27 Years in Paddlesports
Here is how it all went down as I can recall
1997
Fresh out of High School
It was 1996 and I was taking a year off after high school before going to university. After an unsuccessful attempt at moving to Canmore Alberta to spend the season skiing in the Rockies, I returned home having not skied much and rather broke. I was working part time at the local liquor store. I had recently read The Celestine Prophecy, and I do vaguely recall that one of the teachings was that you should not be aloof and speak up and take every opportunity that came your way. One day a local man I knew who ran the paddle boat rental at the local beach came to the store and we had a quick discussion at which he asked me if I wanted to buy a paddle boat. I asked Him if you wanted to sell me the business, and after much negotiation we struck a deal.
The First Season
8 Paddle Boats and 1 Canoe
I use some savings that I had as well as had some help from family and friends. I was able to secure a young entrepreneurship loan to purchase the business and inventory. The previous owner had given me lofty goals that were not necessarily realistic. Although things started slowly, I quickly made changes and readjusted my sales to the prevailing winds. It was super challenging not really knowing how to deal with customers in a rental setting. Dealing with wind and weather conditions all while not having a rescue boat.
1999
First Wholesale Purchase
I quickly realized that there were a few ways in which my setup was lacking. First was the need for a rescue boat. I bought an older 12' aluminum and a 9.9 horsepower outboard and quickly learned how to safely operate it in rescue and towing situations. I know that there was more potential for canoe rentals so I made my first wholesale purchase of canoes from Clearwater Design out of Kingston.
2000
Time for some new Boats
I was still using the original 8 paddle boats I had purchased but they had some serious limitations. They were 2 seaters and most families wanted room for more. The original boats were also quite prone to filling with water when it was wavy out and partially sinking. Not good. I was in Thunder Bay when I saw the new 4 seater self bailing boats I currently have and was really excited for the potential. I visited the production facility in Montreal and secured a wholesale contract. I proudly took delivery of one of the first fleets of Future Beach Paddle Boats in Canada !
2001
Continuing to Grow
The business was booming! I was super lucky to have secured a location that was very busy. I continued to grow my fleet and make new wholesale connections. Renting paddle sports equipment in the summer and skiing in the winter became my life.
2002
Mike and Jenny
Jenny had spotted me working at the beach and stopped by a few times. one night she stopped by with a couple of margaritas and the rest is history.
2004
Let the Adventure Begin
I thought the best way to test our new relationship was to drive to Mexico and live out of an old Toyota pickup for a couple of months. We survived it and had amazing adventures that included kayaking with whale sharks in Baja! We were married and continued to run the business together. we developed a reputation at the beach for friendly and fun service and long before Trip Advisor we had 5 stars with our customers.
2006
Family Time
We were blessed with out first child Kye in 2006. We were super lucky with the flexibility of owning our own business that we could keep him with us while we worked. We have raised all our boys on the beach and have made some awesome memories. I had never imagined that our lives would have turned out as they did but it was amazing.
2010-2020
All about the Good Times
We absolutely love what we do. Mille Roches Beach gains a reputation as a great place for families. We continue to offer great services at reasonable prices and our customers reward us with their continued support. Always investing in new equipment and skills, we have several firsts in the industry. We were one of the first to offer paddle boards lessons in Canada and we have developed out own special teaching and safety techniques.
2022 and onward
Time to grow
I have been very lucky to have created this life for myself. I have learned a lot about the industry and working in a tourism setting. We have created a special type of magic at Mike and Jenny's Paddle Fit, and we have introduced thousands of people to paddle sports for the first time. Over the years I have trained several staff and created best practices for all aspects of business operation.
2024
Time to Share What I have Learned
Having been so lucky to have created this business and this life, I'm keen to share it with others. Every year more people become interested in getting out on the water. Kayaking, Sup, and all sorts of fun watersports are a great way for people to get outside, exercise and create lasting memories with their family and friends. In an effort to make it accessible to everyone, I have always kept my prices reasonable and worked to make the process simple and safe. The model I have created is successful and I aim to teach others how to create something similar in other areas of Ontario and Canada.