by Caroline Berzak
LED Paddle Boarding is the newest attraction at Island Spirit Kayak. The LED lights allow you to see fish, scallops and all the sea life below you. Squids are attracted to light and when they’re around in the Spring and Fall, schools of squids will follow you around. It is totally spectacular. Paddle Boarding is so simple, so you don’t have to work on any skills before you come out and give it a try. You do use muscles in your feet that you never knew you had, but it’s a good feeling. You’re having so much fun, so it doesn’t feel like a workout.
Island Spirit Kayak has come a long way since its beginning, sixteen years ago. Owner, Chick Stapleton, started it right after graduating from college with 2 kayaks. She did one-on-one lessons during the day and was a bartender at night until she could afford to buy another kayak. Today, Island Spirit can put 85 people on the water at once. Paddle Boarding in particular has gone through the roof in popularity. The 27 Paddle Boards they have are sold out every single day. The LED Paddle Boards are the newest addition and are grabbing a lot of attention. And we know why– they are an absolute blast! Also, they are easy for anyone, regardless of their athletic ability, to pick up. They’ve come a long way and are much more stable than they initially were. Previously thought to be a specialty item you had to be a surfer to have, now Paddle Boards are made out of a lighter weight material and are wider and shorter. Island Spirit even offers Paddle Boards for kids. Chick’s three-year-old son is even able to “rock it all by himself ”, says Chick.
Chick has an interesting back story. She had always wanted to be a cruise director but when she went kayaking during her travels in New Zealand, she realized it was what she wanted to do. As a third generation Islander, she wanted to introduce other people to the Island from the view of the water. She has always had a strong passion for outdoor activities, particularly ones that allow her to be out on the water.
Chick is a devoted supporter of preserving the natural resources on the Island. Challenges that come along with running Island Spirit include, the pond closing, water quality, nitrogen in the ponds and a lack of current in some places which prevents the ponds from being washed out due to a little bridge being filled in. To help fight these challenges, Chick has become an executive member of Friends of Sengekontacket (FOS), a group dedicated to protecting the barrier beach and water. They are heading a new project of nitrogen testing and finding exactly where it’s coming from. Also, FOS funded an oyster farm project and planted a couple million oysters to help with the nitrogen problem.
Chick loves everything about her job. The groups that come in are typically on vacation and always happy, along with her staff. Island Spirit makes an effort to educate the groups about the pond and spread awareness about projects they feel strongly about.
MORE INFO:
508-693-9727
State Beach | Oak Bluffs
