Paddleboarder’s perfect spot Strand fills tall orders
MARVIN Baumeister reckons Townsville is the ideal spot for stand- up paddleboarding enthusiasts.
The local business owner of IntheLoop paddleboarding became passionate about the water sport 10 years ago and decided to teach others the relaxing hobby.
“It was really popular down south because it’s a sport that basically anybody can do in any type of water,” he said.
Mr Baumeister said it had been most popular with young girls and women in Townsville.
“Eighty per cent of paddleboarders in Townsville are fe- male, it’s one of the sports that has very high female participation,” he said.
The paddleboarder believes the sport is a perfect choice for locals and those visiting Townsville as there are calm waters and views of the city’s icons.
“The Strand is really good because we usually get quite flat water. It is beautiful to look at the city and Castle Hill from the water,” he said.
“It’s probably the ideal spot. You can paddle any time of the day.
“Sunrise is magic because it is super flat, the turtles are out and the city wakes up.”
He said the “low affect, effect sport” promoted balance and core strength.
IntheLoop is passionate about making stand- up paddleboarding accessible to everyone.
Mr Baumeister said the company had invested in inflatable paddleboards, which have more volume and tend to be more stable than regular hard- top boards.
He said they were a popular choice for paddleboarding enthusiasts who lived in apartments.
“The inflatable board packs up in a little backpack. It is very convenient because you don’t need storage or roofracks for them,” he said.