ASI Trainer Profile - Melissa McManus
Posted: 19 June 2017
Melissa is an ASI Instructor and Trainer and a SUP School operator since 2008.
She recently sold her SUP School and provides these insights on the changes in the industry, what it takes to be a SUP instructor and SUP school operator and what the future holds for her now.
Mel is an avid stand up paddler who has been a strong supporter of development of SUP in Australia.
When she started stand up paddling in 2008 the sport was very new, particularly in her south coast home town of Jervis Bay.
Many people would call out to her as she paddled past, asking if it was ‘hard’ to do and asking if it was ‘fun’. Mel decided the best way to show people that it was in fact ‘easy and fun’ would be to open up a Stand up Paddle school.
Wanting to do it right, Mel sought professional training and completed all the necessary coursework to become ASI’s first female SUP instructor. She then went through the process of setting up a fully accredited SUP school. At this point in time, there were only about half a dozen SUP schools in the whole of Australia.
Around this time the first SUP competitions were just starting in Australia and Mel was keen to participate however, for the first couple of years, there was just one ‘open SUP division’ so she had to compete against the men in both surfing and racing. Mel didn’t let the hard competition daunt her as she knew that the only way women’s divisions would come about is if women showed up at events; and given her performance at some of those early racing events, there were plenty of men who were happy to see the women’s divisions created.
Mel has continued to compete when JBSUP school commitments permitted, and has a formidable record competing at State and National level in a variety of disciplines: flat water distance, flatwater sprints, technical racing (BOP) and surfing, most recently winning the 2017 NSW State titles surf division (0/40’s). Mel has also regularly travelled with her surf SUP to places like Bali and Taiwan.
When asked about the changes Mel has seen in the sport and the industry she replied: ‘There are so many changes but probably the biggest change is how SUP has now become mainstream. When I first started, the SUP demographic was mainly middle-aged people looking for something new. Now we have loads of younger people participating and a fantastic crop of juniors coming through the ranks in both surfing and racing. The other big change is in the equipment, with constant refinement of board shapes, particularly for racing, and paddle sizes now much smaller both in length and blade size. Paddlers can go much faster, with less wear and tear on their bodies’.
Mel also said that the most rewarding things about owning Jervis Bay Stand Up Paddle school were seeing people conquer their fears and experience the thrill of gliding across the pristine waters of Jervis Bay Marine Park, and helping them to appreciate the values and importance of the marine environment. Jervis Bay Stand Up Paddle catered to a diverse range of clients: from corporate groups to international tour groups, high schools to hen’s nights and all participants left with a great sense of achievement. Mel said ‘there were often challenges, with the weather and the water conditions, but regardless of what mother nature threw at us, we were always prepared with suitable boards and clothing, and everyone always left with a smile on their face’.
Mel has successfully taught over 10,000 people to SUP and continues to ensure her own skills and technique are up to scratch by regularly attending clinics by the top SUP paddlers and coaches. Mel recently sold Jervis Bay Stand up Paddle and is focussing her energy on training the next generation of ASI SUP instructors. She is a natural teacher and has a wealth of experience to share.
To see some of Mel’s SUP results click on the link and go to the ‘general information’ section:
www.facebook.com/pg/Melissa-McManus-Training
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ASI (Academy of Surfing Instructors), is the worldwide peak body for Instructors and Coaches in the outdoor recreation and sport industry for surfing, stand up paddle and bodyboarding.
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