Learn paddleboarding on the lake

MATT Oldaker and his family only got into stand up paddleboarding a few years ago, but it’s become a big part of their lives.

“We enjoyed it so much and we were always having to travel to the beach to enjoy doing it,” he said. “Then we thought, we’ve got this amazing resource here at the lake.”

The idea for family stand up paddleboarding business, SUP Ballarat, grew from there, modelled on many businesses in the US that utilise inland waterways, lakes, rivers and even rapids for paddle boarding.

“It’s certainly growing across Australia. In the last five years it’s really started to take off,” Mr Oldaker said. “It started back in the 1920s in Hawaii and it’s just been developed from basically surfing.

“They just incorporated a paddle into it from the outrigger canoes that they use and it was something they could do when there weren’t necessarily big waves.”

Although subject to temperature and wind, SUP Ballarat hires out equipment and runs lessons all year, because Lake Wendouree always has a protected side and it’s cleaner than ever.

Mr Oldaker encourages Ballarat to come and explore the town’s real “hidden laneways,” channels cut into the reeds that people can look out over as they paddle along.

“We will teach people the foundation elements of stand up paddleboarding so that they can jump on any SUP and just go for it,” he said. “We will get people to the place where they can confidently enjoy themselves as opposed to nervously.”

A hurdle for people interested in the sport can often be the idea of falling in the water but Mr Oldaker said those that take their time don’t usually experience any issues.

“My partner wouldn’t normally enjoy watersports. She’s not that confident around water, never really enjoyed watersports. When we first tried it, she loved it more than anyone and now she’s one of the hardest ones to get back in off the water,” he said.

“Generally the people that don’t want to fall in, don’t fall in the water. They’re the ones that take it easy, enjoy themselves and have a relaxed time.

“We’ve got some regular customers that like instruction and building that confidence. If you want to keep coming back and sharpening your skills up, then you can certainly do that.”

The sport is ideal for children and adults. For those not interested in one-one-one lessons, SUP Ballarat welcomes groups for team building or celebrations.

“We have all the gear and we’re set up, and it takes all the fuss out of it. We take all the negatives of board sports out of it. It’s making the sport easy and accessible to everyone,” Mr Oldaker said.

Book in for lessons and discover more at supballarat.com.