Paddleboarding with Lina Augaitis

A natural athlete finds her niche out on the water.

Lina Augaitis has always been competitive. As a kid, it was gymnastics, and in her 20s, she ruled the adventure challenge scene. But it was a casual attempt at stand-up paddleboarding in 2010 that led to her true area of expertise. Last year she entered Canada’s first stand-up paddleboarding race with a borrowed board—and won.“My dream was to be a pro athlete,” she says, “and I thought, ‘If I’m going to have a chance, I have to do it now. This is the sport.’ ” She left her job as a teacher to race full-time, and her board (and some key sponsorships) now takes her all over the world; she’s locked in some big titles, including the International Surfing Association’s SUP world championship. Augaitis has 12 international races this year, so she’ll spend the summer out on the water, perfecting her craft.THE BURNUp to 500 calories/hour (the rougher the waves, the more you’ll work)WHERE TO GO:Bring GrandmaThe water in Deep Cove is nice and calm, which makes it a great spot for beginners to hop on a board. Deep Cove Kayak offers lessons ($60 for a two-hour intro course) to set you up with the basics. Deepcovekayak.comBring FriendsA membership to the Vancouver Ocean Sports Club ($336 annually) gives you access to a fleet of boards at the Burrard Marina. Vancouveroceansports.comBring a DefibrillatorTrek out to Vernon for the Kalamalka Classic (Sept. 5 & 6) to compete with elite paddlers through sprints, relays, and long-distance (16 km!) races. Kalamalkaclassic.com