Catalina SUP is founded by Erik Scherpenisse in 2020 during the first period of Covid. Before he organised a lot of music festivals in the area, but because of the lockdowns he has expanded his horizons.
Erik: "I am very grateful to make a business of both of my passions, first music and now paddling. Starting Catalina Sup really gave me a lot of energy during this weird period. It really changed my life and my mindset, because I learned to make the best of the situation. It gives me a lot of joy and graditude to coach so many participants how to SUP and to share these moments together. So even now when I started organizing music festivals again I still feel a great passion for Catalina SUP. So I am really looking forward to continue this dream and meet you on the board :) "
About Erik
In his free time he can often be found on his board, in the gym or walking with his dog, but in the area he is best known as the driving force behind music festivals such as Steenbergen Live and Bassrulers Outdoor. Now he also created a succesfull business with his 2nd passion! Erik learned to paddle in Curacao in 2015 and fell immediately in love with supping! The freedom, the relaxed feeling, the escape from the sometimes busy coast and the smooth gliding over the water had an enormous appeal. So he eventually bought his own board and he could often be found at the Oesterdam and the beaches of Tholen. Also during every trip with his campervan he took his board, because no roadtrip was complete without paddling into unknow area's. In between, Erik also became addicted to wave surfing in Panama. He became totally attached to the laidback surfers village of Santa Catalina and to surfing the perfect wave. More adventures followed at the Caribbean waves of Puerto Rico, the perfect coastline of Portugal and in the Basque Country. But in fresh Dutch water Erik has a strong preference to stay on the board and that is a lot easier on a SUP board! In 2020 he has completed the course to become a SUP instructor and now he is living his passion.
