Description
1. Where do you live?
After moving around New England and the country for a while, I finally settled here on the Seacoast. It took some work to figure out where I really felt happiest. I figured it out and live in Rye now and couldn’t be happier. When I hear the buoys humming, I know the ocean is stirring and its time to get in the water.
2. What do you do when you’re not paddling?
I’ve been involved in a number of businesses over the years. Right now, I am running a small local business that caters to the food service/manufacturing industry. We provide fire safety as well as food safety services. It’s called Portsmouth Steam and I’ve been enjoying the growth process since we started in 2013. Working in the community has many benefits, but my favorite is that I’m at the intersection of enjoying my work and the people I work with. I look forward to seeing where it goes and what we will grow into in the future.
3. Who is/was the biggest mentor in your life, and what did they teach you?
I think I got my sense of adventure from my Grandfather. He had so many stories about how he left his home country in the Azores to come to America. In his broken English, he’d share stories of how he left home and set off to start something new in a better place for the sake of family. It was pretty cool to have him in my life. He passed away last year and I miss him and his coolness a lot. He was the most interesting man in the world to me, for sure! His ashes were scattered in the ocean where he loved to spend time. Now, whenever I go out in the water, anywhere, I can remember him and know that those stories he told instilled an idea in me that I could do just about anything in life if I put my mind to it.
4. How long have you been Stand Up Paddle Boarding?
It’s been a few years that Paddle-boarding has been one of my big interests. I lived in Hawaii for a short time and learned how to surf there and heard how a few guys were using Stand-up paddling to get in from island to island. It sounded like a serious trek and my interest was peaked. Some friends of mine were getting into it and I tried it out a few times. It wasn’t pretty to watch but eventually I got the hang of it and really found it to be one of my favorite sports. Hence, these long distance paddling events are right up my alley.
5. Where is your favorite place to paddle?
I’ve had some of favorite paddles around Odiorne Point and beyond. A few of us like to race out to the mile-marker buoys around Wallis Sands and back. Sometimes, it just an easy paddle or it can be a grueling one depending on the tides and the wind. Things never stay static out there; Mother Nature will always keep you on our toes.
6. Why are you paddling to the Shoals for Big Brothers Big Sisters?
It’s something I feel proud to be a part of. Helping others in this capacity provides me with a good feeling inside and I also think it’s important to be involved in some type of benefit or local volunteer effort. I live here and I want to give some of my time back to my community. We had such great time together when we reached the Shoals at last year’s BBBS Event that I have to make the trip again. This event in particular is fantastic to be a part of because I feel we can really help raise awareness and support for such a great organization.
BONUS FACT: When you tell someone that you are paddling out to the Shoals, they also look at you like you’re crazy. Haha! It’s a great reaction to see.
