Master Trainer: Astrid Vanderlee
Location: Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Certifications: WPA and PIF L1 and L2 master trainer, Paddleboarding, First Aid incl. CPR & AED, AEC
Instructor Bio: Even when I was a little girl, I was into all kinds of sports: from windsurfing, swimming and gymnastics to horseback riding, tennis and ballet. But the type of sport that remained a red line throughout my life is water sports. I just love being in, on, and around water.
I’m born and raised in the Netherlands, a country where there is access to water practically around every corner. We emigrated in 1999 to the landlocked city of Calgary, Canada. Quite the adjustment for a water person like me. I sold my windsurf board and replaced it with skis and a snowboard.
During a ski trip, I had a snowboard accident and broke my elbow. I had to have surgery, and they were able to rebuild my elbow with metal. To do physical therapy and regain strength in my arm, I had to exercise. With my love for the water and a windsurf background, paddle boarding was on top of my list. The big bonus for me was that one of the many benefits of paddle boarding is its usefulness in the rehabilitation of injuries.
After signing up for an introduction session, I was hooked. To improve my skills and avoid worsening my existing injuries, I signed up for SUP classes to learn to paddle properly. No stopping me anymore. The following couple of summers, I worked with a SUP coach to improve my skills.
Through Paddle Into Fitness, I became a WPA Level 1 SUP instructor and later a certified WPA Level II Master Trainer in paddleboarding. Living within walking distance of a beautiful lake close to the Rocky Mountains, there was no doubt that I had found my way back to the water and water sports. Shortly after PaddleAway.today was born, a paddle board school for everyone who likes to learn how to paddle board, no matter their age or ability. Since our summers are short in our corner of the globe, we continue to spread ‘the paddle stoke’ through workshops throughout the rest of the year.
