#ThisIsThePlace: Wrightsville Beach set as stand-up paddleboarding hub

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — While surfing a big part of the town, Wrightsville Beach has become a huge hub for the sport stand up paddle boarding.

Boards stretch from 7 to 14 feet long and weigh from 15 to 30 pounds, but the right one for you all depends on your skills level.

While everyone has to start somewhere, Carolina Paddleboard Company Shop Manager Erik Bigsby says it’s a low impact cardio sport that is pretty easy to learn.

He says you can just paddle around, surf on waves, or even do yoga on the board.

“It’s not surprising in the summer when you go out around the loop of Wrighstville Beach to see 25 people on boards on a summer morning just because it’s an easy way to get out and get active,” Bigsby said. “Before you would just go out and you’d see one person occasionally, now you see so many.”

A few weeks ago, The Carolina Cup was held which is the last stand up paddleboarding competition on the east coast.

Bigsby says the interest for outrigger canoes are also on the rise.