shoreleave | by Paige Funkhouser
Sister Bay, Wisconsin Paddlefest offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) Door County-style.
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eginning your day floating atop the clear blue water of Green Bay on a paddleboard is hard to beat. The summer water is calm in the hours before boaters rev their engines or unfurl sails, Jet Skis fire up for racing along the shoreline, or car traffic buzzes the length of the highway in the quaint village of Sister Bay, Wisconsin, on the Door County peninsula. From the extreme to the serene, Sister Bay offers a multitude of ways to relax and explore nature on the waters of Green Bay and Lake Michigan.
Paddle on Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) is the latest watersport craze on Lake Michigan, and it’s a relaxing way to experience a different point of view. Boards range from 9 feet to 12 feet in length (rider height and weight dependent) and are made for racing or cruising. Riding a SUP requires some balance and a love of the water; leave your aversion to getting wet at home — at least the first couple of times on the board, anyway. “In the last three years, SUPs have exploded,” says Vanessa Wylie, manager at Bay Shore Outfitters outdoor store in Sister Bay (kayakdoorcounty.com). “SUP is the fastest growing sport among women in the world right now. It’s so popular because all athletic abilities and age ranges can get out there and do the sport, even without experience.”
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LAKELANDBOATING.COM
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june 2014
Sister Bay has many beautiful places to paddle within a short distance of the marina and beach, and deciding where to go is best determined by the weather, wind and the paddler’s mood. Try out a board before you buy at Sister Bay Paddlefest with Sip & Savor on June 14. Door County’s everything-outdoor retailer, Bay Shore Outfitters, sets up on the Sister Bay beach and offers visitors board and kayak demos, lessons, gear sales and this season’s newest SUPs, kayaks and equipment. At the Sip & Savor portion of the event, taste wines from Door County wineries, cheese from Door County cheesemakers, and delicious food from local Sister Bay restaurants. Each taster receives a commemorative wine glass to take home. But event organizers don’t recommend attempting to balance a full glass of wine on the nose of a paddleboard your first time out! If you’re an experienced paddler, challenge yourself and try SUP yoga in Sister Bay. Test your core strength and balance, and increase the benefits of yoga. “Yoga on a paddleboard is a fun way to be out on the water,” says Tonya Crowell, program manager for Bay Shore Outfitters. “The water in Sister Bay is amazing. It’s clear and deep with a hard sand bottom. Sister Bay is a picturesque waterfront community that provides opportunities to experience nature and a beautiful waterfront park with a swim pier for kids to jump off, plenty of lawn for activities, and a gazebo that hosts free weekly concerts in the park.”