Candice Appleby

Renowned water woman Candice Appleby

Candice began surfing at the age of nine, and competing at age ten.  As the captain of her high school surf team, she led San Clemente High to four consecutive national titles.  She went on to obtain her degree at the University of Hawaii, and pursue surfing full force.  In 2006, she decided to give stand-up paddle surfing a try.  And with her amazing fitness level and surfing background, Candice was soon competing again – and beating – men in SUP racing and surfing.

 In 2008, at the Duke Kahanamoku Oceanfest, Candice became the first and only woman to beat men in a professional SUP surfing event, winning both the women’s and Open Pro divisions. She went on to claim victory six times at Battle of the Paddle, and twice after it became the Pacific Paddle Games—an event long considered to be the World Championship or “Superbowl” of SUP. She’s also been #1 Female SUP Athlete of the Year three times and has collected 5 gold medals, 1 silver and 1 bronze for the United States over an international field at the ISA World Championships in 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2022. In 2019 Candice represented the United States in both SUP Surfing & SUP Racing at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru and brought home a silver medal in SUP Racing after recovering from an incredible wipeout in the large surf of Punta Rocas, and most recently brought home Gold for Team USA in SUP Racing at the 2023 Pan-American Games in Santiago, Chile. 

Today, Candice Appleby is known as a pioneer and the ‘Queen of SUP’, and is also its foremost champion. Beyond competing at the highest level, Candice has been quite busy as a coach, after launching her very own Ocean Academy at the beginning of 2021. Giving back to the sport she loves, and helping others towards their goals is what Candice believes to be her biggest accomplishment yet. “To me, helping others succeed is the true measure of success”, exclaims Candice. ESPN W calls her “Abby Wambach, Serena Williams, Brittney Griner and Danica Patrick all rolled into one. She’s talented, fiercely competitive, tremendously well-respected and a true ambassador of the sport.”