Penelope Strickland, New-Zealand rider took a few months off to travel and race. Having traveled across Europe while taking part in some races of the Eurotour, she is now in the USA to prepare the major races coming up there.
Penelope, you took a few months off to tour Europe and the USA. What motivated you to do this?
I had to sit out 12 months of racing due to illness and there were a couple of the big races that I watched on a live feed from my hospital bed.
When you are hooked up to a drip , morphine and with your abdomen sewn back together its impossible not to want to be elsewhere, but it made watching Carolina Cup and Olukai from my hospital bed that much harder.
At that point I decided that if I lived to see 2017 I was going to make it all about travelling, paddling, racing and having fun.
How much have you planned and how much have you left to improvisation so far?
I have a handful of majors that I have committed to but everything else is pretty fast and loose. This year is about me and having fun, learning as much as possible and most importantly “living” so my plans are adapting as opportunities arise.
How is Starboard helping you in this?
I think was a bit of a surprise package for Starboard. Nobody (not even me) expected me to win the Technical Race at ISA, but I have always paddled their boards and so it was natural to sign with them after Fiji when they offered me a chance to become one of the team.
Knowing that I have the best boards waiting for me in every location is a giant piece of the puzzle, so I am very thankful.
Which races did you take part in so far and what are the next ones?
So far I did a few stops of the Euro Tour, Carolina Cup and Santa Monica Pier but It all really happens in the tail end of the trip though.
I have M2M, M2O, the Gorge paddle Challenge, ISA, and PPG all coming up before I go home in October. I will be doing other regional races at every opportunity that I get also, so it’s pretty full on and very exciting!
Which spots did you discover and enjoy during your travels?
I haven’t really discovered any new sports, but I am having a great time training with Anthony Vela and Candice Appleby at the Performance Paddling Academy in Southern California.
I am learning so much from them, and Candice is a great friend and training partner, so I am in the best place right now to prepare for the coming months!
When the SUP and all-waterman legend Zane Kekoa Schweitzer says, “It made me excited to SUP surf again… Yeah, I kinda don’t want to ride any other board,” the SUP world is listening and it’s about to be hit with a seismic delivery from Starboard. We’ve all seen the slick teaser drops building the hype […]
When you grow up in Gran Canaria with a father who’s a local SUP & surf legend, Coach and the Founder of one of the hottest SUP events in Canary Islands, Gran Canaria PRO – you’re practically wired for the sport, and your blood runs salty. We’ve been following young SUP athlete and Starboard Rider […]
Dedicated to driving environmental change and building on a shared commitment to sustainability, Starboard and Phonecases3D teamed up to launch a special line of biodegradable phone cases featuring exclusive Starboard branding. The design of eco-conscious cases will provide fans and customers with a stylish and responsible way to represent the brand with purpose. t Starboard […]
British SUP Race Circuit GBSUP is set to introduce an exciting new addition to its 2025 National Series: the Starboard Airline Cup. Following a successful trial at the end of the 2024 season, this new competition—made possible through GBSUP’s partnership with Starboard SUP UK—aims to provide a dynamic and competitive platform for paddlers using Starboard’s […]
Esperanza Barreras, one of the most dominant athletes in the SUP Racing world, heads into the 2024 ICF SUP World Championships in Sarasota, Florida, as the reigning ICF champion in both the Technical Race and Long Distance categories. Known for her remarkable consistency and versatility across all racing disciplines, the Starboard dream team rider has […]
The Gran Canaria Pro is back! Taking place in the stunning southwest of Gran Canaria on 7th of December, this open international SUP event welcomes paddlers of all levels to race in one of the best SUP destinations in the world. With warm December temperatures averaging 26°C and courses tailored for both experienced competitors and […]
The 2025 Starboard stand up paddle range has officially dropped, once again demonstrating that Starboard designs to benefit every paddler, ensuring to deliver an exceptional experience for all. Starboard proves once again the brand has been committed to making stand-up paddleboarding accessible to all, raising the bar with its dedication to uncompromising quality and ocean […]
Aneesh Kumar, a passionate 12-year-old environmental advocate from Chennai, has made headlines in India by becoming the first boy to paddle across three Indian states—Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Pondichéry —on a stand-up paddleboard back in May, and receiving a World Book of Records certificate in August. His inspiring journey covering 350 kilometers from Pondicherry […]
In just two and a half years, Starboard SUP racer Alba Alonso Frey from Spain has made a meteoric rise in the world of SUP racing. Recently crowned the 2024 ISA Sprint World Champion, Alba also helped Team Spain claim the Nations World Champion title at the ISA World Championships in Copenhagen. In a thrilling […]