If you’ve been to Crescent Beach on Shelter Island lately, chances are you’ve seen fellow beachgoers using paddleboards. Some enthusiasts prefer their own boards, but for those who just want to try it out, that’s where Venture Out Shelter Island comes in. Now in its third season, the paddleboard rental and sales company has taken off, and according to manager Matty Stromberg, “We’re busier than ever.”
Venture Out’s storefront at 57A North Ferry Road has a selection of boards for sale or to rent, in addition to other fun things you may need for a day at the beach. Bathing suits, Croakies, floats, life vests, fishing poles and tackle, sandals, sunglasses, towels, toys, T-shirts and more. With four full-time employees, the company offers tours via paddleboard of Shelter Island’s waterways during the week and also paddle board yoga and meditation. These yoga classes are arranged through Greenport’s Recess Yoga and held at town beaches, but also at more intimate, secluded spots around Shelter Island.
If you have your own spot you’d like to explore on paddleboard, you’re in luck. The company offers complimentary drop-off and pick-up for their rentals anywhere on Shelter Island. They’ll even pick you up from the ferry if you’re coming from off-Island and don’t have a beach sticker. The staff, composed of locals, are plugged into what’s going on around the Island — a great resource for tourists.
This summer, the guys from Venture Out can also be found from Thursday through Sunday on Crescent Beach under a tent near Sunset Beach. Beachgoers can walk up, rent a board and get out on the water immediately. “In past years, we’d get so many calls to Crescent Beach to drop off boards to people, it would tie up our day. This is much easier,” Matty said, as a family walked over to rent boards. When it came time to pay, he pulled out a Square—a small card-reading device that hooks up to a smartphone, allowing customers to pay by credit card right there on the beach. Rates begin at $30 per hour and you can rent them out for the entire day.
“Every year it’s gotten bigger and bigger,” Mr. Stromberg said excitedly of his beachside stand. And the fun doesn’t have to stop when summer ends. “Some of the best paddling is in September,” he explained, because of a lack of crowded beaches and boat traffic. The staff at Venture Out will be readily available during September for hopeful paddlers, but will close for the season in October. For more information, call (631) 749-5644 or visit their website at ventureoutsi.com.
