To promote, educate, communicate and gather. To provide a cohesive community for Stand Up Paddleboarding along the Atlantic Coast. We’re not the source. You are.
DOUGLAS ELLIS, JR.
Born and raised in Virginia Beach, Doug Ellis has spent the better part of his life in, around, or on the water. Growing up surfing, sailing, and swimming, Doug has been lucky enough to explore places around the world such as Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and the Caribbean in search of waves, wind, and all-around fun in the water. After holding job titles such as ski instructor, kayak guide, surf instructor and professional gas station attendant in the search for the “outdoor life”, Doug discovered paddleboarding during his 5 years spent working for the Virginia Beach Lifesaving Service as an Oceanfront lifeguard. After racing in several US Surf Lifesaving Competitions, he discovered SUP racing and has been hooked ever since. A Boardworks Surf Team Rider, Doug has been racing around the East Coast this season, and has secured a qualifying spot in the WPA World Championships this Fall. When not paddling, Doug enjoys sailing, kiteboarding, snowboarding, and dreaming up the next big adventure…
GINNY COHEN
Born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, it didn’t take long for Ginny Cohen to heed the call of the sea and pack up for Virginia Beach. After many years of growing her family and her business, Ginny fell in love with stand up paddling and, in 2010, set her sights on SEA Paddle NYC, a 28 mile paddle around Manhattan to raise money for several different autism charities. Along the way she became an ambassador for Starboard SUP, as well as started Babes Only On Board Paddle Club (BOOBS) and Shadowlawn Surf Club with her husband, Scott. She also participates in several area sports therapy camps such as Surfers Healing VB (Co-Director), Team Hoyt VB, Wounded Warriors and Life Rolls On. When she’s not in the water, Ginny can frequently be found chained to her desk as a graphic designer and photographer, hanging with her groms Eliza and Quinn, or blowing off steam at her favorite crossfit gym, Crossfit Obsession, and dreams of one day living and paddling somewhere across the pond.
SCOTT COHEN
Born in Munich, Germany and raised in Richmond, Virginia, Scott has spent nearly every summer in Virginia Beach since his migration to the East Coast when he was 3. While honing his skills in the water on a multitude of inflatable rafts, very early on Scott realized he needed to step up his game. This led him to surfing and he’s been doing just that since his early teenage years. This natural progression also led him to lifeguarding for the Virginia Beach Life Saving Service where he was introduced to prone paddling and excelled in local and regional lifeguard competitions. Always looking to try new water sports and new ways to compete, Scott began paddling in 2009 and in 2010 completed SEA Paddle NYC, a 28 mile charity paddle around Manhattan with his wife Ginny (who beat him by 10 minutes). Currently an avid endurance paddler and competitor, Scott chooses to dedicate his time promoting and teaching the art of walking on water to those new to the sport, and sneaking in ‘board meetings’ whenever he can.
KURT SOUCY
Kurt grew up in the small town of Danvers, Massachusetts, on the North shore of Boston. As a kid, he spent his summers and part of his school year going to the beaches of Gloucester, Rockport, and Beverly, Massachusetts. His family encouraged his love of the ocean by taking their boat out every weekend that the Northern Atlantic would let them. With his love the ocean, the only reasonable thing for him to do after high school was join the Navy. After spending nine years in the Navy moving up and down the east coast, he landed in Virginia Beach.
After years of knee and back issues, he was finally surgically repaired and was looking for a new physical activity when he stumbled upon Atlantic Paddle Source. He joined APS’s Gentleman’s club and hit the water paddling. He hasn’t looked back since. Kurt competed in every local race that he could last year and even won the men’s race at last year’s “Battle for the Booty”. He has really stepped up his paddle game this year. He can be found on any of the local waterways year round or at the beach with his dogs, waiting for waves to paddle surf. Kurt is our main instructor and is CPR certified.
