Fiona Wylde grew up on the water. Raised between Hood River and Los Barriles, Mexico, she was windsurfing competitively by the time she was 11, and at 16 nabbed her first of three world titles in stand-up paddleboarding.

Yes, competitive SUP is a thing. Hood River was early to the trend: in 2011, a year before formal international competitions began, the city hosted the first Gorge Paddle Challenge, a still-annual race that Wylde says was once the largest in the world. But Wylde, now 27, also loves SUP for its approachability—even her 82-year-old grandmother is an avid paddler. Her nonprofit, Wylde Wind & Water, is devoted to making SUP easier to access, hosting community paddles with free equipment and lessons every Saturday (except July 20) during July and August.

When I was 14, the owner of Big Winds [a wind and water sports store in Hood River], Steve Gates, came to four kids—I was one of them—and said, “There’s this new sport called stand-up paddling and I’m going to teach you.” Steve was the kind of person you didn’t say no to. If he was including you in something, it was for your own good.

The Big Winds junior elite team gave me a platform to learn about the sport, about the technique, compete in local races. I fell in love with it—the challenging element, the physical element.

Steve hosted the Gorge Paddle Challenge, which is still in effect today. When I was 16, it was the largest World Cup event. I entered and focused on what I knew how to do, which was putting my paddle in the water and going forward, and I ended up winning. It launched my career. I was paddling because I loved it, and then it was, “Oh, I’m also a bit talented at this.”

Stand-up paddling has a variety of competitive elements. There’s stand-up paddle racing, which includes sprint racing, downwind racing, and technical racing, where you have short courses and go around buoys. Distance racing is where you do a few different laps or the courses are longer than 10 kilometers.

I did online high school my last three years. Just before I turned 18, I got a contract proposal from Starboard, the largest stand-up paddleboard manufacturer in the world. They asked if I would be on their international dream team as a sponsored rider. That was such a big-ticket moment. Competing became my life.

I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes the same day I graduated high school and the first year I was competing professionally. I went from feeling like my focus [was] going to be a career as a professional athlete to, all of a sudden, there’s a part of my body that doesn’t work. I’ve learned with care and close attention and monitoring my blood sugar levels, anything is possible.

I run a nonprofit organization called Wylde Wind & Water, and we have two stand-up paddle teams. We’re moving into our third year now. We have a free community stand-up paddle, and we run a three-week program with Hood River County School District Migrant Education called Viento y Agua. Students are learning about the water, some of them for the very first time, getting the opportunity to go stand-up paddling, kayaking, and canoeing. We also learn about water quality, water ecology, and the local ecosystems.

I love teaching. The light in somebody’s eyes when it clicks is one of the coolest things to experience. If I can share, then I’m going to work every day to make sure that that happens.

Wylde’s Paddle Picks

Nichols Basin, Hood River Waterfront

This accessible spot is also the safest place to paddle on the Columbia, thanks to its protection from the wind. It has a large sandy beach for easy launching and plenty of nearby parking.

The Hook, Hood River Waterfront

Wylde loves paddling west from the Hook (or from the nearby event site) to and around Wells Island. Go on a glassy day—this can be a tough trip in windy conditions.

Viento State Park

For experienced paddlers, Wylde recommends a seven-mile trip from Viento to Hood River. “That’s one of the most world-class put-ins for downwind stand-up paddling,” she says. It’s also one of the racecourses for the annual Gorge Paddle Challenge.

Lost Lake

It’s hard to beat the backdrop at this Mount Hood lake, which also gets points from Wylde for the calmness and clarity of the water.

Trillium Lake

Like Lost Lake, Trillium boasts a stunning view, and it’s a shorter trip from Portland. Put in for a peaceful paddle with Hood towering above you.