
Rise and Glide
We live by the ocean, we play in the water – we are paddlers. Powerful conversations from the SUP and water sports community hosted by Holly Pye and Maddi Leblanc. Get inspired by ocean stories and lived experiences on and off the water, including news, advice and discussions. Tune in to learn from stand up paddle athletes, expeditioners, sailors, paddlers, surfers and so many more involved in the ocean sport world.
This is Rise and Glide, from the team behind the Paddle Logger App. Your guide to all that is going on in our ocean playground.
Latest episodes

Jul 26, 2024 • 59min
10 Years of Paddle Logger with David Walker & Lewis Smith
Maddi and Holly interview David and Lewis, the main faces behind Paddle Logger. We discuss the history of Paddle Logger, its evolution over the past 10 years, and the successes along the way. Throughout the episode, we chat about the early days of the app, the growth of the paddling community over the last 10 years, the diversity of Paddle Logger's users, and the development of the PaddleLIVE® safety feature.
David and Lewis tell us how proud they are of the app's success and their gratitude to the paddling community for their support over the years. Learn more about the unique features of Paddle Logger that set it apart from other apps, and the importance of the safety features, such as the live tracking and notifications to emergency contacts, which provide peace of mind for both paddlers and their loved ones.
Paddle Logger is committed to doing good things, like raising awareness for environmental causes through their partnership with 1% for the Planet, and their support for organisations like Save the Waves. The team is looking forward to more sustainable growth and continuous improvement in years to come. Want to know what exciting features are coming up next in the Paddle Logger app? Tune in now.
Download Paddle Logger on the App Store
IG @paddlelogger
web www.paddlelogger.com

May 10, 2024 • 39min
S2: Season Round Up
We can't believe season two is over already. In this round up episode, cohosts Maddi Leblanc and Holly Pye look back and chat about their favourite moments from this season, sharing highlights from each of the ten awesome guests we've had the pleasure of speaking to.
Throughout season two, we've learned from explorers, world champions, SUP athletes, kayakers, and many, many more. We'd love to hear what you've learned from these conversations and how it's improving your paddling at home.
Let us know who you want to hear on Rise & Glide Season 3 by sending a message to @paddlelogger on Instagram.
Support the podcast by getting your hands on some of these exclusive beach bags and T's 👉👉👉 the Rise and Glide Collection.
IG @paddlelogger
merch Rise and Glide Collection

May 3, 2024 • 1h 26min
S2E10: Marie Buchanan - Keeping paddling fresh and fun for performance
Marie is a waterwoman from South Devon, Great Britain. She’s got years of experience under her belt in almost every water sport you can think of. Marie’s well known as a SUP racer, having been paddling since 2007, but her journey started in competitive windsurfing and has evolved to all paddling disciplines since.
In this episode we dive back through the history of SUP, from the first boards and paddles, to the evolution of racing trends, all the way up to Marie’s recent experiences at the ICF World Championships, where she won gold in both 2022 and 2023. Marie tells us all about the preparation that helped her get there and why it’s all about having fun on the water rather than strict scheduled sessions.
We find out how we can encourage more female participation in sport, the importance of age categories in both national and international events and differences in equipment needs for men and women. Marie shares her
IG @mariebuchanan

8 snips
Apr 26, 2024 • 1h 29min
S2E9: Chris Freeman - Black Project SUP and industry changes
Chris Freeman, the owner and founder of Black Project, discusses his journey in the water sports industry and the development of Black Project in the SUP and Windsurf worlds. Chris transitioned from competitive windsurfing to stand up paddling (SUP) and began creating high-performance fins and paddles in the process.
We learn about how good quality fins and paddles can dramatically improve your paddling experience. Chris emphasises what goes into product development and how Black Project finds the right balance between timeless designs and introducing new, exciting products.
Chris goes into detail about the testing and feedback process for developing new products; the creation of prototypes, how they get tested in different conditions, and feedback from paddlers with the goal of continuously improving the performance and quality of the products. Chris understands the needs of different paddlers and explains how he adapts the products accordingly. We chat about the evolution of stand up paddle boarding and he explains what’s changed with fins and paddles based on changes in the sport, such as board designs and racing trends.
We look at the rise of entry-level boards and the impact on the industry; the frustration of retailers with the quality of inflatables and the difficulty new paddlers have at distinguishing between high-quality and cheaper products.
IG @blackprojectsup & @blackprojectwindsurf
web www.blackprojectsup.com

Apr 19, 2024 • 1h 12min
S2E8: Seychelle - Training Tips & Life Lessons
Today we’re chatting with Seychelle, professional stand up paddle board (SUP) racer. A few months ago, Seychelle won the ICF World Championships 200m Sprint race only a few months after also winning two 70 mile and 80 mile endurance events. We chat about different SUP disciplines and the topic of specialisation. Seychelle tells us how it really is possible to do it all, and we learn more about the physiological requirements for different types of paddling.
Seychelle shares her insights on strength training for SUP racing and tells us all about SUP Stroke School, a program that focuses on improving stroke technique for paddlers of all levels. She explains how she practices drills introduces her app, which offers videos and a supportive community.
Seychelle has some exciting upcoming events and training camps, including a women's SUP and Love retreat and clinic dates in the UK. Seychelle reflects on her journey as a paddler, including her transformational year in 2019 and the importance of embracing different phases of life and finding joy in the present moment.
Content Warning: This episode contains a short discussion on topics that some may be sensitive to with reference to starting a family.
IG @seychelle.sup
coaching Seychelle SUP
web seychellesup.com

6 snips
Apr 12, 2024 • 1h 17min
S2E7: Blake Carmichael - The Power of Gratitude and the Last Paddler Standing
Blake Carmichael is the winner of the 2023 Last Paddler Standing endurance event, where he paddled for a record-breaking 50 hours. He completed this just a few months after also winning the solo men’s division of the 80 mile Crossing for Cystic Fibrosis from the Bahamas to Florida.
In this episode, Blake shares his journey in stand up paddle boarding, going from beginner to ultra long distance paddler in just a couple of years. We learn about Blake’s recent paddle across the state of Florida to raise awareness about water pollution on marine ecosystems and his campaign for clean water. Blake also shares insights on the physical and mental challenges of these ultra long-distance challenges, and the strategies he uses to stay focused and motivated.
Blake emphasises the importance of gratitude, meditation and mindfulness. Gratitude teaches us to appreciate the small things in life, and he explains how it helps him to keep pushing through challenging moments on the water. Blake also discusses his preparations for 2024 races and we discuss training routines for different disciplines and tips for mental and physical preparation.
IG @blakecarmichael
web diveblu3.com
watch Paddling 3 miles every hour
Captains for Clean Water

Apr 5, 2024 • 1h 22min
S2E6: w/ Jon White - World Champion Para-athlete and the road to Paris 2024
Jon White is a para-canoeist and was the first para-athlete in an ICF event, has represented Great Britain at several world championships winning many medals, and recently won two Gold medals at the 2023 ICF Ocean Racing World Championships in Australia. He lives by “a strong will and a sharp mind can overcome almost anything”.
In this episode, Jon discusses his competitive journey and how he rediscovered his passion for paddling after experiencing a life changing injury in the Royal Marines where he lost three limbs. We learned more about the prosthetic arm Jon uses for kayaking, and how he’s working with engineers get the design just right. Jon shares insights into his training routine, including the balance between flat water and ocean training, club paddles and solo sessions. Jon also recounts his 100-mile kayaking marathon on Christmas Day in 2022, raising over £15,000 and the strategies that helped him to stay focused during the challenge. We asked about the 2024 Paris Paralympics and hear what the selection process is like and how Jon is focusing his training.
The paddling community is supportive and inclusive. Getting out on the water can help many of us overcome personal challenges and find a sense of freedom and independence.
IG @jonwhite50

Mar 29, 2024 • 1h 35min
S2E5: w/ April Zilg - SUP Race Training & Parenthood
3 x World Champion, a gold medalist in the Pan American Surfing Games, 2x Carolina Cup Graveyard Champion, Gorge Downwind OC1 Champion and APP World Tour World Champion. April has worked HARD over the last decade and shares her journey as a paddler, an athlete, a coach and now new parent.
She talks about how she started paddling from a background with zero fitness, and the challenges she faced as a beginner. April emphasised the importance of commitment and gradual progress in achieving success as an athlete. We spoke about training strategies, low hanging fruits, staying focused whilst paddling, and April’s love for audiobooks.
April’s story is inspiring and highlights the dedication and discipline required to excel in the sport of stand up paddling. We also chatted about April’s journey as a coach, the importance of keeping a training journal, advice for paddlers wanting to train more seriously, and the new challenges April is experiencing as a new mum balancing paddling with motherhood.
IG @aprilzilg
web aprilzilg.com
training paddletraining.com
training journal athlete-agenda.com
Books Mentioned
80/20 Running: Run Stronger and Race Faster By Training Slower by Matt Fitzgerald
168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think by Laura Vanderkam
Roar by Dr Stacey Sims
The Period Repair Manual: Natural Treatment for Better Hormones and Better Periods by Laura Bridon

Mar 22, 2024 • 1h 16min
S2E4: w/ Dr. Audrey Lee - Staying Mindful and Balanced off the water to perform better on it!
Dr. Audrey Lee, a performance and plant-based sports nutrition coach, shares her journey in the world of paddle boarding and the importance of self-care, recovery, and nutrition in achieving a balanced lifestyle.
Audrey emphasises the need to listen to our bodies and how to make conscious choices that support our wellbeing. Her approach to performance coaching focuses on optimising routines and simplifying processes to create long-term changes. Audrey discusses the power of conscious breathing and shares some breathwork techniques with us. We chat about nutrition as fuel, how to recognise when you’re not fuelling for performance, and the balance of self-care, including the need for rest and recovery in training.
IG @powertoshred
web powertoshred.com
Audrey’s Podcast: Power To Shred
Books mentioned
Breathe, The New Science of a Lost Art

Mar 15, 2024 • 1h 17min
S2E3: w/ Brad Friesen - Ultra Long Distance Racing the Yukon, the Red River Challenge and more
Brad Friesen has completed some incredible feats and shares with us his journey into endurance paddling from river surfing and white water paddling. His background in canoeing, kayaking, and mountaineering led him to discover stand up paddle boarding. Brad talks about his experience with endurance events such as the Yukon River Quest and the Yukon 1000, and the mental and physical challenges they present.
Brad shares his passion for the sport and the dedication he has for his role as a race director for the Red River Challenge. We chat about the importance of training, rest, nutrition and hydration for ultra long distance paddling, how kids racing is crucial for growing the sport and fostering the next generation of paddlers, and how to work your way up to longer distances and more difficult paddling challenges. Brad also shares tips for training in cold weather and alternative activities like cross-country skiing and fat biking. He talks about his preferred gear and equipment, and why we should all really be carrying spare paddles.
Brad highlights the supportive and empowering community of ultra paddlers and invites listeners to participate in the Red River Challenge in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
IG @bradfriesen
web bradfriesen.com
Red River Challenge redriverpaddlechallenge.com