A NEW standup paddle boarding group at Ballina is making waves with its rapid membership growth and resurgence in the shire.<\/p>\n
The group only formed a few weeks ago and has had more than 100 people reach out online to join them.<\/p>\n
It only started with two members who were looking to gauge interest in anyone keen to paddle around Shaws Bay.<\/p>\n
Experienced paddle boarder David Adams and Carol Tomek went on to establish the group on January 29.<\/p>\n
“We’ve started from scratch, we had about five people turn up to our first paddle,” Adams said.<\/p>\n
“We’re so fresh that we don’t even have an official group name, yet.”<\/p>\n
“Carol was looking for someone to paddle with and she asked if I could do a bit of a call out.<\/p>\n
“I think it’s only going to continue to grow, we’re basically a beginner’s group, but we’re open to anyone and all skill levels.”<\/p>\n
The group has already had requests from paddle boarders at Evans Head to see if they would consider going there for a session.<\/p>\n
Adams said they will eventually try South Ballina and some harder paddles when the group grows in confidence.<\/p>\n
He was originally an outrigger who got into stand up paddle boards after having a melanoma cut from his back.<\/p>\n
Paddle boarding was popular about 10 years ago when he was part of a similar group at Lennox Head.<\/p>\n
“There are always new trends, you can lose people to kayaking and kite surfing,” Adams said.<\/p>\n
“Paddle boarding is great because you really can’t hurt yourself.<\/p>\n
“We all have different boards and you can swap and share them when we meet.<\/p>\n
“I had so much fun the other day that I paddled the extra distance home and saw dolphins along Missingham Bridge. It’s just a great activity.”<\/p>\n
The group paddle twice a week, meeting on Wednesdays at 8am and Saturday from around noon.<\/p>\n
It also has a Ballina Standup Paddleboarders Facebook page where members can organise additional times and meet-ups.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A NEW standup paddle boarding group at Ballina is making waves with its rapid membership growth and resurgence in the shire. The group only formed a few weeks ago and has had more than 100 people reach out online to join them. It only started with two members who were looking to gauge interest in […]<\/p>\n