Jimmy Blakeney
With over 20 years of experience in the Action Sports and Paddlesports Industries Jimmy has done it all: brand manager, marketing director, product developer, US National Champion kayaker, coach/instructor and brand ambassador. When SUP began to appear in America, Jimmy was quickly hooked and put his knowledge and experience into the development of the sport. Currently BIC Sport’s SUP product and marketing manager, he works in close collaboration with shaper Patrice Remoiville on the direction and development of new boards, paddles and product refinements. An ACA-certified instructor and instructor trainer, he’s heavily involved in the direction and evolution of SUP, and his rigorous approach to all aspects of the sport is a real plus for both the product development and promotion of BIC SUP.
When and where did you start SUP ? I first tried SUP in 2007 in Santa Cruz, CA at a surf & kayak event. Someone handed me a big longboard and paddle and said “try this”. I did, and it was really difficult, especially in the choppy conditions. The board was super narrow.
Which sports did you practiced before? And now ? I grew up skateboarding and snowboarding, then got into whitewater kayaking at university, then started surfing when I moved to the Rhode Island coast. These days I mostly SUP-Surf & prone surf.
How have the sports you did before help with SUP ? SUP is part boardsport and part paddlesport, so having both of these in my background definitely helped.
What attracts you in the SUP ? It’s a boardsport, it’s a paddlesport, and it involves being in and around the water.
SUP RACE or SUP SURF ? Mostly Surf, but I do a few races now and then.
What’s the vibe between surfers and SUPers at your local breaks? Respect, awareness, skill and good etiquette are the key. It doesn’t matter what you ride, but what you DO. But yes, there are some surfers who just do not like SUP and you can’t convince them.
SUP is booming, do you think this is a fad or a change in attitudes over the long term? SUP is here to stay, it is too much fun to be a ‘fad’. Once it matures SUP will be seen as just another way to enjoy being on the water.
Did you ever had the opportunity to surf beyond U.S. borders ? Yes – France, Mexico, Costa Rica, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Germany (Munich Wave)
Few words or a punch line to convince a friend to get the SUP? It’s a way to spend more time on the water when the waves are small, and it makes surfing small waves really fun. Plus it keeps you in shape.
Other ways to practice the sup are growing, (sup fitness, sup yoga) do you think it’s good for it? Sure, why not? Being on an SUP works all the little balance muscles most people don’t use every day.
The SUP equipment is often very large, what you think about the new inflatable boards then. Great if you have limited storage space or want to travel.
Do you participate in competitions? I do a few races each year, and a few SUP surf competitions.
Which boards are you riding? Which one is your favorite? I ride the 9’0 Wave Pro, 9’6 ACE-TEC and 11’ WING most of the time. But if I could have just one board to do everything it would be the 10’6 ACE-TEC.
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