A new wave has swept into Point Loma Village: stand-up paddle boarding. After 13 years at 4360 Morena Blvd. in Bay Ho, West Coast Paddle Sports has moved into 1105 Rosecrans St., the space previously occupied by Point Loma Pharmacy next to Harbor Town Pub.
West Coast Paddle Sports offers an exhaustive selection of stand-up paddle boarding gear and outrigger canoes. The move has also allowed the company’s retail store to be closer to its rental location in Liberty Station.
“We loved Bay Ho, but are very excited to be closer to the water and to get to know the Shelter Island and Point Loma communities better,” said owner Jeton Prince who added, “I went from off the beaten path to the middle of everything.”
Having grown up in Hawaii, Prince noted water “was always part of what I did and what I wanted to do.” He added, “Almost 10 years ago we started our rental operation in Liberty Station, pop-up tents in front of The Courtyard Marriott San Diego Airport Hotel. It works for us to bring it (SUP launch site) closer together and tying it (with retail) all together made a lot of sense.”
For those unacquainted, stand-up paddle boards are larger than standard surfboards. “They are meant to be stood on the whole time and used with a (single) paddle,” noted Prince, hefting a SUP surprisingly light for its size.
Prince said a good, decent SUP will “start at about $1,000 and go up to about $4,000.” He noted SUPs will “last as long as you take care of them” adding, “and they can always be repaired.”
SUPs are the foundation of the business of West Coast, which sells all the accessories for them, everything from hydration packs, leashes, and paddles to repair kits. “We do all your service like paddle board repair, outrigger canoe paddle sizing and repair,” noted Prince. “We’re the only ones who do outrigger canoe repairs in the area. That’s a big bulk of what we do. We’re also going to expand the surfboard offerings that we have.”
Prince pointed out his clients are literally “anyone with a desire to get on the water. A lot of our customers have been with us a long time.”
He added West Coast Paddle Sports actually does trade-ins for people who want to trade up for a nicer, newer board. “We cater to the paddler from the start,” he said. “From their first lesson to renting, to buying your first board, then trading up for your new one, and repairing it if something happens to it – the full cycle.”
Samantha Eastburn has been working for West Coast Paddle Sports for 10 years teaching the art of SUP pup boarding, wherein she works with both owners and their dogs teaching them how to jointly get on and ride an SUP starting onshore.
“I have you hold your dog and push them away from the water,” she said adding, “The key is to get away from the shore, and then it’s a bonding experience. It’s physical therapy, mental therapy, getting away from technology and enjoying the sun.”
Of the appeal of SUP, Prince concluded: “To become a paddler is a lifestyle. It’s not just paddle boarding. It’s outrigger canoes and being at competitions. There are so many aspects to it. It just becomes a way of life. It’s why we live in San Diego, to be close to, and part of, the ocean.”
WEST COAST PADDLE SPORTS
Where: 1105 Rosecrans St.
Info: westcoastpaddlesports.com, 858-272-3278.
History paddle boarding – No one knows who “invented” paddle boarding, or who was the first person who rode a floating platform with the aid of a paddle or pole. Evidence exists however of people using paddle board-like devices thousands of years ago. Modern-day paddle surfing originated in Hawaii. Famous big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton started SUPing as a way to train when the surf was down. But although Hamilton had started the SUP revolution, it wasn’t until Rick Thomas bought back a modern SUP from Hawaii to California in 2004 that the sport started to grow.
What to look for in a paddle board – Good advice is to look for the highest quality you can afford. If you’re looking to save money, skip the expensive accessories like carbon fiber paddles and exotic materials. Instead, look for a board built with solid construction. Inflatable Paddle Boards are a good pick for most people as they are durable and portable.
