Ethan Bry joins the Blackfish Paddles Team

“We are pleased to announce that Ethan Bry has joined our team of amazing SUP athletes. Ethan is a gifted paddler who has trained with Blackfish athletes Amandine Chazot and Boris Jinvresse for several years,” said David Smart, Founder of Blackfish Paddles, Canadian SUP brand developing high-performance, handcrafted SUP paddles. “Ethan is one of the younger athletes that is part of the new generation of SUP paddlers. Ethan brings to the team a genuine love for paddling and of the ocean and we are super excited to be part of his athletic journey.”

TotalSUP caught up with the Brittany-based allround waterman and SUP athlete consistently paddling his way up, to talk about the Blackfish announcement and his 2024 plans.

Hi Ethan, welcome to TotalSUP and congratulations on joining the Blackfish Paddles Team! Could you tell us a bit about your watersport background?

Thank you, it’s great to be able to join the Blackfish Team with such light and efficient paddles! Since I was very young, all my activities and passions have been oriented around the ocean. It was my father who has passed on these passions. I started surfing when I was eight and then I took to  wind sports such as windsurfing. The foil and the stand-up paddle racing followed.

The foil gives me an adrenaline kick due to the speed and a certain reading of the water. Stand-up paddleboarding allows me to exert myself physically every day, to surpass myself, and to feel good.  I’ve been training for about five years now. In the beginning, it was only one training session per week then it has gradually increased in volume and quality. I had the chance to get to know my current Coach, Amaury Dormet, he’s been more of a friend than a Coach and it was therefore natural that the link was made when I started to train more. I am also lucky to have a great paddling club (the Crozon Waterman Club) which allows me to train in a group most of the time.

You’ve had a great SUP racing season – What are your top moments and key takeaways?

Yes, 2023 was filled with good performances and sport success. However, this year’s results are above all due to my preparations and my performances in previous years (2022/2021). If I were to name the key moments of recent years I would especially have to mention competitions on the European circuit (Euro Tour) which are really great memories and great life experiences.

This year was also marked by strong events. My victory in the French Championships granted my qualification for the European Championship and my entry into the French Team for the first time was undoubtedly the event that had the most impact on me this year. There were of course the European Championships and my second place in the long distance race and relay which was a strong event this year.

Could you share the story of joining the Blackfish Paddles Team? How did you come across the brand?

The first time I heard about Blackfish was when I met Anaïs Guyomarc’h who’s on the Blackfish Team. I immediately found the paddles very beautiful, especially with these neon colours that stand out. And one day I was able to try them, it was the Blackfish Salish 500 during training. I found the paddle to be super light and therefore very pleasant to handle and use. During my training I had a very good feeling on the water as well as very good support, very stable. At the same time, Anais, couldn’t say enough good things about these paddles, the relationship she had with her sponsors and at the same time, while achieving great results. This is why I wanted to join the Blackfish Team and be able to perform with these paddles.

Which are your favourite, go-to Blackfish Paddles and why?

I don’t necessarily have a favourite paddle because each paddle has its range of use. But if I had to choose one for stand-up paddle racing, I would choose the Salish 500. It is the paddle that is best suited for me at the moment. I find, and I’m not the only one to say it, that the handle has a very progressive rigidity. It remains flexible, which prevents from getting injured and at the same time maintains great rigidity. This allows to apply a lot of support and power in long distances or even in sprints. I would say that this paddle is very versatile. Regarding downwind foiling, I use the Nootka Kevlar Surf. It is a perfect paddle for downwind foiling because its structure is reinforced, therefore more durable over time and it better withstands the small shocks that can be experienced when downwinding. It is also quite powerful, which is useful for taking off, a little extra power doesn’t hurt 😉

What’s in the 2024 SUP pipeline?

I plan to do quite a few races nationally as well as internationally, especially the European races. And also requalify for the European Championships as part of the French Team, if possible for the World Championships and maybe win a new title. But above all, one of my biggest goals for 2024 is to continue having fun with all the sports I practice because in my opinion, that is the key.

Thank you for your time Ethan and we can’t wait to see what 2024 will bring!

To find out more about Blackfish Paddles and their progressive, refined, handcrafted designs, visit blackfishpaddles.com

Explore Blackfish new fin range here  

Follow Blackfish Paddles on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube

Follow Ethan Bry on Instagram