Bailey Rosen, the always-energetic 17-year old who’s quickly become one of the top young women on the racing scene, has just announced the formation of the Florida Junior SUP Team. The team features 13 Floridian groms aged 9-15 that hail from right across the state.

The goal of this team is to give these kids a common ground with each other, and to encourage teamwork and camaraderie for the new generation of stand up paddlers. The members of the Florida Junior SUP team will also act as role models to kids just starting to enter the sport, creating a positive infrastructure within stand up paddle that encourages kids paddle and inspires them to reach for the standard set by this motivated and dedicated group of athletes. All of these kids are not only paddling at a high level, but also showing sportsmanship off the water

Team practice sessions are set to be held at SUP races and events right across Florida. Bailey will lead the sessions that focus on technique, skills, and racing, as well as placing an emphasis on sportsmanship and leadership. Meanwhile SUP Rookie of the Year Izzi Gomez will be assisting in coaching the kids in stand up paddle surfing.

The first practice session for the Florida Junior SUP Team was held @ St. Pete Beach on Saturday and sponsored by Suncoast Surf Shop. From there the groms went straight into their first race, the 3rd Annual Pacifico Paddle Challenge, where several of the team hit the podium.

While the men’s racing world has seemingly always been peppered with young guns, the women’s scene has largely been dominated by the older guard. Bailey is helping change that – she was one of just three teenagers to reach the women’s Elite Race final at the 2013 Battle of the Paddle Califoria – and now through the Florida Junior SUP Team is helping the next generation step it up as well.

Bailey was an inaugural member of Candice Appleby & Anthony Vela’s Performance Paddling Junior SUP Team and now seems to be following in their footsteps. Anyone that’s ever met Bailey Rosen will know how intelligent and mature she is, so despite Bailey only being 17 years old herself, these youngsters in Florida are definitely learning from an excellent role model.

Florida Junior SUP Team Roster

Taylor Jalving, 15, Fort Meyers
Connor Rush, 14, Orlando
Milla Navarro, 14, Miami
Izzi Gomez, 13, Jupiter
Lindsey Geiger, 13, Daytona Beach
Will Marston, 12, Bradenton
Tanner Chechak, 12, Destin
Dekai Navarro, 11, Miami
Gracie Marston, 10, Bradenton
Hailey Marston, 10, Bradenton
Dylan Geiger, 10, Daytona Beach
Lina, 9, St. Petersburg
Lucy, 9, St. Petersburg