Rebecca Gillmore - RNLI Lifeguard SUP Safety, A Dip a Day, Going Viral + the Joy of an Incoming Tide

The Joy of SUP - The Paddleboarding Sunshine Podcast

I am thrilled to welcome Rebecca Gillmore to The Joy of SUP Podcast. You might know her as Rebekah Mermaid on Instagram where she shares her watery adventures and commitment to the oceans. I have had so many people ask me to interview Rebecca for the podcast so let me introduce her!
Rebecca is a marine conservationist and all round water woman who spends a lot of time immersed in the sea. She is a stand up paddleboarder, surfer, open water swimmer and PADI scuba diver. She loves the sea deeply + is passionately committed to protecting it.
She works for many charities in different roles. She is:
a) a marine mammal medic for British Divers Marine Life Rescue
b) a Regional Rep for Surfers Against Sewage
c) a senior Lifeguard for RNLI
d) an active member of 'Friends of Hilbre' doing seal surveys in her local nature reserve
Rebecca is also an ambassador for:
a) Sealion Paddleboards
b) Ocean Mimic swimsuits
In 2020 she did a dip a day raising money for British Divers Marine Life Rescue - yes, a dip each day 365 days of the year in all weathers!
Based on the Wirral, Rebecca shares her love for the area and how grateful she is to be so close to the water.
We talk about:
a) being a RNLI Lifeguard and water safety when we are paddling
b) surfing in Bali, collecting plastic pollution and her video going viral
c) paddleboarding around the Wirral
d) her dip a day for BDMLR
e) body confidence, appreciating our bodies and encouraging each other to believe in ourselves
f) changing the narrative around watersports and the way women and men are differently portrayed in the media
g) the reality of SUP in the North - all the layers!
h) the benefits of a great dry bag
i) plastic free snacks with homemade flapjack
Rebecca's advice for beginners to paddleboarding is to book yourself onto paddleboarding lessons and for those local to the North West recommends Jayne Rigby of Liverpool SUP Co who teaches in the Albert Docks in Liverpool. Jayne has also been on the podcast and you can find her episode here or just look for episode no 6 in Apple, Spotify or Stitcher to hear Jayne's story.
Here's how to find Rebecca:
Instagram: @rebekah_mermaid
I'll be sharing a photograph of Rebecca on her RNLI jet ski. The photo is credited to David Edwards of Image 61. Thank you David for allowing us to use the great photo.
Thank you for listening! I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did recording it.
If you have any questions, please do get in touch on [e-mail].
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Website www.jomoseley.com
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Wishing you sunshine and joy, thank you for listening, Jo x
Please always put safety first and get the right advice for your training + body. Episode recorded December 2020 before Lockdown 3 in the UK.