Time Magazine checks in on Stand-up Paddling and discovers that even though it is stupidly expensive, the sport is growing.
“It’s completely blown up in the past five years and every spring it just blows up even more,” says Jim Brewer, 45, a painting contractor who, in October 2008 and in spite of everyone calling him nuts, opened Blueline Stand-Up Paddle Surf in Santa Barbara, Calif., the first fully dedicated SUP shop in the country. “We thought it was phasing out, but then we realized that it’s just beginning. It’s going mainstream.” . . . Three weeks ago, for instance, while regular surf shops around the country were struggling to stay afloat, Brewer’s store sold 16 boards — which start at about $1,500 — in one day. “If I had opened a surf shop eight months ago, we would have been out of business right now, no doubt,” he says.
Seems it’s always good to be in a market where the customer has more money than. . . well, let just say, more money than they need. And leave it at that.
[Link: Time Magazine]
