If you’ve been itching to get onto the Paw Paw for a quick kayak run, or can’t wait to challenge Lake Michigan to a round of paddle-boarding, the crew at Third Coast Paddling is ready to fulfill your dream. Memorial Day weekend is the traditional door-opener onto the summer season and the team at Third Coast Paddling wants to help you find you way onto the water soon.
Third Coast Paddling will begin renting kayaks and stand-up paddleboards for the season at the Paw Paw River launch located at 601 Graham Avenue in Benton Harbor beginning on Saturday, June 2nd. Due to the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship over the Memorial Day Weekend, the river launch site opening is pushed back a week, but you can get on the water at their New Buffalo site. More on that in a moment.
The Paw Paw River site will be open daily from 10 am to 6 pm from June 2nd through Labor Day, with extended hours for special events, and rentals will continue through fall on weekends.
For groups of fewer than 20 people, rental reservations are not necessary. During open hours, staff will assist customers on a first-come, first-served basis. Rental fees ($20 per hour for a single kayak or stand-up paddleboard, $25 per hour for a double kayak) include US Coast Guard-approved life jackets and instruction.
Third Coast Paddling can also host up to 70 people at a time for special events such as corporate outings, team-building events, family reunions, or school groups. Advance reservations are required for groups of more than 20 people, and special rates may be available at off-peak times. For more information about group outings and to request a quote, visit thirdcoastpaddling.com/groups.
Meanwhile, in Harbor Country, for customers looking for a lakefront paddling experience, kayak and paddleboard rentals will also be available at New Buffalo City Beach from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, weather permitting. Customers should note that rentals will no longer be available at the Galien River in New Buffalo. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources, which owns the Galien River launch site, has ended Third Coast Paddling’s contract there, as the limited parking on site was no longer adequate to accommodate the continued growth in rental customers.
Ryan Gerard is President of Third Coast Surf Shop. He says, “We’ve had incredible feedback from customers at our Galien River rental site over the years, and we’re disappointed we won’t be able to serve them there this summer.” He adds, “However, we guarantee that Harbor Country residents and visitors will love our Paw Paw River site, too. It’s just 30 minutes up the road and a beautiful, mellow river perfect for paddlers of all ages and skill levels.”
In addition to regular hourly rentals and group outings at the Paw Paw River and New Buffalo City Beach, Third Coast Paddling will also host a number of special events this summer, including the Paw Paw Pub Paddle with North Pier Brewing Company and the Livery Microbrewery, and the Benton Harbor Kayak Tour with the Heritage Museum and Cultural Center and the Morton House Museum.
Third Coast staff want you to take note that rental operation hours are subject to change due to weather and water conditions, so for updated hours, special events, and other information, you should plan to call 269-932-4575, visit thirdcoastpaddling.com, and follow Third Coast Paddling on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ThirdCoastPaddling.
Third Coast Surf Shop was started by Ryan Gerard in 2005 with a simple mission: to spread the joy of the surfing lifestyle through the Great Lakes and beyond. The first shop opened in New Buffalo in April 2005, followed in April 2011 by the addition of the St Joseph store, which is now Third Coast Surf Shop’s flagship location. The first surf shop of its kind in the Midwest, Third Coast Surf Shop has been featured in national media, including The CBS Early Show, NBC’s The Today Show, The Weather Channel, Newsweek, The New York Times, and National Public Radio.
Third Coast Surf Shop serves the Great Lakes surfing community with more than 60 in-stock surfboards, wetsuits designed for year-round lake surfing, and accessories, plus services such as surfing lessons, board rentals, and kids’ beach day camps. Customers can also find gear for skateboarding, skimboarding, stand-up paddleboarding, and sandboarding.
Along with hard goods, the shops carry clothing and accessories from brands such as Patagonia, Quiksilver, Roxy, TOMS, Vans, Ray-Ban, and Oakley, plus surfing- and Great Lakes-themed merchandise. Third Coast Paddling, an extension of the Third Coast brand, offers hourly kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals and group outings in New Buffalo and St. Joseph/Benton Harbor.
For more information about Third Coast Surf Shop, visit www.thirdcoastsurfshop.com or call 269-932-4575.
