SUPERIOR, Wis. — North Shore SUP is a stand-up paddleboarding company in Superior that strives to help the public see their local waterways from a different perspective.

Before going out on the water, Heather Holmes attaches a fin to one of her stand-up paddleboards. She is the owner of North Shore SUP.

“If you didn’t have a fin on the board, there would be no way to track, so your board would just spin like a top on the water every time you take a stroke and that can get really frustrating,” said Holmes.

With the board ready, Holmes paddles around Barker’s Island. Holmes said she started the company 11 years ago.

The goal is to teach northwestern Wisconsinites and Minnesotans how to paddle.

Since stand-up paddleboards can cost hundreds of dollars, Holmes said she also tries to make the equipment more affordable so people can get out on the water.

“It is how you connect with that sense of place and there are lots of people that grow up near waterways that never get to recreate on them, so we are trying to provide opportunities for the local community and visitors,” said Holmes.

North Shore SUP is not only about simply getting people out in the water.

Katie Swanson teaches stand up paddleboard yoga classes. She believes doing yoga out on the water offers a little more.

“Some of the yoga poses that you do on a mat, you are working on developing balance and muscle and being in tune with your body and you just get that a little bit more on a board obviously when there are waves and people going by, listening to birds so it kind of deepens the experience a bit,” said Swanson.

Holmes said she always enjoys teaching people how to paddle and guide them around Barker’s Island.

“We place high value upon the importance of recreating on the water and connecting to the waterways around here because when you get to enjoy it, it encourages that environmental stewardship side,” said Holmes. “It encourages you to want to keep them nice and make sure that generations after you have access.”

Stand up paddleboarding is simply a therapeutic experience for Holmes. She hopes more people get to experience it at least once.