Hometown

Fort Collins, Colorado

Favorite Hala board

Atcha 86

How many years have you been SUPing?

12 years

Tell us a little bit about yourself

Hi my name is Emily Barnes. I am an avid paddle boarder and life enjoyer. A motto I thought of a while back is "Life is happening!". My husband and I started a Tree Service in Fort Collins Colorado in 2006 after meeting each other at a Drug Treatment Program in Estes Park, Colorado. An important part of my journey away from drug and alcohol addiction was finding activities that were thrilling and enjoyable. The first time I tried stand up paddle boarding I was hooked. I am not one to pick favorites, but paddle boarding is definitely one of my all time favorite activities.

In 2018 we sold our tree service business and shortly thereafter moved in to a Class A Diesel Pusher RV with our two cats for full-time living. I am so grateful to be able to travel our beautiful country and explore all the lands and waterways. I have always been a fan of inflatable paddleboards due to ease of travel and that is especially applicable with RV living. I absolutely love running whitewater rivers and surfing waves in the ocean via SUP and I also find SUP's a great way to explore areas otherwise not easily accessible such as for fishing or even checking out the bioluminescent bays in Puerto Rico. I am very excited to spread the word about Hala Gear as I go about my travels in 2023!