Meet Joe Paddler: Tony Fajardo, San Diego, CA

Joe Paddler: Tony Fajardo

Where you were born and where you live now?

San Diego and San Diego

What is your occupation?

Workplace Wellness Professional

Where do you SUP the most?

Mission Bay and San Diego Bay

Do you have a favorite local paddleboard shop?

West Coast Paddle Sports

What paddleboard, surfski or OC do you ride most?

2016 Starboard Allstar 12’6″ x 25″

Do you own any other paddleboards, surfskis or OCs and what kind?

Not at the moment

What paddle do you use?

Starboard Bolt and Quickblade Trifecta

Have you changed boards/paddles/equipment since you started? If so, why?

Yes. As I’ve gravitated toward the fitness and racing side of SUP and improved my skills, I went from an all-around touring SUP to progressively narrower and faster racing SUPs.

If you could travel to anywhere in the world to paddle, where would you go?

New Zealand. I’ve been there before I discovered SUP and it would be an epic place to paddle.

Best piece of SUP advice you’ve ever received?

“You should try outrigger canoe paddling. It will make you a better SUP paddler.”

Weirdest thing that’s happened to you while paddling?

Stumped. No weirdness. All business! Ha!

Favorite SUP nutrition? (During races/ during a long haul)

Carbo Pro products and OX Endurance

Goals for this  year?

Complete the Maui Nui Canoe Race (3 days, 3 islands, 100 miles)

Favorite post-paddle nosh (snack/beer/recovery drink)

Burritos

Your favorite non-paddle thing to do.

Yoga and bench pressing and eating

What piece of SUP gear do you wish someone would invent?

Hmmm…I guess a ding-proof light-weight race board…eco-friendly of course

What’s your biggest challenge with SUP?

Day light savings time

What is your proudest moment in a SUP race or event?

My proudest paddling moment has been crossing Kaiwi Channel in the 2015 Molokai Hoe with my outrigger canoe club, Kapolioka’ehukai OCC.

Tell us about the best friend(s) you made through paddling.

I’ve met so many awesome and inspirational people and made so many friends through paddling. The paddling community world-wide is special and I am grateful to have discovered it. Water not only nourishes us and gives us life, it connects us.

What was your best SUP travel trip?

So far, any SUP trip to the Eastern Sierras, is an awesome trip with beautiful scenery. Paddling in Lake Tahoe is magical.

What makes a good Joe or Jane Paddler? Someone who’s just an everyday, stoked up, fun, enthusiastic paddler, hopefully with a good story or two to tell…  Is that you? Want to be featured as a Joe or Jane Paddler or know someone who’d make a good one?  Fill out the questionnaire!