A Paddleboard with Purpose

Not all paddleboards are created equal! When it came to choosing a paddleboard supplier for our fleet, Glide SUP definitely stood out above the rest. “Glide is an outstanding company with an ethos that closely matches our own,” says Ian Tomcho, Expedition Equipment Specialist for Lindblad. “Their sustainable quality products allow us to continue exploring our world more deeply, while working hard to keep our waterways clean.” Get Inspired By Photos, Videos, Webinars, Stories, And Exclusive Offers. Sign Up

Glide is the brainchild of founder Ken Driscoll who came to stand-up paddleboarding after his professional kayaking career was cut short from injuries. “I saw my first paddleboarders on a trip to Southern California back before it was in the mainstream,” recalls Driscoll. “I thought this was a great way for me to get back to paddling since I was able to stand up.” He planned to paddle whitewater like he did in his kayaking days, but he wasn’t able to find a board that could withstand the rigors of river use. So, he set out to create one himself.

At the same time, Driscoll really wanted to make a very green company. The surf industry as a whole, he noted, has a pretty big environmental impact and Glide wanted to make the least impact possible. The team worked tirelessly to develop an innovative and environmentally responsible manufacturing process that would not diminish quality, durability, or performance.

As paddleboarding exploded in popularity, Glide expanded beyond whitewater products and into the rental and commercial use market—one of the largest segments in the industry but also the one creating the most waste and damage. “We had the perfect solution and we knew we had to educate people on the importance of using a product that wasn’t going to destroy the places we love to visit and explore.”

When you’re paddling on a Lindblad trip we’re proud to say that you’re standing on the most sustainable board in the industry. Driscoll shared some of the elements that set his boards apart.

NO FLAKING MEANS HAPPIER, HEALTHIER FISH

Standard paddleboards are coated with highly toxic auto paint. Every time you take a stroke and the paddle knocks the side of the board little chips of paint flake off and leach Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) into the ecosystem. “Take a look all around the rails of a board after a few years of use and there’s literally no paint left—it’s all polluting our waterways and getting ingested by marine life,” explains Driscoll.

“We definitely didn’t want that to happen, so we developed a unique, patent-pending formula called Glide Surface Shield (GSS).” GSS is free of cancer-causing VOCs and eliminates the use of harmful epoxy paints. This non-polluting product also improves paddle performance: the rough texture finish it creates helps break surface tension, so the board actually slides along the top of the water for a smoother ride. Glide also strictly adheres to green manufacturing principles for its resins. They exclusively use 100% non-toxic Entropy Bio resins which are sourced from the waste stream of other industries like biodiesel fuel and paper production.

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLENo other American SUP company recycles their EPS foam scraps as efficiently as Glide. Though he founded Glide in Southern California, Driscoll ended up relocating to Salt Lake City, just a few short miles from ACH, the manufacturer of the foam used to make their boards. “This not only greatly reduced our carbon footprint in shipping, but it allows ACH to easily pick up all our foam remnants and sanding waste which they grind into secondary foam used in construction projects,” explains Driscoll. The result is zero-waste—not a single ounce of leftover foam ends up biodegrading in a landfill.

THEY TAKE A LICKING AND…

That innovative GSS coating is not just eco-friendly, it’s also ultra-durable. Glide boards can withstand all kinds of abuse from rocks, debris, paddle strikes, drops, dragging, and more. And when it comes to product testing the team loves pushing the envelope to guarantee their boards stay intact—check out their very entertaining ‘Will It Break Wednesday?’ videos!

Most boards that are in heavy rotation in a commercial environment have a lifespan of just one season. That’s a whole lot of boards quickly ending up in landfills or maybe even dumped in the ocean. The better the longevity, the better for the planet. “Thanks to Glide’s solid construction, Lindblad will be getting 7 plus years of use out of their entire fleet,” says Driscoll. “We’ve been in business for 10 years now and some of our original customers tell us they’re still enjoying the very first board they purchased.”

A THRILLING WAY TO CONNECT WITH NATURE

You’ll find Glide paddleboards aboard seven of our ships, including National Geographic Venture, Quest, Orion, and Endeavour II. Paddling is a fun and dynamic way to personally explore the wild world—from idyllic shores and turquoise waters in the South Pacific to Alaska’s rugged, forest-lined coast. And it’s perfect for a wide range of abilities and ages. Glide’s custom design is a bit wider than standard which makes it extremely stable for newbies, but veteran boarders will appreciate the thinned-out rails that make the board lively in the surf.

First time paddler? No problem! Driscoll shared the key to conquering this activity: don’t look down at the board! It may be hard at first but just like riding a bike, looking straight ahead or at the horizon will lead to less wobbling and more stability. He also encourages everyone to try paddling at least once, even if you’re a bit nervous. “The visibility you get on a paddleboard is unparalleled,” says Driscoll. “You’ll feel more connected by standing on the water versus sitting inside a kayak, and you can see things more directly and clearly in the water.”