Meet Nancy Breakstone senior paddle boarding sensation

About Nancy Breakstone senior paddle boarding

Read the following, fascinating profiles of Senior paddle boarding enthusiasts:

Nancy-Breakstone-senior-paddle-boarding 
Larry-Froley-senior-paddle-boarding
Bill-Whiddon-senior-paddle-boarding
Bob-Purdy-senior-paddle-boarding
Judy-Shasek-senior-paddle-boarding.html

Nancy Breakstone senior paddle boarding - Co-owner - 2014 - Coastal CT SUP - The Norwalk Boat Club

Website – www.coastalctsup.com

Facebook – Coastal CT SUP 

• WPA/Paddlefit Instructor, has a table full of race trophies, her own blog for SUPing seniors, is co-owner of a SUP lesson/tour business and serves on a Race Committee:
• Certified – WPA/Paddlefit Instructor
• Coach – Coastal CT SUP Junior Race Team
• Volunteer –  serves on the Race Committee for Soundsurfer Waterman’s Challenge in Westport, CT
• Avid SUP racer
• Former wind surfer

"Remember when they told you tennis was the perfect sport because you could play it your entire life? Rotator cuff, knee and numerous stress injuries have shown them wrong. Maybe it’s golf or bowling?!? At 66, I know it’s stand up paddle boarding. A sports enthusiast my entire life since riding a horse bareback at the age of three, I’ve had to give up every sport along the way except SUPing. It’s perfect: on the water, low impact, whole body workout, cardio (if you want it). And terrific fun.”

– Nancy’s words to the wise on senior paddle boarding.

I contacted Nancy by email. In a profile format Nancy kindly offered her views on paddle boarding - 2014 - Nancy Breakstone senior paddle boarding at 66 years young.

Photo below Nancy Breakstone, after a race in Providence, Rhode Island.

Nancy Breakstone senior paddle boarding:

Kathy – Share with us: How did you discover stand up paddle boarding.

Nancy I had never seen a stand up paddle board until five years ago, when driving home over the river from our local beach, I saw one gliding by. After being a water person all of my life and competing in windsurfing events in my 30’s, I immediately wanted to try it. After one lesson, I was hooked and paddled almost every day that first summer. I couldn’t get enough of it. Five years later I’m a certified WPA/Paddlefit Instructor, have a tableful of race trophies, my own blog for SUPing seniors, co-own a SUP lesson/tour business and serve on the Race Committee for Soundsurfer Waterman’s Challenge held in my home town of Westport, CT.  Three years ago I started and still coach a local Junior Race Team, and I recently took over responsibility for running a SUP enthusiasts group on Meet Up.

Kathy – Can you put into words, what feeds your passion and dedication to stand up and paddle?

Nancy
Like so many others, I love the feeling of walking on water after years of loving being on the water but in ways so much more disconnected from it. Now I just want to expose others to the sport so that they can experience the same enjoyment I get out of paddling.

Kathy – I read an article written by Justin McCabe for the daily newspaper in Norwalk, CT, The Hour, about his first-time SUP lesson with you. He mentions that you have instructed an 81-year-old man to SUP. He also states that you instructed a 5-year-old boy and his mother together. Please share some highlights with us about these two sessions.

Nancy
I allow an hour and a half for all my beginner lessons. The first half hour is spent on the dock with the students instructing them on paddling technique, safety and everything that could possibly happen on the water. Then I get on a board and show the student how to handle turns, stops, and eventually how to stand up. Also, I jump into the water to show them how to handle falling off the board and getting back on. I don’t let a student stand until I’m sure he/she is able to maneuver the board with ease and confidence. I never rush anyone to stand before they are ready.

The 81-year-old man was physically fit but admitted before the lesson began that his fear was falling in the water and not being able to get back on the board. I alleviated his fear by demonstrating how easy it was to get back on and reminded him always to look ahead, not down. Once he got up, he paddled like a pro and had a blast.

With the 5-year-old and his mom I handled the lesson the same way. The only difference was that I had the boy on the board with me during the on-water portion with me kneeling behind him and instructing him. He had a lot fun but wasn’t ready to handle a board by himself the first time out. I think it’s important to let people take their time and do things at their own pace. It makes for a much better experience for them. 

Kathy – Share with us your training to prepare for SUP races? What was your most memorable race to date and why?

Nancy
I am limited in how much training I can do before a race due to existing injuries (gathered over the years from all my other sports), plus the aches and pains from arthritis and other ailments many over 60 know about. Before a race, I tend just to paddle longer distances each time out but never at a racing pace. I save it all up for the actual race and then deal with pain of that extreme effort afterward.

I started racing four years ago and, of course, became addicted. I’ve been doing about 5 or more races a year traveling as far away as North Carolina, Puerto Rico and Las Vegas (yes the WPA had its championships there last year). I started off in the 12’6” division but have been racing my 14’ boards over the last year. I just like the speed of the longer board. I stick to the three-to-five-mile divisions since that’s about all my body can handle and have won or placed in my division at nearly every race.

I guess my most memorable finishes have been at Paddle Royale (3rd) in 2013, Paddle for Humanity (1st) in 2013 and the Carolina Cup (2nd) in 2014. They are the most memorable to me because of the number and quality of the paddlers.

Nancy Breakstone senior paddle boarding.

Photo above: Nancy out for a local paddle on the Saugatuck River in Westport, Connecticut.

Kathy – The stand up paddle boarding world has revealed the social side of SUPing for years. From your experience, what would you say are the greatest benefits for SUP senior enthusiasts to paddle in groups?

Nancy
Everyone knows it’s harder to make new friends as we get older, so a shared activity is the perfect thing. I prefer going out with another paddler or with a group of people for the simple reason of the greater safety in numbers. The chances of a senior having a medical emergency is obviously greater, whether it be a simple cramp that won’t quit or something more serious. We plot out our route beforehand, bring our phones, hydration, wear PFDs and leashes and let others know when to expect us home. It’s also a time to relax and laugh along the way.

 Kathy – When it comes to SUP senior enthusiasts, do you see more male or female participants? What impresses you the most about working with this age group?

Nancy
I have seen quite an increase in the number of both senior men and women over the last couple of years.  Locally I would say more women over 50 are giving it a try and most as an alternative to the gym as a form of exercise. What impresses me most about working with this age group is their can-do spirit and determination.

 Kathy – When a person has expressed that they would like to try paddling but remains hesitant, what advice and/or encouragement do you give? 

Nancy
I first ask them why they are hesitant and what their fears of trying it are. And then I directly address those issues, which make them feel more comfortable about them. Typically people are afraid of falling in the water or just not being able to stand up. Invariably, I say, “Hey, I’m 66! You can do it, too.”

Kathy – You are Co-owner of Coastal CT SUP in Westport, Connecticut. What would you like us to know about your SUP business?

Nancy
I co-own a small lesson and tour business in the town next door based at a neighborhood institution called The Norwalk Boat Club. Most of our business comes through referrals since the club is all nice power-boaters, who often ask me if I can put an engine on my board! They’re not much into exercise.

It’s on the Norwalk River which flows into Long Island Sound. Happily there is a cluster of islands near the mouth of the river – a mixture of public and private – where we take paddlers for tours lasting about five hours and covering about eight miles. We provide lunch and refreshments during our stops on those islands. People love the tours and often come back a second time.

As part of our business we also run the Junior Race Team I mentioned and sponsor and run a Junior Race on Candlewood Lake (about 20 miles inland) with Candlewood Lake SUP which draws about 35 kids (both novice and experienced) between the ages of 5 and 16 for the event.

Nancy Breakstone senior paddle boarding.

Read the following, fascinating profiles of Senior paddle boarding enthusiasts:

Nancy-Breakstone-senior-paddle-boarding 
Larry-Froley-senior-paddle-boarding
Bill-Whiddon-senior-paddle-boarding
Bob-Purdy-senior-paddle-boarding
Judy-Shasek-senior-paddle-boarding.html

Also see:

Larry Foley profile