For Vikki Weston, the water was never just a place to train, it was somewhere that revealed something deeper.
Growing up in the hills of Winchester, England, she couldn’t have predicted that her future would unfold thousands of miles away, on the waterways of Sydney, Australia. But it was there, in the rhythm of early mornings and hard training sessions, that something began to feel off.
“I was a super keen kayaker, training for a kayak marathon with three other women,” she said. Yet, each time they showed up, the reception was the same – a subtle, dismissive tone that lingered.
“Every time we’d turn up to train, the guy who ran it would say, ‘oo you’re still going then… you’re still giving it a shot’”
It wasn’t overt hostility. It was quieter than that. Casual, persistent, and telling.
Those moments, the assumptions, the patronising remarks, the surprise at women simply showing up – lit a fire in Weston.
“When I shook his hand to get my medal, I shook it so hard,” she laughed. But beneath the humour was something more powerful: a realisation that many women might not push through those experiences.
“Words are very powerful… negativity and sexism can really put women off.”
Out on Sydney’s water, Weston noticed a lack of women out paddling.
That absence became the seed for something bigger. Not a business plan. Not a strategy. Just a simple idea.
“I just thought, how fun would it be to build this community,” said Weston.
That idea became SheSUPs – a space designed specifically for women to feel safe, supported, and free to learn. And it immediately resonated.
“When I began meeting all the women, so many of us had shared experiences.
What Weston had felt wasn’t isolated. It was widespread – the quiet barriers, the hesitations, the feeling of not quite belonging. SheSUPs wasn’t just about Stand Up Paddling; it was about removing those barriers.
Not everyone understood the vision at first.
“I don’t know if you’ll have success, you’re cutting off half the market,” she was told.
But that “limitation” became the very thing that drew women in. SheSUPs wasn’t created to be exclusionary, it created a space where women didn’t have to prove themselves, explain themselves, or shrink themselves.
“It’s not just for ‘sporty women,’ it’s for all women,” said Weston.
“The doors need to be completely open… without that they won’t feel welcome, and they won’t keep trying.”
What followed wasn’t a calculated expansion, it was an organic movement of women who loved paddling.
“It grew bigger than I ever imagined,” said Weston.
During the coronavirus pandemic, when isolation became the norm, SheSUPs became something else entirely: a lifeline.
“We did challenges throughout the pandemic as we couldn’t paddle together physically,” she said.
Those virtual connections kept the community alive, and growing. What stared locally, spread across Australia and beyond.
“I was just sharing my passion and having a lot of fun, and that’s what people needed at the time.”
And perhaps, that’s the key to Weston’s success, that success was never the driving force.
For her, Stand Up Paddling is just the beginning.
“SUP is the vehicle to help women on their journey,” she added.
The real magic happens beyond the board, in the conversations, the friendships, and the quiet moments of confidence building.
She’s seen the ripple effect of women learning, growing, and passing along their knowledge.
“I’m a big advocate for blue health. Being out on the water can be transformational – it’s a powerful thing to experience,” she said.
At the core of SheSUPs is simplicity.
“I just wanted to create a safe space, and make women feel comfortable without even noticing it.”
In a world where women are often expected to have it all figured out, Weaton has created a space where they don’t have to. That freedom to try, fail, and grow is what keeps women coming back.
“I would come home every day and be like, wow, women are amazing,” she said.
The future of SheSUPs is fluid, emphasised Weston.
“I look forward to adapting SheSUPs to whatever the world needs at the time,” she said.
But one thing is clear: she wants to reach more women, especially those who mught never otherwise have the opportunity – whether that be geographically or economically.
“We want to partner with women’s shelters and domestic violence homes, to give women in vulnerable situations more opportunity,” she said.
Because ultimately, SheSUPs isn’t about scale, it’s about impact.
“I want to continue to bring adventure, joy, growth, and fun to women as near or far as possible,” said Weston.
Ask Weston what inspires her, and the answer isn’t metrics or milestones. It’s moments.
Watching a woman stand up on the board for the first time. Seeing friendships form. Witnessing quiet confidence turn into something unshakeable.
“SheSUPs will always be someone’s cheerleader,” she said.
“Every single woman is on her own SheSUPs journey – take your time, be patient and listen to your body.”
Sometimes, the most powerful journeys don’t start with a plan. Just a paddle, and the determination to change the tide.
Related links
