Learn About Rob Casey, owner of Salmon Bay Paddle
Rob Casey - Founder / Lead Coach / Guidebook Author
I began sea kayaking in 1999, quickly diving into surf kayaking, kayak touring, and whitewater kayaking. In 2003, a few friends and I ‘discovered’ surfing freighters and tug waves on Shilshole Bay.
In 2006, I shifted focus to the emerging sport of stand-up paddling, which became my passion for 18 years.
Surf ski has since taken over as my main personal interest!
Guidebook Author
Recognizing the need for instructional SUP material, I proposed “Stand Up Paddling: Flat Water to Surf and Rivers” to Mountaineers Books, which was published in 2011. I also updated the iconic local guide “Kayaking Puget Sound, the San Juans, and Gulf Islands: 60 Trips” in 2012.
In 2024, I released the 4th edition of the book under a new title, “Paddling the Salish Sea: 80 Trips”, featuring 23 new trips, land acknowledgements, and more.
Building a Paddling Community
In 2013, I started the Professional Stand Up Paddle Association (PSUPA) to train and certify SUP instructors. Over the years, I’ve trained hundreds of instructors, including paddlers from the US Navy, Singapore, Hawaii, and Canada.
I’ve served on the Washington State Park Paddle Sport Advisory Committee (PAC) to promote water safety.
Along with my partner Christy, we co-founded the Hobuck Hoedown in 2009, and started the Monday Night Paddling Races series in 2012, and in 2016, we co-founded the Ballard Elks Paddling Club (BEPC), which now runs the series.
A Passion for Salish Sea Conservation
In my years as a paddler I’ve seen bull kelp forests disappear, experienced the starfish wasting disease, increased shoreline development and experienced an increase of beach debris on our shorelines.
I clean beaches whenever I’m on a beach walk or paddle. I’m a member of Clallam MRC and on the advisory board for building the Marine Discovery Center in Port Angeles. Visit my IG page @salmonbaypaddle to see my beach clean up results.
Follow me on Instagram @salmonbaypaddle
Visit my SubStack: Paddling the Salish Sea
Click Here to Contact me to chat and/or join my newsletter.