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V O L . X X I N O. X I J U N E 1 , 2 0 1 5 24 S M A L L B U S I N E S S F O C U S ere are now boards made for racing, surfi ng, touring, fl at-water paddling, downwind paddling, yoga and fi shing. Tidal Roots now off ers four stand-production boards, which include wider boards suitable for fi sh- ing, a roundish yoga board and two boards for fl at- water paddling. e wooden boards are sheathed in fi berglass to give them additional strength, buoy- ancy and watertight protection. "Our boards are not the lightest or fastest," Schaefer says. Aesthetically, like wooden boats, they are a sight to behold. Like wooden boats, they have a small, but dedicated, band of followers. ey will never compete with the big manufacturers — paddleboard makers like Naish or Starboard, which off er some 40 boards. "As opposed to Naish or Starboard, or even Surftech or Riviera, which have a wide variety of boards, Kyle and Kent are the niche within the niche. ey're not the giant company with the vast line of boards — something for everyone. ey have super- quality wooden boards. ey're utilitarian, you can paddle them into an estuary. But they also appeal to the guy who has a wooden boat… You could almost put this on your mantelpiece," says Clay Feeter, pub- lisher of York-based Standup Journal, a glossy maga- zine that covers the standup paddleboard industry. Standup paddleboarding is the fastest growing segment of watersports gear, according to the Stand Up Paddle Industry Association. Feeter, a lifelong surfer who grew up in California, has watched the growth of standup paddling over the past eight years. "Surfers tend to come from a narrow funnel. Standup paddlers are surfers, fi shermen, bodybuilders, kayakers, river runners, from yoga," Feeter says. "My dentist asked me about standup." At the same time, the interest in wooden materials and handcrafted boards has grown. Paddleboarding's cousin, surfi ng, has seen a number of makers of wooden boards rise up in recent years. Many are inspired by the alaia and olo boards of the ancient Hawaiians, while others dug out paddleboard plans published in 1937 by Popular Mechanics. Others are crafting hollow boards in modern shapes. Grain may be the best known among the new board builders. In San Francisco, board builder Danny Hess is making boards from wood. e most recent issue of Surfer's Journal fea- tures a British board builder, James Otter. As with wooden boats, the wooden paddleboard is a niche market. And the partners at Tidal Roots recognize that and are developing other products . ey created an aluminum stand that can attach to a board and hold fi shing rods and a cooler made by Austin, Texas-based Yeti, which has a foothold in the fi shing market. e rack would be aimed at fi shing enthusiasts and could potentially sell for up to $300, though the production would be more effi cient than building a board. Tidal Roots also has a range of swag, including trucker's hats, brass belt buckles featuring the logo and apparel. In the next year, Tidal Roots hopes to move into larger space and hire its fi rst employees. It has a banking relationship, but also hopes to seek out economic development incentives. ey've also started working with Grain Surfboards in an infor- mal way. At Grain's York shop, where they host board building classes and have a shop, there's a Tidal Roots demo board that their customers can use. "We have people who say, 'Your paddleboards are really beautiful, but I really want a surfboard.' So we send them to Grain," Schaefer says. " en at Grain, they'll say, 'If you want a paddleboard, go to Tidal Roots.'" Pe t er Van Al l en, Mainebiz editor, can be reached at Pvanallen @ mainebiz.biz and @ MainebizEDitor Contact Lea Rust to schedule your personal visit to Avita: 207.857.9007 or Lea@avitaofstroudwater.com 320 Spring Street | Westbrook, ME | avitaofstroudwater.com At Avita, we collaborate with local growers and producers of vegetables, fruits, herbs, and seafood to create a dining experience that focuses on local tastes, freshness, and seasonal produce. We have learned over the years that age does not lessen the desire for fresh, quality dining, it often enhances it! Our goal is simple – to make a positive difference in people's lives by creating a special place where residents can thrive and families can have peace of mind. Maine Electrical Alliance Save on your heating and cooling costs with a Mini-Split Heat Pump System! CALL 1-888-666-1947 TO LEARN MORE $500 rebates on qualified systems from Efficiency Maine and another $100 from our Alliance contractors! Some restrictions may apply. » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E That first board took forever to build. Hundreds of hours. That first board took forever to build. Hundreds of hours. That first board took forever to build. Hundreds of hours. That first board took forever to build. Hundreds of hours. That first board took forever to build. Hundreds of hours. That first board took forever to build. Hundreds of hours. That first board took forever to build. Hundreds of hours. That first board took forever to build. Hundreds of hours. That first board took forever to build. Hundreds of hours. Lots of beers. It was the best day ever stepping on those Lots of beers. It was the best day ever stepping on those Lots of beers. It was the best day ever stepping on those Lots of beers. It was the best day ever stepping on those Lots of beers. It was the best day ever stepping on those Lots of beers. It was the best day ever stepping on those Lots of beers. It was the best day ever stepping on those Lots of beers. It was the best day ever stepping on those Lots of beers. It was the best day ever stepping on those Lots of beers. It was the best day ever stepping on those Lots of beers. It was the best day ever stepping on those Lots of beers. It was the best day ever stepping on those Lots of beers. It was the best day ever stepping on those boards for the first time. — Kent Scovill, co-founder, Tidal Roots

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