Paddleboarder. eFoil adventurer. Snack-loving soul surfer. Here’s why you want to take a lesson with her.
If you’ve ever caught a glimpse of someone gracefully gliding across the bay—standing tall on a board, wind in her hair, maybe laughing mid-fall—there’s a good chance you were watching Leah Beth Goodman in her element.
She’s the founder and energy behind Sup East Coast Style, a grassroots water sports brand she launched back in 2009. What started as a personal journey of recovery has grown into a full-blown movement rooted in community, adventure and the simple magic of getting people on the water.
“I was hit by a car in college,” Leah says. “Paddleboarding was how I rebuilt my body—mentally and physically.” That one sentence says a lot about her: determined, optimistic and more than a little unstoppable.
From Paddleboarding to eFoiling and Winging…
Leah didn’t just paddle her way back—she turned the entire bay into her playground. Over the years, she’s expanded her water repertoire to include paddleboard racing, race directoring, eFoiling (that’s the one where you float above the water like a superhero) and wing foiling.
And if you’re intimidated by any of those? Don’t be.
“The biggest misconception,” she says, “is that people think they can’t do it. But they totally can!”
In fact, falling is half the fun. “We fall all the time in eFoiling and winging—it’s part of the process. And the fun.”
Leah’s list of water-based accomplishments is long and wildly impressive. She’s paddled 34 miles from Plymouth to Wellfleet in the Cape Cod Bay Challenge. She’s taken on whitewater rapids in Oregon—on a SUP. She’s guided countless beginners into finding their own sense of strength, balance and joy on the water.
Her ideal day? “Sunrise paddle or foil, snacks on repeat and soaking it in until sunset. That’s the dream!”
Doing It Scared—and Doing It Anyway
Leah’s sense of adventure doesn’t come from a fearlessness gene. It comes from grit.
“I was told no and I can’t my whole life,” she says. “So now? I do it scared anyway.”
When she’s not teaching, she’s recharging with meal prepping, keeping her nutrition in check and hanging out with her husband and their dog, Lolo. And before a session? “Music and a swim,” she says. “That gets me in the zone.”
So just where does Leah paddle or eFoil in Sarasota? “Best kept as a secret,” she jokes. “But really, wherever there’s water—we’re in!”
She chooses lesson locations based on weather and your skill level, so you get a personalized experience every time. Want to refuel after? She’s all about New Pass Grill, Casey Key Fish House, Pops Sunset Grill and The Salty Dog—casual, delicious and very on-brand.
As a woman in water sports, Leah says the most rewarding part of her journey has simply been being one.
She’s seen more and more women (of all ages!) jumping into eFoiling and paddleboarding lately, and she couldn’t be more excited about it. For those who feel nervous or unsure, her message is full of compassion and confidence. “Trust the process. We’ve got you.”
Lightning Round with Leah
- Flip-flops or bare feet? Bare feet, always.
- Favorite beach snack? Cheez-Its.
- One song that makes you feel unstoppable? Wu-Tang… or Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger.” (Iconic combo.)
- One thing always in your beach bag? SPF. Smart woman.
What’s Next for Leah?
“More of all the awesomeness we have to offer,” she says. (Spoken like someone who has no plans to slow down anytime soon.)
If you want to try something adventurous—whether it’s your first time on a paddleboard or you’re ready to feel like a flying dolphin on an eFoil—you can reach Leah at 978-882-2109 or follow her on Instagram @Supeastcoaststyle (Leah and Toast).
And when you’re done with your lesson with Leah? “I hope people feel fabulous,” Leah says. “Just fabulous.”