When summertime hits and the temperatures begin to rise, those who aren't heading indoors are most likely heading to water.
Whether it's a pool in their backyard or the shorelines across Niagara, water and summer just seem to go hand in hand. Two unique new businesses, launched this summer, are hoping to capitalize on that relationship by bringing new ways for people to enjoy the waterfronts to Niagara.
Paddle Niagara, based out of Niagara-on-the-Lake, offers people a new way to enjoy the scenic shorelines of Niagara. Whether it's a jaunt along the shores of Lake Ontario and the Niagara River or a trip along Lake Erie, the stand-up paddling experience brings a new perspective to the waterfront.
Owner/operator Tim Bala launched the new venture in June. For him, it was a natural progression of his life-long love affair with board sports — skateboarding, wakeboarding and surfing are all things he's enjoyed. After witnessing paddle boarding while on vacation, he knew it was something he wanted to try.
“I was hooked,” he says, adding that upon his return to Niagara it was a hard to find others to paddle with. “You can always find someone to head out in a boat or kayak, but not many people even knew what paddle boarding was.”
Now, through Paddle Niagara, he'll be teaching people about the sport he's grown to love. He's not alone in his admiration. Last year, more than 1.6-million paddle boards were sold.
Just down the 406, in Port Colborne's Sugarloaf Marina there is another new water sport venture hoping to catch on with Niagara enthusiasts. Boarder Pass Niagara is taking an established sport, wakeboarding, and giving it a new twist by letting people hit the water without the aid of a boat. A first of its kind in Niagara, Boarder Pass uses a cable system to allow people to wakeboard through a course set up in the marina that features ramps and rails. The company was originally established in Sarnia, Ont. by Tim Nixon and Chris Smith but the two branched out to Niagara with the help of instructor and Port Colborne native Amanda Newhouse. Boarding without the need for a boat opens the sport up to more people, even those who may have been afraid to try it before.
“It provides a somewhat controlled environment for people to test it out,” explains Chris. “We've had people as young as four years old out on a board and then on the opposite end, we've had a 64-year old out there too.”
All equipment, including the wakeboard, helmet and life jacket required to ride are available for rental from the company. For $20 people can enjoy five passes back and forth on the course, along with equipment rental and a brief lesson.
“We 100 per cent guarantee you'll get up at least once,” he says.
For more information visit http://paddleniagara.com or www.niagaraboarderpass.com.