March 2023 – the first SUP Star of the year!
15 March 2023
Meet Shipwreck Suzi.
Not only is Sue, the SUP Star of the month, please welcome her as Perth SUP School’s newest instructor.
A mermaid in her last life (actually, she’s one in this life too) – Sue is happiest when in, or on the ocean.
Read my conversation with Suzi
Tell us a bit about you. Random fact about YOU!
First and foremost I’m a water lover. I’m always near the water, I swim all year round (without a wetsuit). I also love a good dress up so of course, I have my own mermaid tail!
How did you get bitten by the SUP bug?
There’s been a SUP at my disposal for 10 years or more, but it was never in my focus to use it, so our outings together were quite seldom and very short. After a knee replacement and giving up work end 2019 I was on the lookout for an activity to meet new people and aid my recovery and found a lovely yet sedate paddle group that got me going. Jump forward to late 2020 and Dragon SUP Day run by Nicki and Red Paddle where teams of 4 in fancy dress raced an enormous inflatable sup and yep, I was hooked!!! You could say I stalked Nicki from here until finally all things aligned and I signed up for SUP fitness mid 2021
Tell me why you enjoy paddling?
I reckon paddling gives me access to my best self. It’s like I relinquish control, let go and surrender to the moment and I somehow gain a new kind of energy to experience everything more keenly. It takes a physical challenge but also an emotional response. I engage my full self and get really involved in what I’m doing, totally immersed in the act of supping, and taking in every little thing and I find time and all else slips away. It’s great being so connected to the board and the water, the environment and myself. It’s a pleasure, a freedom, it’s loads of fun, and I feel so capable, strong, and ageless. Alive!
Where’s the best place you have paddled?
Gracetown, Ningaloo Coast, Yardi Creek, Warren River, Dumbleyung Lake, even Pemberton Pool and the Jam Patch were fun!
What kind of board do you ride?
Any kind! 5 SUPs live at my house. Maybe my ONE has a bit of an edge, but I really love trying all sorts of boards. I think it helps with my skills always testing my balance and handling never knowing what I’m paddling next.
What do you enjoy most about Nicki’s SUP sessions?
The people, the encouragement and support to extend myself and the fun!
Where is your dream SUP destination or do you have any paddling goals.
I guess like having no favourite board, I’m open to paddling anywhere. I’m keen to do more surfing and racing but my number one requirement is it’s fun and with others. I’m not adverse to hard and challenging but sharing the experience is an absolute must.
Do you have any tips for people starting out?
Just do it and definitely make sure you get wet as soon as you can, once you’ve fallen in once you won’t worry about it anymore and can just concentrate on the learning and fun of it all. I’d also say from experience that your balance will be way better than you think!
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What our customers say
Had a great time at my lesson with a good bunch of people. Nikki is a very patient teacher and explained things well, so learnt a lot of new tips and skills to help me improve on my stand up paddle board journey. Would highly recommend Nikki and her team to anyone.
My very first time on a paddle board and I was nervous, especially as I am not a particularly sporting person. Our instructor Shannon was great and I felt totally safe. In the end I even managed to stand up on the board which was a great achievement for me. Shannon was really supportive and patient with me and the rest of our class. Would thoroughly recommend this experience.
We were given two SUP gift vouchers, as I had watched peeps on the river at Freshwater, thinking what fun!We had a private family lesson with Nicki …. Wow! It was indeed soo much fun.Nicki is a wonderful effervescent and engaging coach, especially for first “old timers” like ourselves. She is such a natural at explaining, supporting and encouraging that it all seemed a dream come true!Yes, I/we fell off but it added to the fun . We had such a lovely family time that we will definitely be back on the water soon.Thank you Nicki for your total support and encouragement allowing us something new to look forward to with our children & grandchildren in our retirement!P 🤗
Great intro class on Saturday morning led by Shannon. Covered everything we needed to know to make a start at SUP. 90mins duration was just long enough. Managed to crack standing up and only fell in a couple of times!
Really enjoyed it and felt confident afterwards that I would be able to use a stand up paddle board and actually enjoy it as well.Great to learn how to paddle properly and I was paddling around quite well after just an hour and a half.
Nicki is a wonderfully encouraging and skilled SUP teacher. She is supportive but also great at challenging students, whatever their ability. I was so happy with my skill progression during the lesson, and also with my confidence on the water.Thanks Nicki, I’m inspired!!
I have been Stand Up Paddling for several years, but with several long breaks. Unsure about how to get started again and how to get motivated, I decided to join the Beginner's Class! There was so much that I had forgotten - and the opportunity to get my mojo back in such a fun class of men and women of all ages, was just what I needed. Since then I have been SUPing regularly, both on the ocean and on the river. Nicki's classes are fun and motivating. Whether you have never been on a board before, or if you just need a refresher, there will be a class or a lesson for you. The more confident you become, the more relaxing the whole thing is! You won't regret giving this a go, I am sure.
Nicki is an absolute pleasure to deal with, so knowledgeable and brings the fun to a great learning environment. Highly recommend.
Nicki ran a great team building day for us today. We had so much fun and learnt a lot. Highly recommend.
This is it - best year of my life! I bought an iSUP over 18mths ago and had a sporadically been paddling for a few months, then I joined the school & social SUP facebook groups and I haven't looked back, only forward (not down). I've been to the Freo, Lake Leschenaultia & Rotto adventure trips as well as a couple of 6am social paddles plus currently in the middle of 2nd round of SUP Fitness sessions at Bicton Baths. Nicki is amazing, a born leader and friend to all - she is my soul sister - her energy and enthusiasm are contagious and I especially love that she has launched the social SUP community. I've gained new friends, improved my skills and above all else had lots of fun. I encourage you to join a lesson, the next adventure or social outing - you won't regret it!!
Fun, fun and more fun with every class. Nicky does a sensational job! What a joy to have met so many fellow Suppers too.
I had a 1 on 1 lesson with Nicki yesterday. Nicki is amazing. She is a great teacher and was so encouraging. I felt so much more confident on the water and was really surprised how I was up and paddling away in no time at all. I would without hesitation recommend Nicki to anyone wanting to learn how to SUP. Thank you Nicki. I had so much fun!(Julie Neves)
Really excellent training session. Having never been on a SUP, I was amazed at how quickly Nicki got me (and the attendees) up and paddling. Lots of fun and great teaching. I had an absolute ball and feel confident to buy a board and get practicing
Can't rave about the weekend away enough! Fantastically organised, perfect balance of activities and free time and loads of laughter. A bunch of strangers brought together like we knew each other forever. Nicky is just lovely. Highly recommend!
We had a fantastic time with Nicki learning how to paddleboard for the first time. She was very professional and attentive and we learnt even more than we bargained for 😄! Will definitely come back for another one of her classes.
Can't recommend Perth StandUp Paddle School highly enough. Nicki is an amazing instructor and her enthusiasm for paddle-boarding is contagious! The sessions are always fun and friendly. If you've ever considered lessons, or own a board and want to improve your technique, do yourself a favour and give her a call :-)
Nicki at Perth SUP School is an absolute fantastic teacher. She took someone who had absolutely no balance, and I was up and paddling in the first lesson. What a legend. 10/10 would recommend highly.
Nikki was absolutely awesome, friendly and made it lots of fun. Haven't had so much fun in ages definitely recommend. Nikki your a legend!
I wish I’d done this sooner .. just so so good .. if you are even thinking about it a little, just jump in & book .. I’m now onto my second round of fitness classes .. so convenient as the SUPs are bought there for you & everyone is super friendly & welcoming .. highly recommended
I highly recommend Nicky and her SUP school! I had my first professional lesson last week, and her training progressed seamlessly from basic to more advanced skills. Nicky had me managing my board like never before. Give it a go, you wont regret it!
Fantastic beginners lesson! Can't recommend highly enough. Nicki was a brilliant instructor giving clear guidance & the session was great fun too
My wife and I had a 90 minute private lesson with Nicki which was fantastic. We were both complete beginners but Nicki had us up and having fun in the water within 10 minutes. She gradually introduced new challenges and skills throughout the 90 minutes which has given us loads to work on when we next hit the water.Nicki was very clear in her instruction and tailored the session to suit both of us. Fantastic friendly service and I feel well worth the extra money to do a private lesson to get the most out of the time.Thanks againChris and Laura
The most fun I've had on the water! Nicki is a brilliant instructor and creates a very positive and supportive environment to learn in. I think I have found my new weekend hobby :)
Had a great time at my lesson with a good bunch of people. Nikki is a very patient teacher and explained things well, so learnt a lot of new tips and skills to help me improve on my stand up paddle board journey. Would highly recommend Nikki and her team to anyone.
My very first time on a paddle board and I was nervous, especially as I am not a particularly sporting person. Our instructor Shannon was great and I felt totally safe. In the end I even managed to stand up on the board which was a great achievement for me. Shannon was really supportive and patient with me and the rest of our class. Would thoroughly recommend this experience.
We were given two SUP gift vouchers, as I had watched peeps on the river at Freshwater, thinking what fun!We had a private family lesson with Nicki …. Wow! It was indeed soo much fun.Nicki is a wonderful effervescent and engaging coach, especially for first “old timers” like ourselves. She is such a natural at explaining, supporting and encouraging that it all seemed a dream come true!Yes, I/we fell off but it added to the fun . We had such a lovely family time that we will definitely be back on the water soon.Thank you Nicki for your total support and encouragement allowing us something new to look forward to with our children & grandchildren in our retirement!P 🤗
Great intro class on Saturday morning led by Shannon. Covered everything we needed to know to make a start at SUP. 90mins duration was just long enough. Managed to crack standing up and only fell in a couple of times!
Really enjoyed it and felt confident afterwards that I would be able to use a stand up paddle board and actually enjoy it as well.Great to learn how to paddle properly and I was paddling around quite well after just an hour and a half.
Nicki is a wonderfully encouraging and skilled SUP teacher. She is supportive but also great at challenging students, whatever their ability. I was so happy with my skill progression during the lesson, and also with my confidence on the water.Thanks Nicki, I’m inspired!!
I have been Stand Up Paddling for several years, but with several long breaks. Unsure about how to get started again and how to get motivated, I decided to join the Beginner's Class! There was so much that I had forgotten - and the opportunity to get my mojo back in such a fun class of men and women of all ages, was just what I needed. Since then I have been SUPing regularly, both on the ocean and on the river. Nicki's classes are fun and motivating. Whether you have never been on a board before, or if you just need a refresher, there will be a class or a lesson for you. The more confident you become, the more relaxing the whole thing is! You won't regret giving this a go, I am sure.
Nicki is an absolute pleasure to deal with, so knowledgeable and brings the fun to a great learning environment. Highly recommend.
Nicki ran a great team building day for us today. We had so much fun and learnt a lot. Highly recommend.
This is it - best year of my life! I bought an iSUP over 18mths ago and had a sporadically been paddling for a few months, then I joined the school & social SUP facebook groups and I haven't looked back, only forward (not down). I've been to the Freo, Lake Leschenaultia & Rotto adventure trips as well as a couple of 6am social paddles plus currently in the middle of 2nd round of SUP Fitness sessions at Bicton Baths. Nicki is amazing, a born leader and friend to all - she is my soul sister - her energy and enthusiasm are contagious and I especially love that she has launched the social SUP community. I've gained new friends, improved my skills and above all else had lots of fun. I encourage you to join a lesson, the next adventure or social outing - you won't regret it!!
Fun, fun and more fun with every class. Nicky does a sensational job! What a joy to have met so many fellow Suppers too.
I had a 1 on 1 lesson with Nicki yesterday. Nicki is amazing. She is a great teacher and was so encouraging. I felt so much more confident on the water and was really surprised how I was up and paddling away in no time at all. I would without hesitation recommend Nicki to anyone wanting to learn how to SUP. Thank you Nicki. I had so much fun!(Julie Neves)
Really excellent training session. Having never been on a SUP, I was amazed at how quickly Nicki got me (and the attendees) up and paddling. Lots of fun and great teaching. I had an absolute ball and feel confident to buy a board and get practicing
Can't rave about the weekend away enough! Fantastically organised, perfect balance of activities and free time and loads of laughter. A bunch of strangers brought together like we knew each other forever. Nicky is just lovely. Highly recommend!
We had a fantastic time with Nicki learning how to paddleboard for the first time. She was very professional and attentive and we learnt even more than we bargained for 😄! Will definitely come back for another one of her classes.
Can't recommend Perth StandUp Paddle School highly enough. Nicki is an amazing instructor and her enthusiasm for paddle-boarding is contagious! The sessions are always fun and friendly. If you've ever considered lessons, or own a board and want to improve your technique, do yourself a favour and give her a call :-)
Nicki at Perth SUP School is an absolute fantastic teacher. She took someone who had absolutely no balance, and I was up and paddling in the first lesson. What a legend. 10/10 would recommend highly.
Nikki was absolutely awesome, friendly and made it lots of fun. Haven't had so much fun in ages definitely recommend. Nikki your a legend!
I wish I’d done this sooner .. just so so good .. if you are even thinking about it a little, just jump in & book .. I’m now onto my second round of fitness classes .. so convenient as the SUPs are bought there for you & everyone is super friendly & welcoming .. highly recommended
I highly recommend Nicky and her SUP school! I had my first professional lesson last week, and her training progressed seamlessly from basic to more advanced skills. Nicky had me managing my board like never before. Give it a go, you wont regret it!
Fantastic beginners lesson! Can't recommend highly enough. Nicki was a brilliant instructor giving clear guidance & the session was great fun too
My wife and I had a 90 minute private lesson with Nicki which was fantastic. We were both complete beginners but Nicki had us up and having fun in the water within 10 minutes. She gradually introduced new challenges and skills throughout the 90 minutes which has given us loads to work on when we next hit the water.Nicki was very clear in her instruction and tailored the session to suit both of us. Fantastic friendly service and I feel well worth the extra money to do a private lesson to get the most out of the time.Thanks againChris and Laura
The most fun I've had on the water! Nicki is a brilliant instructor and creates a very positive and supportive environment to learn in. I think I have found my new weekend hobby :)
tracey shepherd
07:21 19 Jan 24
Had a great time at my lesson with a good bunch of people. Nikki is a very patient teacher and explained things well, so learnt a lot of new tips and skills to help me improve on my stand up paddle board journey. Would highly recommend Nikki and her team to anyone.
Yvonne Smith
01:55 19 Mar 23
My very first time on a paddle board and I was nervous, especially as I am not a particularly sporting person. Our instructor Shannon was great and I felt totally safe. In the end I even managed to stand up on the board which was a great achievement for me. Shannon was really supportive and patient with me and the rest of our class. Would thoroughly recommend this experience.
Penelope Lind
08:40 10 Mar 23
We were given two SUP gift vouchers, as I had watched peeps on the river at Freshwater, thinking what fun!We had a private family lesson with Nicki …. Wow! It was indeed soo much fun.Nicki is a wonderful effervescent and engaging coach, especially for first “old timers” like ourselves. She is such a natural at explaining, supporting and encouraging that it all seemed a dream come true!Yes, I/we fell off but it added to the fun . We had such a lovely family time that we will definitely be back on the water soon.Thank you Nicki for your total support and encouragement allowing us something new to look forward to with our children & grandchildren in our retirement!P 🤗
Chris Hill
05:25 30 Jan 23
Great intro class on Saturday morning led by Shannon. Covered everything we needed to know to make a start at SUP. 90mins duration was just long enough. Managed to crack standing up and only fell in a couple of times!
Emma Wynne
01:25 29 Jan 23
Really enjoyed it and felt confident afterwards that I would be able to use a stand up paddle board and actually enjoy it as well.Great to learn how to paddle properly and I was paddling around quite well after just an hour and a half.
Alison Reddyhough
06:00 09 Dec 22
Nicki is a wonderfully encouraging and skilled SUP teacher. She is supportive but also great at challenging students, whatever their ability. I was so happy with my skill progression during the lesson, and also with my confidence on the water.Thanks Nicki, I’m inspired!!
Liz Hayes
08:40 05 May 22
I have been Stand Up Paddling for several years, but with several long breaks. Unsure about how to get started again and how to get motivated, I decided to join the Beginner's Class! There was so much that I had forgotten - and the opportunity to get my mojo back in such a fun class of men and women of all ages, was just what I needed. Since then I have been SUPing regularly, both on the ocean and on the river. Nicki's classes are fun and motivating. Whether you have never been on a board before, or if you just need a refresher, there will be a class or a lesson for you. The more confident you become, the more relaxing the whole thing is! You won't regret giving this a go, I am sure.
Sarah Stanley
07:51 05 May 22
Nicki is an absolute pleasure to deal with, so knowledgeable and brings the fun to a great learning environment. Highly recommend.
Clair Lawson
06:55 20 Mar 22
Nicki ran a great team building day for us today. We had so much fun and learnt a lot. Highly recommend.
Sue Abbott
09:41 26 Feb 22
This is it - best year of my life! I bought an iSUP over 18mths ago and had a sporadically been paddling for a few months, then I joined the school & social SUP facebook groups and I haven't looked back, only forward (not down). I've been to the Freo, Lake Leschenaultia & Rotto adventure trips as well as a couple of 6am social paddles plus currently in the middle of 2nd round of SUP Fitness sessions at Bicton Baths. Nicki is amazing, a born leader and friend to all - she is my soul sister - her energy and enthusiasm are contagious and I especially love that she has launched the social SUP community. I've gained new friends, improved my skills and above all else had lots of fun. I encourage you to join a lesson, the next adventure or social outing - you won't regret it!!
Dale Emery
07:13 16 Jan 22
Fun, fun and more fun with every class. Nicky does a sensational job! What a joy to have met so many fellow Suppers too.
Julie Johnson
04:17 09 Jan 22
I had a 1 on 1 lesson with Nicki yesterday. Nicki is amazing. She is a great teacher and was so encouraging. I felt so much more confident on the water and was really surprised how I was up and paddling away in no time at all. I would without hesitation recommend Nicki to anyone wanting to learn how to SUP. Thank you Nicki. I had so much fun!(Julie Neves)
Philip McDonald
02:36 03 Jan 22
Really excellent training session. Having never been on a SUP, I was amazed at how quickly Nicki got me (and the attendees) up and paddling. Lots of fun and great teaching. I had an absolute ball and feel confident to buy a board and get practicing
Kerensa Patterson
22:41 05 Dec 21
Can't rave about the weekend away enough! Fantastically organised, perfect balance of activities and free time and loads of laughter. A bunch of strangers brought together like we knew each other forever. Nicky is just lovely. Highly recommend!
Amy Carmichael
11:30 29 Nov 21
We had a fantastic time with Nicki learning how to paddleboard for the first time. She was very professional and attentive and we learnt even more than we bargained for 😄! Will definitely come back for another one of her classes.
Gillian A
00:52 22 Nov 21
Can't recommend Perth StandUp Paddle School highly enough. Nicki is an amazing instructor and her enthusiasm for paddle-boarding is contagious! The sessions are always fun and friendly. If you've ever considered lessons, or own a board and want to improve your technique, do yourself a favour and give her a call :-)
Dan Smith
12:03 06 Oct 21
Nicki at Perth SUP School is an absolute fantastic teacher. She took someone who had absolutely no balance, and I was up and paddling in the first lesson. What a legend. 10/10 would recommend highly.
Le-anne Hoek
23:55 24 Sep 21
Nikki was absolutely awesome, friendly and made it lots of fun. Haven't had so much fun in ages definitely recommend. Nikki your a legend!
Shannon Miraglia
01:25 27 May 21
I wish I’d done this sooner .. just so so good .. if you are even thinking about it a little, just jump in & book .. I’m now onto my second round of fitness classes .. so convenient as the SUPs are bought there for you & everyone is super friendly & welcoming .. highly recommended
Jennifer Quartermaine
09:14 27 Apr 21
I highly recommend Nicky and her SUP school! I had my first professional lesson last week, and her training progressed seamlessly from basic to more advanced skills. Nicky had me managing my board like never before. Give it a go, you wont regret it!
Matthew Davies
06:03 23 Apr 21
Fantastic beginners lesson! Can't recommend highly enough. Nicki was a brilliant instructor giving clear guidance & the session was great fun too
mrtatered
07:27 31 Mar 21
My wife and I had a 90 minute private lesson with Nicki which was fantastic. We were both complete beginners but Nicki had us up and having fun in the water within 10 minutes. She gradually introduced new challenges and skills throughout the 90 minutes which has given us loads to work on when we next hit the water.Nicki was very clear in her instruction and tailored the session to suit both of us. Fantastic friendly service and I feel well worth the extra money to do a private lesson to get the most out of the time.Thanks againChris and Laura
Cas M
01:57 22 Mar 21
The most fun I've had on the water! Nicki is a brilliant instructor and creates a very positive and supportive environment to learn in. I think I have found my new weekend hobby :)