There is a new way to play in Wichita Falls for the summer, and it’s located in an old playground. The playground is Lake Wichita, and the new toys are supplied by SUPWF. SUPWF stands for Stand Up Paddleboard in Wichita Falls, and you’ve guessed it they have paddleboards and so much more. Now fun can be had on paddleboards, kayaks and bicycles on the shore of Lake Wichita, thanks to a collaboration with the Bike Stop for the bicycles.
“I always tell people to get on a paddleboard or kayak and get 30 feet out, and you’re not even in town anymore. You are in the lily pads with fish jumping over your boat and the water feels great,” co-owner Kris Germany said with a smile, “The lake is a hidden gem in this community. It is amazing.”
Kris and Robin Germany had a business plan “for a decade” in their minds. They decided 5 or 6 years ago that they wanted to bring kayaks to the lake, but when the drought hit that plan got pushed back.
“Then I paddleboarded in Hawaii on vacation, and we decided this is what we ought to do back home. If people have balance issues of injuries the kayak is how they need to go. While paddleboarding, you get a core workout. It is a form of rehab for sports injuries with balance and endurance. It is a stress relief being out in nature in a way people don’t normally get to. Cardio paddleboarding is one of the few things that you can do where you can work all your muscle groups. Do it right and you can work out your total body,” Kris explained.
“It is tremendously overwhelming bringing something to a town that doesn’t have something like this. I think that my generation is really active and always looking for something to do,” he said, “People are always saying there is nothing to do in this town, but there is always something to do.”
The Germanys are all about building community. In fact, they donate 10 percent of their profits go to the city, and 10 percent goes to the Lake Wichita Revitalization Project. “We do this for two reasons, one is for the community and the other is for my family. It is just about passion. I can’t reiterate that enough,” Kris said.
“Robin is the core and the backbone behind the scenes. We both work a lot of hours at our day job, but she is superwoman. She is an incredible human being and my best friend,” he said with passion, “We have 2 great employees that work at the lake for us.”
The business is open from 9 a.m. to dusk seven days a week with over 25 rent-able ways to have fun. Prices vary with group discounts available.“I feel like we are the counterpoint to what is happening downtown. We have a gem on the south side of our city. It can be huge. It can be gigantic,” Kris stressed. And with Kris and Robin supporting the revitalization project and highlighting this “gem” there is no way they can fail.
-cindy thomas
