the natural world. Do you think activities like SUP can help people become more aware of and protective of the environments they enjoy?

I do think when people get outside more, and immerse themselves in nature and the beauty of it, it does make a person more aware. From the plants and trees, to the tiny insects you almost miss seeing until you look close, to the animals that catch you off guard from your peripheral vision, and rock formations created from water and over time, the natural world is full of wonders.

We are really all connected, and the more we respect what is around us, the more we all thrive. SUP gives people a chance to view the world from a whole different perspective that you don’t get on land.

Sometimes, a different perspective is what people need to see things more clearly. When on the ocean (or any other body of water), you can feel and understand its power and beauty, and that it is something to be enjoyed and respected at the same time. It’s amazing how many forms saltwater and freshwater can take.

When you look back at your SUP journey, what has the water given you beyond the sport itself?

The water has given me so many experiences to view this world from different angles that are not seen from anywhere else! I’ve been between the tall red rock walls of Antelope Creek in Page, Arizona, the calm Lagoons of Northern California with crashing waves on the other side, the feeling of the swells of the ocean in Santa Barbara, the crazy reflections and calmness of the Great Salt Lake in Utah, being immersed in between trees and mountains in Colorado, the Kansas Lakes where I can always find a different experience and Blue Herons during each outing, and many more!

The water has given me a community as well. I may be a very good introvert, but I have met people on the water that whether it was a one time meeting, or we are now friends, have taught me a lot.

Thank you Elisabeth for your time – here’s to more epic time on the water!

To find out more about HONU, visit honuboards.com

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