Meet Jane Paddler: Lindsay Lambert, Issaquah, WA

Where you were born and where you live now?

Born in Reno, NV and I live in Issaquah, WA now.

What is your occupation?

Owner of Paddling Yogini, certified SUP Yoga, PaddleFit, PiYo, & TRX Instructor

Where do you SUP the most?

Lake Washington, Sammamish, and Puget Sound

Do you have a favorite local paddleboard shop?

Dolan’s Board Sports (Tacoma) & Northwest Paddle Surfers (Kirkland)

What paddleboard, surfski or OC do you ride most?

My King’s 12’6 race board.

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

My Kialoa 12’6 Napali & 10’6 Waikiki, and Hydrus Board Tech 12’6 Paradise inflatables.

What paddle do you use?

Kialoa 78″ Hulu small.

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

I started my SUP journey 2 years ago when I went down to Laguna Beach, CA to get certified as a SUP yoga instructor. I came home with a Riviera 12’6 Voyager for touring and SUP Yoga. When I was ready to start racing, my friend (Corey Dolan) put me on a King’s race board and put a Kialoa paddle in my hands, I never went back 🙂 I have paddled on 3 different models of King’s 12’6 race boards and love their speed! I am now an ambassador (‘Elele) for Kialoa, so I use their paddles and inflatables. However, I am loving the Hydrus Board Tech (from Idaho) 12’6 Paradise inflatables because of their high PSI capability! All the inflatables I use have to be stable, durable, and easy to transport.

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

Back to Oahu! My 1st trip to Hawaii was last February and it was short, but sweet! I cannot wait to get back to Oahu to paddle and surf!

Best piece of SUP advice you’ve ever received?

This past year at Round the Rock 2015, I did the short 3.5 mile race. The race was delayed two hours, it was hot as hell, boats everywhere, and very choppy water. Dave Daum of King’s Paddle Sports and I were out in front after the first lap of the course. The water was like a washing machine and I was struggling with the side chop! Dave shouts over to me, “Lindsay this is like paddling back home for me!” I’m thinking “oh nice Dave, good for you!” LOL! Then he said “Lindsay, don’t fight the water, feel the rhythm of the waves and use the energy to help you! Read the waves and use them!” So, I started to calm down and let the movement under my board help me, instead of rejecting where the waves were directing me. I started to concentrate on dialing in my stroke, instead of rushing and forcing it. I finished strong and won my race 🙂

Weirdest thing that’s happened to you while paddling?

Last summer, I was out on a small lake in Issaquah practice SUP Yoga. I laid down to soak up some sun for a bit, opened my eyes to see I had ducks climbing up on my board to say hello!

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

Before races under 3 miles: RUNA Clean Energy Tea and a Cliff bar. Before races over 3 miles: DotFit 1st String Protein & Amino Boost XXL mixed with Essentia water.

Goals for this year?

Race for the love and pure stoke of it, make the podium when I can, and spread my passion for SUP Yoga every race/adventure destination I travel to this season! Also, to bring my 8 year old son to races and cheer him on!

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

Any flavor of BARE CULTURE KOMBUCHA brewed and served by Brett Saguid!

Your favorite non-paddle thing to do.

YOGA LOL, swimming, hiking, camping, skateboarding, and outdoor adventuring with my kids! My daughter is 13 and son 8! They are my heart, soul, and motivation in this life!

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

hmmm…. I think there are so many great products out there! I don’t think this would just benefit SUP, but a hands-free/ voice activated Go-Pro to take pictures during my SUP Yoga classes & practice. That way I don’t have 1,000 bloopers to go through to find my 3 good shots!

What’s your biggest challenge with SUP?

TRAINING!! It’s hard for me to find time to get out on the water and train. I teach 20 classes (morning, afternoon, evening) a week, manage a yoga studio, run my own paddling business, and am a single mama of two!  I don’t have a lot of team mates in my area that can paddle when I’m available. I like the push of having someone to train with and unfortunately, I don’t have that right now.

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

RTR 2014 (Round the Rock) I had 2 super proud moments! I completed my first 13 mile race with the help of an amazing paddler, Hannah Hill! I wanted to give up so many time during that race, but Hannah girl kept pushing me on! She sang to me almost the whole race for motivation! Hannah, “What does the fox say?!?” After I finished my race, I was so proud to find out that my boyfriend, Brett Saguid, had won RTR 2014! I then went on to do 2 hours of SUP Yoga demos for my boss/race director, it was a good event!

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

In February 2014 I met my good friends/bosses Corey Dolan & Jeff Underwood at an expo where I demo’d their gear and did SUP Yoga in an indoor pool. After that event, they both offered me jobs teaching for them and this will be my third summer as their SUP instructor! Corey has also coached me and certified me in PaddleFit. My first race ever on Lake Tapps, I met my great friend, Sean Thomas! We both live out in Issaquah, train together, he’s another one of my awesome paddle coaches, and he will be building me the ultimate Echo Composites SUP Yoga board here soon! Sean’s wife Katrina and kids (Koa and Aspen) are super close to me! Then my secocnd race ever on Lake Sammamish a Hawaiian from Spokane (Brett Saguid) paddled into my life and heart. I’ve attended pretty much every race the last two seasons with this amazing racer and I’m looking forward to doing the same this season! I don’t know exactly which race I met the amazing Joel and Coli Yang, but they are two very inspiring coaches and friends of mine! Joel and Coli have always been there to encourage me in my paddling and lead the Village of Stoke we have here in Seattle! I also am honored and thankful to call Dave and Meg Chun of Kialoa my friends and family! For my fifth SUP race, I traveled down to the 2014 Bend Paddle Challenge in Bend, OR and was introduced to the Chun’s by Corey Dolan. I really appreciate the Chun’s passion for their work and life!

What was your best SUP travel trip?

Oahu 2016! I got to take my first trip to Hawaii in February and it was an amazing experience for me! I was honored to have an opportunity to work with Greg Panas Photography while I was there! This is one of Greg’s photos of my on my Kialoa 10’6 Waikiki inflatable at Kawela Bay, Northshore Oahu.