Meet Leah Goodman: The Fearless, Barefoot Water Queen of Sarasota

If you have ever caught a glimpse of someone gracefully gliding across the bay—standing tall on a board, wind in her hair, perhaps laughing mid-fall—there is a good chance you were watching Leah Beth Goodman in her element.

She is the founder and energy behind SUP East Coast Style, a grassroots water-sports brand she launched in 2009. What began as a personal journey of recovery has grown into a community rooted in adventure and the simple magic of getting people onto 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 great deal about her: determined, optimistic and more than a little unstoppable.

From Paddleboarding to eFoiling: Turning Recovery Into Adventure

Leah did not simply paddle her way back—she turned the water into her playground. Over the years, she has expanded her repertoire to include paddleboard racing, race directing, eFoiling and wing foiling.

For the uninitiated, an eFoil is an electric hydrofoil board that rises above the surface as it moves. The sensation looks almost impossible from shore, but Leah wants beginners to know that intimidation is not a prerequisite.

“The biggest misconception,” she says, “is that people think they can’t do it. But they totally can!”

Falling is part of the process. “We fall all the time in eFoiling and winging—it’s part of the process. And the fun.”

Leah’s list of accomplishments is long and wildly impressive. She has paddled 34 miles from Plymouth to Wellfleet in the Cape Cod Bay Challenge, taken on whitewater rapids in Oregon on a stand-up paddleboard and guided countless beginners toward their own sense of strength, balance and joy.

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 adventurous spirit does not come from the absence of fear. 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 is not teaching, Leah recharges by meal prepping, keeping her nutrition in check and spending time with her husband and their dog, Lolo. Before a session, her ritual is simple: “Music and a swim. That gets me in the zone.”

So where does she 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 according to weather, water conditions and each guest’s skill level, creating a more personal experience. Her favorite places to refuel afterward include New Pass Grill, Casey Key Fish House, Pop’s Sunset Grill and The Old Salty Dog—casual waterfront choices that suit her perfectly.

Women on the Water: Building Confidence and Community

As a woman in water sports, Leah says one of the most rewarding parts of her journey has simply been being one.

She has watched more women of all ages try eFoiling and paddleboarding, and she could not be more excited about it. For anyone who feels nervous or unsure, her message combines compassion with absolute confidence: “Trust the process. We’ve got you.”

Lightning Round with Leah: Bare Feet, Cheez-Its and SPF

Flip-flops or bare feet? Bare feet, always.

Favorite beach snack? Cheez-Its.

One song that makes her feel unstoppable? Wu-Tang—or Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger.” An iconic combination.

One thing always in her beach bag? SPF. Smart woman.

What’s Next for Leah: More Awesomeness on the Water

“More of all the awesomeness we have to offer,” she says, sounding exactly like someone with no plans to slow down.

If you want to try something adventurous—whether it is your first paddleboard lesson or you are ready to feel like a flying dolphin on an eFoil—use the official SUP East Coast Style contact page or call Leah at 978-882-2109. The company’s current contact information lists both Marblehead, Massachusetts, and Sarasota, Florida.

And when the lesson is over? “I hope people feel fabulous,” Leah says. “Just fabulous.”