1) Who are you? Pete Savarese
2) How did you start Paddle Boarding and why? I started Paddleboarding as a hobby and as a part of growing up on Hilton Head Island but made it a daily activity when I joined up with H2O Sports and started leading tours.
3) How long have you been Paddleboarding? I've been paddleboarding for about 8 years now
4) Where do you do the most paddling? I do the most paddling with my job in Harbour Town but like to go on my own in and around Skull Creek
5) Who do you paddle with? ( ..ie..family, friends, club, ect..) .. I mostly paddle with friends when I am not at work.
6) What type of Paddle Equipment do you use? ( boards, paddles, gear ) I paddle Starboard SUP and have a very nice Kialoa Paddle!
7) What do you like most about SUP ? I love the physical side of SUP as it is a great work out and it really makes you use all your small little muscles used to balance that you typically forget to focus on when you are doing a traditional work out. I also love being out early on the water and either watching the sunrise from my board or seeing something happen in nature while Im on the water.
8) An amazing experience or encounter while Paddleboarding? One of my favorite memories was from this past summer. I was leading a tour for work and a Manatee swam past us. I thought it was super cool but then he turned around and put his nose right up on the back of my board for about 5 seconds and pushed me forward a bit. I was freaking out! And I got it all on film haha
9) Your favorite non-paddling thing to do? When I am not paddling I am either playing soccer or cooking. I love to do both and try to spend my time on the soccer pitch or learning a new recipe
10) Favorite after paddle grinds? Italian
11) Dream vacation or surf trip? I just did my dream vacation actually! I went to Hawaii for two weeks and was able to paddle and scuba dive in some of the most surreal landscape and water Ive ever seen. Can't wait to go back!
12) Your occupation or what do you do for a living? Work for H2O Sports as a Paddlboard and Kayak guide as well as a boat captain and I also coach soccer for a local high school
13) Your hero(s) or person(s) who have had influence on your life.? I am a big history guy and from the book Unbroken, Louis Zamperinie was an Olympic athlete and an American airman who's plane was shot down over the pacific and he survived for 47 days at sea then 2 years in a prison camp. He later returns to Japan to forgive all the people who tortured him. He is the definition of an American Hero and a great inspiration to me.
14) Thanks to...? Massive thanks to Glen Barroncini who took me from a distinctly average paddler to someone who loves the sport and is out on the water all the time. Glen also has helped me tremendously with my job as a tour guide and is someone I rely heavily on in the paddleboard world.
Thanks, Glen