< Previous20 COASTMONTHLY.COM | MAY 2025409.206.5800 NANPROPERTIES.COM @nanproperties Anastasia Gaido 808.765.8765 anastasia.gaido@nanproperties.com @anastasiagaidorealestate Zuleima Cossio 409.877.3692 zuleima.cossio@nanproperties.com @zuleimacossio_realtor Jennifer Delaney 832.677.0025 jennifer.delaney@nanproperties.com @delaney_builds LISTED AT $1.15M Diamond Beach #PH-704 11418 Starfish LISTED AT $1.465M 10 Quintana Place LISTED AT $875K Diamond Beach, #511 LISTED AT $725K 3128 Avenue L LISTED AT $899K YOUR GALVESTON LUXURY EXPERTS22 COASTMONTHLY.COM | MAY 2025 SHIP SHAPE A WATER WORKOUT Paddleboarding is a way to exercise and enjoy the beauty of the sea story by LAURA PENNINO photos by JENNIFER REYNOLDS S unny skies, low wind and calm waters are prime conditions for anyone who wants to experience paddleboarding in and around Galveston Island. Jen Johnson, a former school teacher, and her husband, Judd Johnson, are the co-owners of Southern Spears Surf Shop, 6026 Seawall Blvd. They bought the business in July 2021. Jen, who manages daily operations, prefers pad- dleboarding and Judd prefers surfing, she said. “My husband owned a business in Houston,” Jen said. “With the money from the sale of that business, we wanted to find a local small business to buy. We ended up finding the surf shop. The timing was right, and the price was right. We are a core surf shop. We get all types of customers — from a newbie starting out with a foam board to seasoned surfers.” Many patrons rent paddleboards from the shop and take them near the fishing pier or transport them to Sea Isle or Jamaica Beach on Galveston’s West End, she said. “Some rent the boards and go to Galveston Island State Park where there are lots of pad- dleboarding and kayak trails,” Jen said. Galveston Island State Park visitors have ac- cess to three paddling trails ranging in length from 2.6 miles to 4.8 miles. Paddleboarding has become popular as a low-impact exercise that also allows people to enjoy outdoors. (Right) Marlo Worthen, with SUP Gulf Coast, paddle- boards off the beach near 29th Street in Galveston. COASTMONTHLY.COM | MAY 2025 2324 COASTMONTHLY.COM | MAY 2025 SHIP SHAPE “Known for its ability to engage multi- ple muscle groups simultaneously, pad- dleboarding provides a unique blend of strength training and cardiovascular workout that can benefit your entire body,” according to Thurso Surf, which manufac- tures and sells stand-up paddleboards and surfboards. “When you engage in stand-up paddle- boarding, you’re not just passively floating; you’re actively propelling yourself through the waters. This action primarily targets the upper body — your arms, shoulders and chest work continuously as you paddle. But that’s just the beginning. The challenge of maintaining balance as you navigate varying water conditions calls upon your leg muscles and core stabilizers extensively.” Paddleboarding can help keep your heart happy and healthy. Some studies have shown that just 30 minutes of paddleboard- ing can lower blood pressure by up to 10 points — all thanks to aerobic exercise and paddleboarding’s calming environment, according to reports. About 4.13 million people participated in paddleboarding in 2023 — an increase of 9.3 percent over 2022, according to data published last year by Statista Research Department. “Our clients come from everywhere,” Jen said. “We have had some Girl Scouts groups reach out to rent multiple boards so they can earn their patches. We see a lot of families who are coming to the island for a cruise, and they will book a stay for a day or two before or after their cruise. Our 11-foot board can fit an adult, a child and a dog to paddle out on nice calm waters. The youngest we have had on a paddleboard with an adult was 5 years old. Some of our paddleboarders are in their 60s, 70s and even older.” For those interested in renting pad- dleboards or surf boards directly from the beach, Marlo and Jason Worthen are (Right) Marlo Worthen, who co-owns SUP Gulf Coast with her husband, Jason, started paddleboarding more than 10 years ago. She and Jason rent paddle- boards and surf boards on the beach between 27th and 29th streets in Galveston. (Top right) Worthen paddleboards toward a dolphin. COASTMONTHLY.COM | MAY 2025 25 ready to help. The Worthens are co-own- ers and operators of SUP Gulf Coast, which launched in 2015 and operates on the beach between 27th and 29th streets. The Worthens were inspired to open their business after visiting a small beach town in Ireland where they saw a van loaded up with surf boards, Marlo said. Marlo credits Jason with teaching her how to paddleboard. In addition to paddleboard- ing and surfing, they enjoy “paddle surfing,” which Marlo explained is “actively catching the waves while you are standing on the board.” “Paddleboarding and surfing are huge passions of ours,” Marlo said. “The ability to grab a board and be surrounded by nature within minutes is an unbelievable experience. Dolphins often make an appearance. The occasional sea turtle might even show up to greet you. If you are looking for a one-of-a kind experience in Galveston, this is it!” We never get tired of this view from Diamond Beach Condos! At The Design Firm, we specialize in interior design, remodels, and new construction selections for residential and commercial spaces, creating interiors as stunning as the scenery with comfort, functionality, and a deep understanding of our clients’ needs. A perfect blend of luxury and comfort! www.thedesignfirm.com 281-494-4433 13013 Southwest Freeway, Stafford, Texas 77477 28 COASTMONTHLY.COM | MAY 2025 FEATURE ‘EVERY BOARD HAS A STORY’ Downtown island museum celebrates the rich history of Texas surfing story by BARBARA CANETTI photos by JENNIFER REYNOLDS A lthough Galveston’s waves aren’t like the ones in California or Hawaii, surfing here has been part of island culture for decades. The sport reached its heyday in the 1960s, but the jetties and piers jutting out into the Gulf of Mexico have continued to amplify the waves that attract surfers day after day and year after year. And because some of the earliest surfboards in Texas were made nearby, it seemed like a perfect place to establish a surf museum to honor the sport. After four years of planning and building, enthusiasts in March opened the Texas Surf Museum, 2110 Mechan- ic St. in the island’s downtown. The museum is a tribute to the art and sport of surfing, said Al Brown, president of the nonprofit set up to finance the museum. “Why Galveston? It all started here in Texas and is where the competitions have been,” said Brown, who started surfing at age 7 with his older brother. The brothers would drive each week from Houston down to Galveston’s beaches where Brown developed a love of the sport early on, he said. He has collected board and surfing memorabilia, which is part of the museum’s portfolio. Along one wall is the history of surfboards, with original and replications of early wood, fiberglass, balsa and Styrofoam boards, most signed and designed by local board makers. The museum acquired a 17-foot-long replica of an ancient Hawaiian olo board, as well as an alaia board with a palm tree design reminiscent of Galveston’s famous Balinese Room nightclub and created by Paul Roach of Hitchcock. A hollow wooden board, made in the 1940s from plans published in Popular Mechanics magazine, also COASTMONTHLY.COM | MAY 2025 29 Don Rougeau, who once surfed the Texas coast, looks over a collection of vintage surf boards during a soft opening in February of the Texas Surf Museum in downtown Galveston.Next >