Betsy Risner

AGE: 51 | Favorite Board: 12' 6" & 14' Comet

Betsy Risner is the current WPA Women's 50 + SUP World Champion

Betsy moved to Utah in 2009 with the intention of spending as much time skiing as possible.  Her move to UT was all about lifestyle and the ability to get most of her physical activity in an outdoor setting.  Being a ski instructor, she planned on working at one of the many local ski resorts.

 In the spring, by chance, she walked into a friend’s sunglass shop and noticed what appeared to be windsurfers hanging in the rafters.   She was surprised to find out that it was a stand up paddleboard.  The shop owner had her out on the water a few days later for her first taste of sup. The addiction to sup was immediate.    It was the perfect outdoor activity for staying in shape.  In fact, she coined the phrase, “it’s exercise in disguise,” when interviewed by a local television station.  While Betsy was in good shape, she dropped 3 dress sizes in 4 weeks.  It’s a sport that she and her husband enjoy together.  Her husband, Bob,  found that there were incredible benefits for him as well.  He was involved in a life changing accident several years prior resulting in problems with his balance, which quickly improved due to sup. 

Betsy was fortunate to attend a Nikki Gregg boot camp in August of 2009.  After the boot camp she became obsessed with race technique and training.  She began racing within two months.  She won her first race at a local event in Park City, and then managed a second place finish in the women’s open at Battle of the Paddle, right behind Nikki.  Betsy’s goal for the following year was to be the first woman in at Battle of the Paddle Open Race, which she did.  She has since raced on both coasts, participated in several inland events and traveled coast to coast, twice, promoting sup.  She has won several races since that time including: Paddle to the Channel, Pilgrim Paddle Women’s Relay, Pilgrim Paddle Co-ed Relay, Utah Summer games, Gulf Coast Championships, Tahoe Nalu, Golden Isles SUP Classic, Battle of the Paddle Open Age Group Race, Battle of the Paddle Distance Race, Yolo Winter Race Series #2, SUP Jam, CrossFit – WOD Event

Betsy managed a podium finish at the following races:, H2O Overdrive SUP CUP, Key West Classic, Cold Stroke, Carolina Cup, Paddle2Live

Betsy currently trains on the Jordanelle Reservoir and the Weber River in Utah at an elevation of 6500 feet.  Last winter she began cross country skate skiing as part of her cross training.  Unable to reach open water on the reservoir to paddle train (because it was frozen), Betsy approached the manager of the golf course (where the cross country ski center is located) to ask permission to paddle on the two ponds on the course (which remain unfrozen throughout the winter).  The next day she skied 10 miles, switched ski boots for neoprene boots and stomped a path from the parking lot across the cross country ski trail to the pond and paddled an hour.  This became her routine until the trail was closed at the end of the season.

Betsy is a Mountain Director for the WPA and a certified WPA Instructor.  She works closely with H2O Overdrive on the planning and execution of the H2O Overdrive SUP Cup Series.  She is sponsored by HovieSUP, H2O Overdrive, Quickblade Paddles, Kaenon Sunglasses, OnIt Pro, Larry Allison Fins, Sweet Waterwear, Running Skirts, GOYA Events, Rocky Mountain Aloha, SUP Co, and Inno Racks.