Surfin' WVA

(Story here.)

I absolutely love the idea of a new adventure sport taking root in West Virginia. That means more people have the opportunity to be exposed to the best-kept secret in adventure tourism. That’s what West Virginia is.

The question now becomes this: is SUP whitewater a viable commercial enterprise?

Rafting, zip-lining, ATV-riding, horseback riding, mountain biking and, even to some extent, rock climbing—these are all inherently accessible to the creature that most often drives the growth of adventure tourism: the weekend warrior. Sure, you have your die-hard adherents, but outfitters exist by and large to serve those who play outside as a hobby, not a way of life.

You don’t have to know the difference between a sugar maple and a sycamore to go on a canopy tour. You just have to remember that your left hand goes on your right, and you have to be able to swallow your fear of heights.

Same thing with rafting. Don’t know the difference between Class IV and Class V water? No worries. You just listen to that guy at the back of the boat—and be sure to paddle, hard, when you’re told.

SUP is a different animal. Sure, just about anyone can stand up and paddle on one of the things within a short time of getting on it for the first time. But there’s a great deal of skill involved in staying up and successfully navigating even really small water. Forget being able to get through a Class IV line without knowing what you’re doing. That level of skill just isn’t available for the majority of adventure outfitters’ clients. Men and women who spend Monday through Friday wearing suits might enjoy the heck out of that one trip on the Lower New River they take each spring. But they’d have to be on the water way too much than their schedule permits to be able to fully enjoy SUP whitewater.

None of this has any bearing on the core group of enthusiasts who tramp around the NRG from March through October. Those folks will always be there, and they’ll take to SUP whitewater like, well, a duck to water.

Maybe I’m wrong. In West Virginia, the sport is, what, a year old? That leaves a lot of time for innovation. Board-makers will undoubtedly improve their products. Outfitters will learn what works and what doesn’t. At least for now, their approach to offering SUP expeditions reflects the infant nature of the sport. Companies like Adventures on the Gorge are guiding clients on SUP boards on the calm waters of Summersville Lake rather than the roiling water of the Lower New. That’s a great first-step to introduce people to the sport. (Forget seeing paddle-boarders on the Upper Gauley during the fall release—for now, at least.)

What’s next? That remains to be seen. What’s not debatable is the fact that West Virginia continues to prove itself to be an adventure sport enthusiasts’ paradise.