Some athletes grow up surrounded by the ocean and water sports. Edonays Caballero was not one of them. During his childhood and teenage years, he had no connection to the ocean or water sports. He also did not grow up in an athletic family. In fact, exercise came into his life much later, for a very simple reason: he wanted to improve his health and physical condition.
Today, that chapter seems like a completely different life. Edonays is a Panamanian and Central American Stand-Up Paddle Champion, has represented Panama in international competitions, and has built much of his life around SUP. In 2025, he became Central American Champion, winning the gold medal in Men’s SUP Race at the Central American Surfing Games in Guatemala.
He is now beginning a new chapter in Playa Venao, Pedasí, where he continues to train as an athlete while developing his role as a coach and helping grow the SUP community in Panama. His story demonstrates something important: it is never too late to discover a sport capable of completely changing the direction of your life.
It All Started With a Decision
Edonays began exercising around the age of 20. Until then, he had never considered himself an athlete, nor did he have people around him encouraging him to train.
The turning point came after a cruise in 2011. When he saw how much weight he had gained, he decided he needed to make a change. He had always been interested in bodybuilding and dreamed of having a more athletic physique, so he started working out at the gym.
Later, he discovered CrossFit. What began as a way to improve physically eventually changed his mindset as well. He was particularly drawn to functional training, the variety of exercises, and the supportive environment among athletes. Over time, he became a CrossFit athlete and certified coach.
His lifestyle also changed dramatically. The parties, late nights, and going out with friends that had been a big part of his younger years were left behind. Training began to take their place. But he had yet to discover the sport that would ultimately transform his life.
His First Time on a SUP Board
Edonays discovered Stand-Up Paddle during a group class on Lake Gamboa in Panama. The connection was immediate.
“The first time I tried it, I fell in love with the sport.”
He loved discovering an activity that could be practiced on different types of water, particularly the flatwater conditions available around Panama City. At first, SUP was simply something he did for fun and recreation. But competing began to change his perspective.
After initially entering races just for fun, he began realizing that he could get closer to Panama’s best paddlers. If he continued training seriously, perhaps he could reach the podium. And that is exactly what he decided to do.
From Recreational Paddler to Panamanian and Central American Champion
Becoming a champion did not happen overnight. Edonays set himself the goal of winning Panama’s national competitions, and it took him approximately three years to achieve it. One of his biggest challenges was precisely what he had lacked growing up: experience on the water.
He needed to spend more time paddling, learn how to handle different conditions, and develop skills that other athletes had been building for many years.
When he finally became Panama’s National SUP Champion, he realized his potential could take him much further.
Then came the opportunity to represent Panama internationally, beginning a new chapter in his athletic career.
One of the most important moments in that journey came in 2025, when Edonays represented Panama at the Central American Surfing Games in Guatemala. There, he won the gold medal in Men’s SUP Race, becoming Central American Champion.
The victory was the result of years of discipline, preparation, and sacrifice, but competing internationally also taught him an important lesson in humility.
For Edonays, being a champion in your own country does not mean the work is finished. Competing against athletes from other countries exposed him to an even higher level of competition and made him realize that he needed to continue training even harder.
For him, one of the biggest differences between a recreational paddler and an athlete capable of competing internationally is the level of physical preparation and the number of hours they are willing to dedicate to training.
Much More Than Paddling
From the outside, it can be easy to assume that improving at SUP simply means spending more time on the board. But Edonays’ preparation goes far beyond the water. Strength training, physical conditioning, nutrition, and recovery are all fundamental parts of his preparation.
His CrossFit background continues to be an important tool. He currently incorporates functional training three to four times per week, using many of the movements and training principles he learned during his years as a CrossFit athlete and coach. He also competes in two very different disciplines: SUP Race and SUP Surf.
For Edonays, the two complement each other, although they require different types of preparation. SUP Race demands a high level of cardiovascular fitness and physical conditioning. SUP Surf requires a different skill set, including maneuvers, reading waves, and learning how to control them. Becoming a complete athlete means putting in the work both on and off the water.
Playa Venao, Pedasí: A New Chapter
After years of living and training in Panama City, Edonays recently made another major decision: moving to Playa Venao, Pedasí. Having family and a home in the Pedasí area, reducing rental expenses, living close to the beach, and having the support of his girlfriend all contributed to making the move a natural choice.
But for a SUP athlete, Playa Venao, Pedasí offers something even more important: constant access to the ocean. Year-round waves, warm crystal-clear water, and miles of coastline for paddling are now close to home.
His training routine remains disciplined. He trains at home when necessary and uses gyms in the area depending on the type of strength training he needs. But now he has something that was not as easily accessible while living in the city: the ocean as part of his everyday life.
Why Train SUP in Playa Venao, Pedasí?
Playa Venao, Pedasí has experienced tremendous growth as a destination for water sports and continues to host competitions and events. For Edonays, one of its greatest advantages is the ability to find waves practically year-round.
This is particularly valuable for SUP athletes because it allows them to combine different types of training. A SUP Surf paddler can work directly in the waves, while a SUP Race athlete can use those same conditions to develop skills that complement flatwater training. The warm, crystal-clear water also makes it possible to enjoy long training sessions without having to worry about cold temperatures.
But Edonays also points to something less technical: the atmosphere. For him, Playa Venao, Pedasí has a special energy. The combination of ocean, nature, community, and a more relaxed lifestyle makes training there part of the overall experience.
Training SUP With Edonays Caballero
This new chapter is not only about continuing his career as an athlete. Edonays is also developing his work as a coach in Playa Venao, Pedasí, where he can train both local paddlers and people traveling from other countries. His coaching philosophy does not necessarily begin with a rigid training program. He prefers to get to know the paddler first.
If someone already knows exactly what they want to improve, he can work directly toward those goals. But when someone is unsure about their weaknesses, Edonays prefers to start with a few sessions together, observe how they paddle, and then identify the areas that need improvement.
For him, the ideal paddler does not necessarily need to be an advanced athlete. They can be a beginner, intermediate paddler, or competitive athlete. What matters is having a passion for SUP, loving the ocean and, most importantly, respecting it.
His goal is also not for someone to travel all the way to Playa Venao, Pedasí simply to return home with better technique. He wants them to remember visiting an incredible place, learning something new, and enjoying both the experience and the positive energy of the area.
When a Sport Becomes a Lifestyle
At 37, Edonays considers one of the greatest gifts SUP has given him to be something other than championships or medals. It is his health. He feels fitter, healthier, and free of injuries. For someone who originally began exercising because he was unhappy with his physical condition, that transformation has a special meaning.
His life today is very different from that of the young man who spent his nights going out and was just beginning to discover the gym. Now he spends hours on the water, trains outdoors, and enjoys the ocean. Living near the sea has also given him a more relaxed lifestyle, more time at home, and a greater connection with himself.
That is why he believes many people underestimate how powerful it can be to find a physical activity they genuinely enjoy. His advice to someone who wants to improve their health but has not yet found “their sport” is simple: start with something you genuinely enjoy and do it with passion. When you enjoy what you are doing, staying active stops feeling like an obligation and can become part of the way you live.
The Future of SUP in Panama
Edonays still considers himself an athlete, but he is finding more and more satisfaction in sharing his experience with others. His vision for the coming years combines both roles.
He wants to continue training and competing while helping develop a SUP community in Playa Venao, Pedasí and the surrounding areas. He also hopes to see Stand-Up Paddle continue growing in Panama and become a sport practiced by many more people.
For international paddlers considering a trip to Panama, he sees Playa Venao, Pedasí as an especially complete destination. The ability to combine waves with calmer-water sessions provides opportunities to develop different skills and create a more well-rounded approach to training for both SUP Race and SUP Surf.
But perhaps the best way to understand what SUP means to Edonays is to look back at where his journey began. When we asked what he would tell the younger Edonays who was struggling with his weight before discovering CrossFit and Stand-Up Paddle, his answer was powerful:
“Never stop, and have the discipline to always do what you set out to accomplish, even if the whole world is against you.”
Edonays did not simply find a sport. He found a new way of life. He went from exercising to improve his physical condition to representing Panama and becoming a Panamanian Champion and, in 2025, Central American SUP Champion.
And when we asked how much of the person he is today exists because he found Stand-Up Paddle, his answer sums up his journey perfectly:
