About Samantha Treadwell:

• Where I live: San Diego, California
• Where I'm from: Coronado, California (a San Diego native!)

Sport Interests: Sailing, Paddle Boarding, Yoga, Swimming, Surfing

How I got started sailing: There is a household rule in my family to foster independence--so when I turned eight, I got to pick my particular summer sports camp. At the time, I was Daddy's little girl, and he had a sailboat, so I chose sailing to make him proud. I joined the local yacht club and started in the Learn-to-Sail class in eight foot Sabots--which look sort of like floating bathtubs.   Well, it was a tough summer as I soon discovered I was afraid of the big, open, and dark ocean!  Especially when the wind picked up and the boat started to tip and that big open expanse was 6 inches from my nose!  Eventually, I realized that as the boat tipped I would go faster and faster! Before long I was trying to see how far and how fast I could push my boat until I did flip it.  I soon became the terror of the class as I zipped around or was found upside down (as by then I had realized that if I flipped, I got an extra 15 minutes of free swim time before the cute college aged instructor would come and set me right again).  After that intrepid summer of sailing, I was hooked! 

Athletic achievements: 

• Top ranked US single handed female in 1997
• UC Berkeley Varsity Women’s Skipper 2000- 2004,
• UC Berkeley Women’s Sailing Team Captain 2003-2004
• 2006 US Olympic Double Handed Sailing Team Alternate
• 2006 West Coast Women’s Challenge Champion ( Catalina 37s)
• 2006 & 2007 Women’s Snipe National Champion

Athletic goals: To organize or be a part of a women’s sailing team that competes around the world, inshore or off; to eventually race around the world.

Inspiration: The Ocean. I can go on for hours but in short, I am totally jazzed by any activity that can harness energy of the wind and sea – sailing, surfing, kite boarding, wind surfing, etc. I am also constantly amazed at how the designs for these sports are constantly improving and evolving, often seeking inspiration from nature itself (ie keel/hull shape, etc..), taking these sports to the cutting edge of technology, and demanding you to push the physical limitations of the sport and yourself. There is always something new and innovative just around the corning keeping things fresh and inspired, just look at all the new designs with hydrofoils--it keeps me wondering what sports are going to pop up next! …and on top of all that being on the water in amazing places in an incredibly inspiring back drop…. crashing surf against rugged coastlines, sunsets and whales, dolphins, turtles, and other wildlife--being on the water lets me relax and keeps me sane in this world.

Philosophy: Go big or go home!

Favorite spot to sail: San Francisco Bay at sunset- great breeze and beautiful coast, the water is a little cold, but the breeze is amazing!

Favorite Girls4Sport wear: Thermaguard long sleeve rashguard, long reversible board shorts, and neoprene jacket for a little extra warmth.

What I do when I’m not in the water: Day dream about how soon I’ll be able to get back in the water …. or hang out with my 3 year old niece and try to get her interested in the water--I stuck her on the nose of my paddle board the other day and took her for a little ride. She seemed to get a kick out of that!

My job: Contract Manager, L-3 Communications

Education: Undergrad at UC Berkeley, Professional Business Certificate at San Diego State Univ.

Interesting/unusual facts about me:

• Ok, I will admit it--I actually start to get seasick if there is zero wind and a big swell. I have to be moving or my stomach starts doing circles! I love being on the water so much I just fight through it.
• I always sail with something pink--the boys always underestimate the girls on the race course in pink, and then we proceed with kicking butt.
• I am a firm believer flip flops should be counted as formal wear--in fact, I wore my favorite pair of reefs to my senior prom!
• While on the water we can do up to 10 races a day which can be a little grueling. To get psyched up for an upcoming race, I always try to do a quick series of yoga poses whether I’ve just had a good or bad race. It might not seem so hard, but on a 20 foot boat with 4 other people and it's rocking back and forth and up and down, downward dog ( or downwind dog as it has now been nicknamed among the crew) can be quite a challenge!