It's Hot! Stand Up Paddleboarding in New Smyrna Beach
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It's Hot! Stand Up Paddleboarding in New Smyrna Beach
I spent the better part of an afternoon with Erik Lumbert, the proud owner of Paddleboard New Smyrna Beach. After a lunch of blackened grouper sandwiches at New Smyrna’s famed Capt. JB’s Fish Camp, which sits between Mosquito Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean on the waters of the Canaveral National Seashore, we went touring. Driving through the tranquil Canaveral National Seashore with its 24-miles of unspoiled beach — the surf of the Atlantic was roaring on one side, while the lagoon was serenely flat on the other. What an image! One of Lumbert’s popular adventure outings includes paddleboarding in the ocean then switching gears and cruising the lagoon along the small nearby islands. It’s about a half-day excursion that begins early morning.
I soon learn that women are taking up the sport in big numbers. He teaches a mix of ages (including a 70-year old recently) and that you don’t have to be a super athlete to enjoy the experience of being on the water surrounded by local nature, which often includes manatees and dolphin sightings. The paddleboards, he promises, are easy to maneuver. Convinced, I make a plan to schedule a formal lesson next time I visit. After all, New Smyrna is touted as the stand up paddleboard capital of the east.
Lumbert has organized a first of its kind two-day event scheduled for November 19-20: the Mayor’s SUP Cup. This family-friendly weekend is designed for stand up paddleboard racers, surfers and friends. Lumbert’s sponsors are impressive, YOLO the godfathers of SUP in Northwest Florida plus the World Paddle Association (WPA). The “Escape from Chicken Island” course loop looks fun and challenging! If you’re interested in participating (there are $3,000 in prizes), call 386.931.3868 or send an e-mail to Erik@paddleboardnsb.com.
Look for more on New Smyrna Beach in FT+L’s January/February issue and in future blog posts.
Tags: Canaveral National Seashore | New Smyrna | New Smyrna Beach | Paddleboard NSB | Stand Up Paddle Board | SUP | Yolo
