Hails from: Chicago, IL

Ian is stoked to be sharing his passion and love for the water with the city of Chicago! Ian is a true board sports enthusiast! In addition to his love for SUP he is an avid Snowboarder, Surfer and Wakeboarder, as well as a lifelong hockey player. After his initial introduction to the sport while surfing in Hawaii, he was immediately hooked on SUP! He saw it as a way to catch smaller waves on Lake Michigan and a fun way to get out on the water on flat days. When he decided to start a company 7 years ago with a dream and an idea, few people in Chicago knew what a paddle board was, and many critics told him not to waste his time. But Ian knew he was on to something and truly believed people would share in his passion and love for the sport and stopped at nothing to make his dream a reality. To date, his company has introduced over 25,000 people to the sport of SUP and he looks forward to getting you on the water soon!

Hails from: Chicago, Illinois

Patrick has been with Chicago SUP for 5 years now, with experience instructing new paddlers, managing the shop, and handling client interactions. His favorite part about paddle boarding is getting active on the water and escaping the hustle & bustle of the city. Patrick was a key member of our expansion to other Chicago lakefront locations, and spearheads almost all of our charity paddle events. At the end of the day, the paddling community at Chicago SUP is what makes the beach feel like home for Patrick. He’s entering his senior year at Northwestern University, studying Journalism and Economics.

Hails from: Germany!

Kirsten is one of the fastest female paddle boarders in the world, finishing in the top 3 speeds for women’s pro paddle boarding in the APP Fast Track app. She is a 2x Midwest SUP Champion, and a part-time Ninja Warrior Coach. Kirsten loves getting other people hyped about the sport of SUP, teaching our Camp SUP courses and leading most of our paddling expeditions. If you see someone paddling at 6:00AM out on Lake Michigan, in June or January, there’s a high chance it’s Kirsten. Follow her on Instagram @kirstenmarina7!

Hails from: Tulsa, Oklahoma

Curin is our resident Yoga Instructor. She lives in Chicago during the summer, leading classes on the shores of Lake Michigan, but spends the rest of the year traveling, doing SUP Yoga in some of the coolest places across the country. She loves sharing the practice Yoga with everyone, from first-timers to more experienced yogis. Relaxing and getting a great workout on the water, are two things you should expect after a class with Curin. Check out her SUP Yoga blog: https://www.paddlethecurrent.com/ and instagarm @paddlethecurrent!

Hails from: Chicago, IL

Ashe brings a ton of real world water and board experience to the crew. Don't let his Midwest upbringing fool you, Ashe has surged some of the preeminent spots worldwide including places such as Bali, Fiji, and Hawaii. He comes from a surfing family. For years his family has been coming down to North Avenue Beach to get in paddle practice before their surf trips. This will be Ashe’s third season with Chicago SUP! When he’s not out on the water, you can almost be sure to find him at a skate park ripping rails and kick flipping. Ashe is currently a student at Whitney Young High School and is excited to share his stoke for all things water with you!

Hails from: Chicago, IL

Julian can’t wait to see you out on the water! He loves giving lessons to first-timers and experiencing that break-through moment when someone finally stands up on the board for the first time. In addition to paddle boarding, Julian is an avid volleyball player and you can catch him occasionally on the courts at North Ave. He’s currently a student at Whitney Young High School and looking forward to college next year!