Inaugural event rides wave of sport’s growing popularity
Mountainman Outdoor Supply Co. staff practiced their teaching tech prior to the fest in this photo taken by Carolynn Dufft.
The first New York Stand Up Paddle-board Festival was held on the Old Forge lakefront near the Pied Piper on Saturday, July 21 with free demonstrations and a three-mile race.
The race was won by Erik Grimm of Rochester, who completed the race in 40 minutes.
Grimm said he is a canoe and kayak paddler but it was the first time he had tried paddling on a stand up board.
Waiting for him on shore to congratulate him was his mother, Sherry Grimm of Inlet and his 16-month-old triplet sons, Alex, Bradley and Colten.
Eric Grimm, the first racer to finish, with his mom, Sherry Grimm, and his triplet sons, Alex, in front, Bradley and Colten. Photo by Carol Hansen
The inaugural event was brought to Old Forge by John Nemjo of Mountainman Outdoor Supply Company, who was present at the event and watched paddlers trying out the stand up boards for the first time.
‘This is the most exciting thing to hit paddle sports in the last 20 years. It’s a spin-off of the surf industry. It’s fun, it’s a good workout, and it offers a different perspective of paddling,” he said.
Representatives from BIC Stand Up Paddleboards conducted demonstrations about the techniques of paddleboarding, how to choose the right board and provided the opportunity to test the paddleboards throughout the day.
