"If health is our wealth, then windsurfing is my greatest treasure. It’s peak-state meditation of pure calm in the jaws of intense adrenaline. It’s some of the highest levels of fitness as your body becomes one of the mechanical parts holding your craft together. It’s traveling on a surface with no concrete lines and intense energy: whether I am heading out to sea to fish, racing between islands, playing with tricks in flat water, or taking on the challenge of surfing huge waves. It’s pure aliveness: wild & free, deep in the heart of the forces of nature."
Nationality
Canada
Discipline
Wave
Homespot
Ho’okipa, Maui
Date of Birth
24\04\76
Sail No.
HI925
I was born in Canada and with no wind or waves in sight so I trained to swim against arctic ocean currents as a child. That prepared me for what was to come. It wasn’t until I arrived in the UK at 24 years old that I was introduced to windsurfing. The British are some of the most avid sailors in the world and due to their well set up yachting clubs, I was funneled into their amazing programs. After some super fun beginner windsurfing lessons in Vassiliki Greece, I moved on to Ireland and got schooled by the Atlantic’s waves and insane storm force winds. Before I left the UK, I had become British Wave Sailing Champion and Triple Crown Champion: winning Tiree & Ireland. One of my last UK events was written up in Boards magazine as, “Mast high plus waves, side on shore 5m weather. Gnarly conditions!!!!!!! ‘Man of the match’ was Shawna Cropas, competing with the professional men, kicking ass winning her second round heat blowing egos right out of the water as she tore a mast high waves to shreds” So happy that now I can compete against 20 + women in the Aloha Classic instead of sometimes just 3 women back in the day. After over a decade in the UK, I was doing photo shoots for windsurfing brands and they called me to Maui. Maui the island of mer-people seduced me away from Europe and I have not left this island since. On Maui I continue to coach and run clinics teaching endless people from around the world to windsurf or improve their skills. Now I have fun in the sun in some of the world’s best wavesailing conditions.
Latest Results
Multiple Final appearances in the Aloha Classic