Paddle Diva is in the business of empowering women through the sport of Stand Up Paddling [SUP] with fitness and lifestyle programs that make them feel great, both inside and out. Paddle Diva’s message to women is centered on committing to goals and celebrating one’s accomplishments, always highlighting what can be achieved when a woman puts her mind to it! Love that!!

Founded by Gina Bradley [above & below] in the summer of 2009, Paddle Diva was started on the premise that women are under served in SUP market. Formerly a fitness, wind-surfing, and PADI-certified scuba instructor, Gina recognized that SUP was a trend that was about to really catch on with women, who are drawn to the sport because it’s easy to learn. Women love the feeling of “walking on the water” as they glide along, enjoying the scenery, all the while getting a great core workout. Can you believe that body below??? Sign KDH up immediately for our first lesson!

Motivated by her own passion for paddling, Gina started out teaching women in East Hampton, Long Island, and listening to what they wanted from the sport — and more importantly, from themselves: their bodies, their careers, their hopes for their children and the world around them…

Paddle Diva also aims to bring a higher degree of awareness to environmental issues, especially around ocean and fresh water habitats conservation. In 2012, Paddle Diva will be ramping up its online efforts via blog posts and social media channels, looking to further increase their audience engagement by asking others to share their own stories, and by continuing to build a community of active women who want to have it all.

KDH caught up with Gina to find out why Stand Up Paddling has become such a Hamptons craze, and how Paddle Diva is changing the lives of women, not just their bodies…..

KDHamptons:  why are Hamptonites so obsessed with paddling?
Gina Bradley: We have more bays and calm waters that have been unexplored until now! Paddle Boarding is so ‘cool’ and it gives us the feeling like we are surfing, but not having to commit to such an intense experience! Stand Up Paddling finally gives people a reason to own a board and use it!

KDH:  Are women more into the sport than men?
GB: Women love this sport because its easy to learn, something you can do alone or with a group and if done frequently, gets you in great shape! Many of my clients love the social aspect of the sport and find that they get in shape and really have fun bonding with other women and friends on the water. Women also love SUP b/c finally they have a reason to go into a surf shop! They can buy a board, paddle, leash and all the fun accessories that go along with Paddling!

KDH:  Which areas can we expect to see the best changes in our body? how many times a week do we need to paddle to see change?
GB: If you paddle at least two to three times a week you will start to see changes after about a month in your core! I have women who I have seen transform their entire physique in one summer. It’s a full body work-out and when combined with a SUP fitness class or powerful paddle racing strokes, one can expect even greater results!

KDH:  Where is the best place to buy a board?
GB: The local surf shops stock plenty of boards, however, what I find is that women need to get out on the water and try boards [even if they don’t buy the exact board they are on] so they know what they are looking for, and purchase the right board. Paddle Diva works mostly with Flying Point Surf Shop to come together and fuse what they know about retail with what I know about SUP and we can help women get the right board for them!

KDH:  Share the top three places to paddle in the Hamptons with KDH readers?
GB: There are so many, it’s hard to list! But if I had to pick my favorite places: Three Mile Harbor, Accabonac Harbor and Sag Pond! They all have incredible views and the wild life is amazing, they are big open harbors that make you feel like you are really on an adventure and take you away from the hustle and the bustle of land life. Sag Pond is my favorite because you can paddle all the way to the Ocean and jump in there for a little excitement!

KDH:  Have you ever seen a shark while paddling?
GB: I have never seen a shark paddling ever. Sharks are really tame and
curious creatures, sadly due to our pollution of the oceans and many of the environmental changes happening to the food supply in the oceans, we have altered their as well as many other large ocean creature’s food sources.

KDH:  How costly are your classes, and how can our readers book them?
GB: My SUP beginner Lessons are $75 for 90 minutes and once you have become proficient with a few lessons, we recommend you start coming to our classes which include SUP Dog Yoga, Power Up on a SUP fitness class, Diva Tours which are guided tours, and our Nature Tours. All of these cost $65 for a drop-in and of course Paddle Diva offers better rates for bulk purchases. The easiest way to book and see the schedule is to go to www.paddlediva.com and click on ‘view the schedule” button.

KDH: Okay give us the truth~ How do surfers really feel about paddle boarders?
GB: Surfers are not too happy about paddler boarders when they head into the surf zone and take all the waves.  The other thing is they can be dangerous if they fall off a wave and their board and paddle hit others in the water. I do not promote or encourage women to learn how to SUP surf until they have at least a summer of SUP experience under their belts. The surf with a SUP can be very dangerous and unless you are able to move fast and agilely in the water, you could be headed for trouble.

KDH:  What has been the greatest part of your journey thus far?
GB: Growing the business organically, I was able to succeed beyond my expectations and now have a thriving nationally recognized brand. I have been able to ‘touch’ thousands of women monthly with my messages, inspiration and call-to-action of owning your body & soul…..and finding “the adventure within” on the water through SUP!

*For more information please go to: www.paddlediva.com