UK Teen Bobbie Cooper on Stand Up Paddling

So this is my first post in the Kialoa women’s blog and I feel privileged to be writing for these guys let alone riding for them! So I’m in the UK and live on the south coast, I’m 17 and have a summer season job working at a surf school called “X-train” I have to thank the guys there for getting me into stand up, I couldn’t have done it without them.

I started stand up in the summer of 08 at a demo day, the sport felt natural as soon as I stepped on the board, so I arrogantly decided to enter the BSUPA event a week later haha! I took part in the juniors title and was up against a local surfer who was a lot younger than me, but I was still terrified! My first event was amazing and I really enjoyed it, so I carried on with the next three events all over the country and won the UK junior title for 2008. Within 2008 and joined the Kialoa stand up paddle team and the Gong team, both sponsors have been super supportive and their kit has got me through some tough conditions!

In 2009 I decided to enter the women’s BSUPA division, as there wasn’t much competition within the juniors, with only a few competitors and I also felt confident in entering the women’s. So I had all the support I needed from Kialoa, Gong and 2xs and just went for it! I really enjoyed the women’s round last year, with a lot more competition and I felt it really pushed me! I came 3rd overall which I’m pleased with, but this year, 2010, I hope to win the women’s title for distance paddling and waves! I am currently training hard for the 2010 BSUPA events.

2008 results:
1st UK junior champion – waves and distance

2009 results:
Wittering - Waves - 1st
Wittering - Distance - 2nd
Gwithian - Waves - 1st
Gwithian - Distance - 1st
Wales - Waves - (DID NOT ATTEND)
Wales - Distance - (DID NOT ATTEND)
Watergate - Waves - 1st
Watergate - Distance - Cancelled

CREDIT TO : http://www.jonparkerphotography.com