(The Salt Lake Tribune) – Rebekka Stone had not quite overcame her fear of water when a friend persuaded her to try stand up paddle surfing in March 2008 at a Miami beach.
A year and two months later, Stone finds herself teaching this unique sport to others in one of the most unlikeliest of places — the Great Salt Lake.
Stone, who grew up in Hartford, Conn., owns and operates Utah Paddle Surfing, a company that provides lessons primarily on the weekend and by appointment on other days at the Great Salt Lake. Stone moved to Salt Lake City in January after spending four years in Miami, and received a business license for Utah Paddle Surfing in early March.
Standup paddle surfing can best be described by its name — a mix between surfing and paddling. The sport utilizes a sizeable surfing board (10 to 14 feet long) and an angled-blade paddle with that is usually 6 to 9 inches taller than the surfer’s height. Though the name implies that surfers stand up, they can also paddle surf on their knees or sitting down, all while using the paddle to direct their movement and speed.
Standup paddle surfing originated on the shores of Waikiki in Honolulu, Hawaii in the 1940s and has become increasingly popular. It doesn’t require big waves, allowing it to gain a following among people who live in land-locked areas, such as Utah, where only rivers and lakes are available.
The sport helped Stone overcome her fear of water, and she believes that it could provide similar benefits for others.
“My whole life, I’ve been afraid of water, and swimming has been a challenge for me,” Stone, 34, said. “About a year and a couple of months ago, a friend introduced me to surfing. I don’t had good balance, have never been a good skier and can’t skateboard or roller blade, so I didn’t think I’d be able to surf. But the first time I tried it, I thought maybe this would help me overcome my fear of water. So, I went back every week, a couple of times every week, and I started being there almost everyday. Then I kind of needed to get my own board to cater to that craving.
“It’s helped me overcome my fear of water and helped me develop balance and focus. There’s an inner peace that comes when you’re able to be on a board.”
Stone and fellow trainer, Greg Gbrow, offer clinics for $10 from noon to 2 p.m. every Saturday at the Great Salt Lake Marina State Park. Their boards, which can hold up to 300 pounds, can be rented for $20 an hour from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Private lessons are also for $40 an hour on Saturday and Sunday, with rentals or lessons for other days arranged by appointment. The company occasionally holds lessons at the Saltair.
Stone said that between five and 10 people attend each free clinic. She believes that the business is growing well, despite the misconception that you can’t surf in Utah.
“People think you can’t go surfing in Utah, but you can go surfing anywhere there’s water,” she said. “People will take these paddle boards on the river, and even in whitewater rapids.”
Shawn Young, 36, received his first taste of standup paddle surfing in late May and found it to his liking.
“A couple minutes into my first time out, I felt myself feeling that sensation of planing across the water,” said Young, who lives in Washington, D.C. “It was wonderful; I felt stoked. I just think that it’s the most surreal place, this salt water lake in the middle of the Rocky Mountains.”
