Introducing Ines Ogorevc, SUP Instructor, Slovenia

I am very happy and grateful to become part of the ASI worldwide family. Stand up paddleboarding has become such an important part of my life over the years — not only as a sport, but also as a way to connect with nature, explore beautiful places, calm my mind, challenge myself, and meet wonderful people who share the same love for water.

1. What is your background?

My name is Ines and I am from Slovenia, currently based in Ljubljana. My professional background is in sustainability, and water has always been the strongest connection between my work, my travels, and my personal life.

I speak English and Spanish, and I love spending time in international outdoor communities. In my free time, I spend as much time as possible on, in, or near water — paddleboarding, canyoning, swimming, snorkeling, and exploring waterfalls, rivers, lakes, and the sea.

Slovenia is a small country, but it offers an amazing mix of rivers, lakes, mountains, waterfalls, and access to the sea. That environment shaped my love for outdoor sports and gave me a strong appreciation for nature, water, and responsible exploration.

2. What got you involved in the sport?

My first SUP experience was in 2014, while I was living in Florida, USA. I went out with friends on a boat, we decided to paddle on a canal in Miami, and what started as a simple, calm experience slowly grew into one of the biggest passions of my life.

Back home in Slovenia, it started with just a few casual paddles a year with a friend. Then in 2017, I joined my first SUP trip with a SUP School and that opened a whole new world — new places, new friendships, and a community that later grew into many unforgettable paddling moments.

Since then, I have covered more than 3.000 km on a SUP, paddled most of the SUP-friendly places in Slovenia, and travelled with my board and paddle to many places abroad. In 2021 and 2022 alone, I paddled more than 700 km per year, discovering how much beauty can be found close to home.

I still love lakes, calm rivers, sunrise paddles, foggy mornings, night paddles, and beautiful coastlines, but I am increasingly drawn to moving water and whitewater paddleboarding. I am also very passionate about canyoning, so rivers, water movement, safety, and reading the environment have become a big part of how I experience the outdoors.

3. Why did you become an ASI instructor?

I became an ASI instructor because SUP has given me so much — confidence, freedom, joy, community, and a deeper connection with nature — and I wanted to share that with others in a safe, structured, and supportive way.

After many years of exploring on my own, becoming an instructor felt like the natural next step: turning personal passion into something I could offer other people, especially those who feel unsure at first but are curious to try.

I also wanted to build a strong professional foundation. For me, being an instructor isn't only about teaching paddle technique — it's about safety, awareness, confidence, creating a positive experience on the water, respect for nature, and helping people enjoy water activities in a more responsible and sustainable way.

SUP also made me more aware of the rivers themselves. When you spend so much time on the water, you notice the beauty, but also the trash and the pressure on nature. That's why clean-ups and sustainability became part of my paddling journey too.

4. What are you doing now?

I have now completed my ASI SUP Level 2 instructor (Exposed Waters) / coastal licence and I am continuing to grow as an instructor and paddler.

I am currently based in Slovenia and in transition from my 9-to-5 job as a sustainability coordinator towards more water-based work. I've started instructing and guiding whenever possible, while developing my skills across different water environments. I'm open to new opportunities.

My long-term goal is to work more internationally in SUP, outdoor sustainability education, and water-based experiences. I would love to be involved with SUP schools, agencies, retreats, or outdoor centres in places such as Spain, Portugal, New Zealand, or Latin America — especially where I can combine my love for water sports, my sustainability and coordination background, my English and Spanish, and my experience across different rivers, lakes, and coastal environments.

I would love to help people experience the beauty of our world from the water, while also learning how to respect and protect it.

5. What do you like about being an instructor?

What I like most is seeing people gain confidence on the water. SUP can look simple from the outside, but for many people it's a real step outside their comfort zone. I love seeing someone who starts nervous or unsure slowly relax, stand up, smile, and realize they're more capable than they believed.

I also love that SUP can be many different things: peaceful, playful, technical, adventurous, social, or deeply calming. As an instructor, I enjoy adapting the experience to the person in front of me and helping them find their own connection with the water.

6. Tell us about an inspiring story about your student/s.

One of my favourite moments happened during a beginner family session on a busy river. The kids were a little unsure at first, and the parents watched carefully, trying to encourage them. Everyone focused on balance, falling in, and doing everything "right."

I noticed the best way to help everyone relax was to turn learning into a game. Every time we saw a bird (a swan, a duck, anything flying past) we did a squat on the board. Soon the kids were laughing, looking around, noticing nature, and convincing their parents to join in too. What started as a balance exercise became a fun shared family experience.

We also turned safety into a game. When a boat approached on the river, the challenge was: who can sit down safely on the paddleboard the fastest? Instead of feeling scary, it helped them learn an important safety habit in a calm, playful way.

By the end, they were smiling, paddling more freely, enjoying the surroundings, and trusting themselves much more. Moments like this are very meaningful to me, because they remind me that instructing isn't only about teaching a sport — it's about creating a safe space where people can relax, try something new, connect with nature, and leave the water feeling a little more confident than when they arrived.

About ASI

ASI is a global leader in training and accrediting instructors, coaches, and schools for surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, and bodyboarding.  Established in 2003, with our head office in Bondi Beach, Sydney Australia, ASI instructors and schools ensure world-class training, safety and operational standards. Whether you're learning for personal enjoyment or to establish a career in the industry, ASI opens the door to new skills, international career opportunities and adventure.