Today we’d like to introduce you to Leah Beth Goodman.
Leah Beth, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve always loved the water. Growing up in a waterfront community such as Marblehead is truly magical. It sometimes makes me sad to think that some people don’t experience the ocean. My grandfather took me sailing, fishing, clamming, boating, snorkeling, & swimming. If it had to do with the water he taught me everything and brought me everywhere. He shared his passion for the water and life where ever we went. How to respect the gifts that Mother Nature provides for us, how to give back to her and this world and to never pass up an adventure, even when people didn’t understand you or called you crazy. He encouraged me to create my own coloring book and that it was ok to color outside the lines. We traveled everywhere and experienced so many people, places, art and really lived. As an adult I realized how much he had shaped and influenced my life. My gram and grandfather were my people. He always kept pushing me when I would get stuck or wrapped up in life and when Sup East Coast Style was born, my gram had passed away and my grandfather and I had grown apart. I learned that he sprinkled her ashes in the water and I know she is there with me on every paddle I take. Sup East Coast Style was born out of a really bad car accident I had where I lost a good chunk of my life and had to rebuild my body back. It took some time, but through stand up paddle boarding I was able to mentally & physically come back together. Growing up in the east coast as an athlete we had soccer, basketball, skiing and I did it all.
I first fell in love with stand up paddle boarding when I lived out west in California & Hawaii but it was after my accident that I truly saw the many benefits to this great sport/activity. Moving back as an adult to my hometown of Marblehead I wanted to share this sport and build a paddle community. I didn’t have anyone to paddle with here, no access to boards, nothing! My boyfriend, who is now my husband never thought I was crazy and just went along for what has so far been a 7 year journey running and operating Sup East Coast Style. A paddle community full of Stoke, recreational paddling, racing, access to equipment and continues to grow each year. We started in 2009, with a few school teacher friends who had the summers off and now have a staff of over 40 people, several locations boutique storefront and events all over the north shore.
Has it been a smooth road?
There have been many struggles! But anything great you want to achieve in life will pose different challenges and struggles. Managing over 40 people and multiple locations and making sure everything starts and ends on time can be challenging by itself.
But all the struggles and challenges continue to make me a better person and business owner and for that I am truly grateful. Because even though there has been so much struggle there has always true & magnificent greatness. There’s always this one moment that happens during the summer, it never comes at the same time but it always comes. The noise around me stops, the air and what I am looking at is so clear. It’s almost as if in that moment, that single moment I pinch myself because I can’t believe it is all real. In this moment I feel so light that I feel like I am floating on clouds. This moment always comes right when I need it, right when I’m about to throw in the towel. This moment reminds me to trust the process, and just keep going. Because no journey would be fun or worth it if it were easy. Struggles and challenges are what make us grow and learn how to improve ourselves and how we approach things.
So I take every challenge head on and try to always learn something from any adversity I face.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
SUP East Coast Style is a community of people who love the outdoors and water. We teach standup paddle lessons for all levels, beginners to developing SUP Racing Athletes. We provide, rentals, lessons, tours, youth programs, team building, Birthday parties, sup fitness, sup yoga, glow paddles, and events. Anything you can do with standup paddle boarding we do it.
Nobody needs an invitation to the ocean and it is there for everyone. We specialize in stoke! Stoke is enthusiasm, excitement, energy, love, passion and good juju. That energy is the heart beat of Sup East Coast Style. What am I most proud of? That is a tough one because I am proud of all of it. I’d have to say I’m most proud of the charity we built with the Plummer Home in Salem. We are going into our 4th year of the event we created, Paddle For Plummer. Sup East Coast is lucky enough to bring the community of Sup together to raise funds and awareness to kids that need families. We stand up and paddle for the cause that is one of the proudest moments each year. I think what sets us apart from the others is our enthusiasm and passion. We really teach our staff and paddlers to spread the stoke and what it is all about. I know generations before of us have said this exact same thing, but something is going on in the world that I feel one of the reasons why we become so big is because we all needed this in our lives. People need a way to shut off the crazy and disconnect from life stresses. Kids need to be kids and we all need to hold on to that childlike spirit. We have people come down to the beach upset from an issue at work. They put the phone down and go out for a paddle and they come back refreshed and ready to take on anything. I guess what I’m saying is our goal was to create a community for all and give that feeling of good juju. Yes Sup is a sport and when you compete you are usually competing and training with your friends. So a high five and great party after are key ingredients to always having a good time. We teach, we live the lifestyle. Work, struggles, school, family, the day to day grind is hard enough. Living the life style and spreading the stoke, we hope helps all we come in contact with. If you’re not having fun you’re not doing it right.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
If someone has a passion, dream and enthusiasm who am I to say not to go after it! Especially in this line of work, that’s someone’s journey to take no matter how it turns out. If someone is just starting out, I would recommend for them to travel anywhere and everywhere they can…. then build their brand. Then when built make sure they’re still traveling to constantly see and experience new things and places to keep them inspired and creative.
My recommendations for the cities is to really take care of their community when it comes to all things waterfront. Protect, support and have people in positions of power make the waterfront the best it can be. Allow and establish something to follow when it comes to having business on the waterfront.
Contact Info:
- Address: 29 Bridge Street
Salem Ma
01970 - Website: Www.supeastcoaststyle.com
- Phone: 9788822109
- Email: supeastcoaststyle@gmail.com
- Instagram: Sup east coast style
- Facebook: Sup east coast style
Image Credit:
Michael holzwarth
Ried Smith
Dmertri Finelli
Leah Goodman
Christos Douroudis
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
