Buy Local SUP Shop Profile: Carolina Paddleboard Co.

Carolina Paddleboard Company is located in Wrightsville Beach/Wilmington, NC, one of the most popular standup paddleboard and paddleboard hubs in the world. Their connection to the community and continued investment in the sport make them one of the top SUP shops in the US. They also have quite possibly the most unique and personality-packed staff around.

Along with paddleboards, CPC is a hub for SUP surf and is forging the way for a new wave of east coast outrigger canoe paddlers. Working with Puakea Designs, they’ve brought in an amazing amount of new boats and paddles.

CPC is also the first stop for standup paddleboard race board rentals for the upcoming Carolina Cup.

Location:

1322 Airlie Rd. Wilmington, NC
Between Fish House and DockSide

What board companies do you carry?

Hobie SUP, Naish, Bark, Surftech, Riviera, Starboard, SIC Maui, Lahui Kai, Cannibal

What paddles do you carry?

Puakea, QuickBlade, Kialoa,Naish, Hobie SUP, Hippo Stick, SIC Maui

Do you have Paddleboard Rentals?

Yes

Do you offer lessons?

Yes

What other services do you provide?

Race Technique Lessons, Video Analysis, SUP Yoga, SUP Fitness Classes, Downwind Lessons, Open Ocean Lessons, SUP Surf Lessons, Outrigger Canoe Sales

What is your biggest challenge as a retailer?

Our biggest challenge is probably similar to most small retailers, where the “Amazon’s” and “Costco’s” of the world are constantly selling lower quality products at low prices. We overcome this challenge in the services we offer, we take the time to talk to each customer and help guide them to an optimal board, paddle, or gear. We support the industry through race sponsorships, social paddles, and kid’s paddle groups. In the end, we hope our small-business feel wins over our future customers, and inspires them to buy local. Because if people don’t support local, shops like ours will one day disappear.

How healthy is the sport?

7/10

How likely will the sport continue to grow in this next year?

8/10

Where will we see the growth if any?

We’ll see the growth in small, local communities of recreational paddlers.

Do you have any advice for manufacturers?

Manufacturers should continue to look at retailers as partners, because the local retailer’s roll in introducing and educating people to paddling is irreplaceable and what active, local retailers do to support and put on local events is critical.

What kind of paddling settings and conditions are near your shop?

Carolina Paddleboard Co. has world class conditions right outside the shop. Within a one mile radius you can go on a calm, small, protected lake, or paddle some of the most challenging downwind runs in the open ocean. The most popular area to paddle is definitely the marshes and tidal creeks.

What is it about paddling that gets you up in the morning? That gets you excited?

The whole crew at Carolina Paddleboard Co. loves to be on the water. The main motivator is to be in the best shape, catch more waves, ride more bumps, and paddle more miles. Because in the end, being out there longer is always more fun!

Describe your local paddle community. When do you get together and what are they like?

Our local community is made up of people from all walks of life. We have doctors, lawyers, and used car salesmen… we have college students, teachers, and elementary school kids. You can find us paddling on any given morning from the shop year round. Then summer comes… On Tuesdays we get together with the Carolina Jr. Waterman’s team to work with the groms on SUP, surf, and water safety. On Wednesdays, we paddle socially around Harbor Island and then drink at Dockside. On Thursdays, we charge hard in the Sunset SUP Series over at the Blockade Runner Beach Resort. On weekends, we visit our extended paddle family at races all over the country.

What local events do you have and what are their dates and locations?

Wrightsville Beach SUP Surf Pro Am. Oceanic Pier, Wrightsville Beach, NC. April 16-17th 2016
The Carolina Cup!! Blockade Runner Beach Resort, Wrightsville Beach, NC. April 23-24th 2016
Chucktown Showdown. Brittlebank Park, Charleston, SC. September 17th 2016

Best piece of SUP advice you give to paddlers?

Pull hard and pull often.

What are your must-have accessories for every paddler?

Speed Coach and a Fast Fin!!

Learn more about Carolina Paddleboard Co.

Website: http://CarolinaPaddle.com
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarolinaPaddleBoardCo
On Twitter: http://twitter.com/CarolinaPaddleb
On Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/carolinapaddleboardco