Discover Stand Up Paddle Boarding-A Hidden Gem in the Mountain State of West Virginia

Located in the heart of West Virginia, and within a short drive of more than five states, lies Fayetteville, a small town full of beautiful rivers, vibrant shopping areas, unique restaurants and an ever growing outdoor industry. Fayetteville has always been a staple for its amazing rafting and kayaking trips, as well as climbing and biking areas. However, amongst the rafts and kayaks normally seen in the area, stand up paddle boards have started to take over the water.

What? Stand up paddle boarding? In West Virginia? Isn’t that something you do while on vacation at the beach? It may sound crazy at first, but stand up paddle boarding, or SUP, has become a popular sport in not only the beaches of Hawaii, but also in the winding rivers and white waters of West Virginia.

Stand up paddle boarding is a great way to get connected with nature and explore the beautiful scenery of the state.

Melanie Seiler, Executive Director for Active Southern West Virginia, was born and raised in Fayetteville with a family of rafters, and has been river guiding for the past 20 years. However, when Seiler was looking for a little more adventure, she took to SUP for the first time and has been a part of the sport since its start about 10 years ago.

“When I first tried out paddle boarding, it was interesting the kind of balance that was required and the skill needed to navigate just a little bit of moving water,” said Seiler. “It took my experience as a river guide and added another challenge to the concept of running white water on a paddle craft.”

Seiler enjoys going down the middle Gauley River for its big volume pools and stretches of white water.

Seiler has been stand up paddle boarding for about ten years now, and has been to numerous paddling events and races on the East and West Coast. However, Seiler said that her favorite places to paddle are always back home in West Virginia.

“I really enjoy going to Summersville Lake to paddle around the tall cliffs,” said Seiler. “On the Gauley River there are great places to surf on the river waves, and there are sections of the New River that are just class I and II and sections that are high water with big rolling waves.”

Meghan Roberts, owner and operator of Mountain Surf Paddle Sports, also shares Seiler’s passions for SUP. Originally from Buffalo, New York, Roberts moved down to West Virginia for the thrilling white water to become a river guide.

Roberts (left) and Seiler (right) met each other through mutual friends when SUP started to develop in the area. “Fayetteville isn’t a super big town, and the paddle boarding community is really tight knit,” said Roberts.

However, it wasn’t until 2008 while she was living in Hong Kong when Roberts first laid eyes on a paddle board. Initially, she thought the sport seemed pretty lackluster.

“I like high adventure stuff,” said Roberts. “But eventually I started to see people do white water stand up paddle boarding and actually surf on the river with paddle boards, and that really sparked my interest and made me want to do it more.”

Although paddle boarding can be a high intensity sport, it can also be the opposite. The fascinating thing about paddle boarding is that it is something anyone can try because of its unique versatility and rewarding experiences. However, beginners should always start out on flat water lakes, get safety protocols, and seek instruction when ready to move on to something more challenging.

“If you set yourself up for success, then you’ll be golden,” said Roberts.

The Fayetteville area is full of access points like this one to go paddling.

Besides not being near an ocean, Fayetteville is full of class I-V rapids, gorgeous lakes, and flat water rivers that makes the area a hub for paddle boarders and adventure seekers everywhere. The possibilities are endless with a paddle board, especially when combined with the waters of West Virginia.

“I think paddle boarding adds to the uniqueness of this area, and to all the different things that you can do while you’re here,” said Seiler. “I feel a lot of pride for this state because we have world class destinations right here.”

Roberts and Seiler plan to continue paddle boarding and look forward to the future it holds for Fayetteville. “The outdoor industry is what built Fayetteville, and the outdoor industry is still strong,” said Roberts. “Five years ago, no one would have ever expected people to be running class five rapids and dropping waterfalls on paddle boards.”

Fayetteville offers a wide selection of activities and is growing just as fast as the paddle boarding community, which means there are plenty of other things to explore after going on a paddle board trip. Try out a few of these places after being out on the water:

• Cathedral Café: Built from an old church building, Cathedral Café offers a variety of breakfast foods and coffee with a relaxed vibe.

• Secret Sandwich Society: A staple restaurant in Fayetteville that offers craft beers, unique sandwich and burger options, and live music.

• Pies and Pints: Pizza with pizzazz in the downtown area. Starting in Fayetteville, the restaurant now has about 15 locations and has been featured on the “Food Network.”

• The Grove: An eccentric lounge located just above Secret Sandwich Society with a funky atmosphere. Come here for local art, table top games, dancing, and fun!

• Water Stone Outdoors: A true mountain top shop that has provided high quality outdoor gear and friendly advice to the area for 25 years.

Paddle boarding has it all, and with such a close knit community surrounding it and perfect venues right here, it is no wonder it feels like Almost Heaven. So, what is your next adventure?

Published in the West Virginia Executive's Discover WV Magazine