Q&A with Julie Poole

What started as a fun way for Julie to stay active post-injury quickly evolved…

Interview: Emma Love
Photos: Bassfilmco, Epiclife, Bob Bannister & P3tPhotography 

What started as a fun way for Julie to stay active post-injury quickly evolved, taking her from SUP instructor to coach – and, by the end of 2024, to SUP Instructor Tutor! I caught up with Julie to chat about her tutor journey and how, in the end, the process turned out to be the best part!

How did you become interested in paddleboarding? 
It all started because of an injury! I accidentally snapped my cruciate ligament and couldn’t do all the high-impact fitness, which I love. I remember sitting there thinking, What now? Then I saw paddleboarding, gave it a go, and got truly hooked. It turned out my husband was better than me, which was NOT ok, but I loved being on the water and kept practising. Within six or seven months, I was doing my instructor course, and before I knew it, I was working at Epic Life! 

What inspired you to take the leap from Paddle UK SUP instructor to coach to SUP instructor tutor? 
Coaching SUP was such a natural fit. I’ve always loved seeing people progress – whether that’s in fitness (I am a professional personal trainer) or paddling. Cliff Meaden encouraged me to consider applying for SUP Instructor Tutor. And I doubted myself, of course! I kept thinking, am I good enough? But I successfully applied, attended the two training days, completed the online assessor course, shadowed some great instructors, and went for it! As a tutor, I train new instructors, which is a very different and interesting challenge from my other roles, but I love it. 

How would you describe your approach to supporting paddlers? 
For me, coaching has always been about making people feel comfortable. I remember what it’s like to be a nervous beginner. I don’t overcomplicate things – I believe people don’t need lots of technical jargon; they need to understand why something works. And I’ve realised this approach applies when supporting aspirant SUP instructors. 

We’ve talked before about experiencing self-doubt – how do you manage it?
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that self-doubt is part of the process. When I look back at my first assessment (qualifying as a SUP Instructor), I do question why I was so worried. We all start somewhere. Whether coaching, SUP racing, or just paddling for fun, it is important to keep learning and enjoying the ride.

How did you find the SUP Instructor Tutor training experience, and what challenges did you face?
You know, when I reflect on my SUP Instructor Tutor training, I do ask myself, why did I stress so much? At the time, it felt overwhelming – especially all that theory. I remember us all getting so bogged down in the details that we forgot how to apply it on the water! After our training, I spoke to Phil Hadley about whether I was right for this role. His reply? “Julie, you already do this. Just do it!” It was great feedback and gave me the boost I needed. 

Did you enjoy being a student again? 
It was a brilliant course, and yes, it really reminded me what it’s like to be a student – how daunting it can be. It allowed me to talk to other students and realise we were all in the same boat. If I’d been doing this alone, I don’t know who I’d have talked to. Having that network was so important. Having Chris Brain, our tutor, on hand post-training was fantastic because I could go back to him and double-check anything I was unsure about.

How did you prepare for your sign-off? 
Wow, did I overthink it? I spent the last week panicking, reviewing my notes, laminating little bits, and running through my PowerPoint continuously! I even took people to a pool to practice rescues again. Cliff, my boss, had to tell me to stop and remind me that I could do this. If I could go back and tell myself to do one thing? It would be, calm down, Julie. And you know what? The sign-off turned out to be so much fun! 

What surprised you about the process of becoming a tutor? 
One big surprise was the cost and logistics of running the course. Nobody really tells you beforehand how tricky it is to find water access, classrooms, and kit! Initially, I was meant to be running the course on the River Medway, but a week before, it went into a red flood warning. I had to scramble to find a backup site. Even then, I was crossing my fingers that the river levels would drop in time. And, of course, it all worked out in the end, but it was stressful! 

And then there’s the financial side. I had to get at least five people signed up for the course, but some couldn’t afford it, so I reduced the fee. One of my instructors had their training covered by Epic Life so that I couldn’t charge her either. In the end, I just made it work, but it made me realise – if I wasn’t working for a company like Epic Life, how would I have managed?

What’s next? 
The paddleboarding world is changing. More and more kids are coming through, but adult beginner sessions seem to be slowing down. That makes me a bit nervous – where’s it all going? I love my job, but I also know I need to evolve. That’s why I want to blend my passion for fitness with paddleboarding. I have been introducing interval training on the water recently, and I think there’s so much potential there.
I’m also considering pushing my paddling – more racing, more whitewater. And maybe even taking on another leadership qualification! Phil’s already telling me to go for the SUP Leader Tutor role, and at first, I was like, absolutely not, but now… maybe.

Any pearls of wisdom you’d like to share? 
How lack of confidence impacts women in paddleboarding. I see it all the time—women saying, “I don’t think I can do this” when they absolutely can. And then there’s the menopause factor. I hadn’t thought about it until recently, but it affects confidence, energy, and weight gain. It’s something I’d love to talk about more in instructor training – because so many of our client base are going through it, whether they say it out loud or not.

And looking back on 2024? 
At the end of the day, I’m glad I achieved my tutoring goal. It’s made me a better coach, helped me see things differently, and, if nothing else, I’ve learned that you’ve just got to go for it. Stop overthinking, stop doubting, and just enjoy the process. Because honestly, the journey’s the best part.