Former SW Cover Girl Cindy Hales Extends Her Athletic Dominance to Stand-Up Paddleboarding

​As detailed in the SW feature on her, Cindy Hales picked up Brazilian Jiujitsu (BJJ) in her late 20s and was one of the world's best by her early 30s, was nearly paralyzed by a neck injury, dropped 30 pounds on a crash diet and traveled to Japan to fight perhaps the world's best female fighter in just her 3rd professional MMA match, and now, with less than a year under her belt, she's winning stand-up paddleboarding races.

If you've been near Lake Washington or Puget Sound this summer, you've probably seen stand-up paddleboarders--they're the folks standing on boards like they're surfing (except they face forward) and paddling like they're in a rowboats. The Seattle Times ran a story on the sport this morning, noting the rapid ascent of a familiar figure:

[Cheka-Looka Surf Shop] held a competition near Shilshole marina earlier this month. About 35 people took part, including Cindy Hales, of West Seattle, who won the women's race.

Hales, 35, started paddling only a couple of months ago to get back in shape after an injury.

"It was pretty quick to pick up and learn," she said. "I was a little nervous. It seems a lot more intimidating than it is. You think I don't want to fall in that freezing cold water."

Hales other recent adventures include being hired to teach a no-males-allowed-in-the-room BJJ class for a group of Muslim girls, working on a graphic novel-style instructional BJJ book for girls, and learning the drums so she can start a band with her friend Akiko Carver. Hales will be featured on an episode of the KUOW show KUOW Presents--probably this Saturday (12 - 2 pm), though I'll post confirmation when I have it. No doubt she'll have plenty of fascinating activities to discuss.