9 Reasons To Go Paddleboarding In Driggs With Wai Mauna Paddleboard Rentals
The Teton River in Driggs, Idaho is one of the most peaceful, scenic, and relaxing places you could ever hope to paddleboarding. Casually floating pastoral farmland beneath towering, snow-covered peaks, while navigating a gentle section of river that’s teeming with wildlife, like moose!
If you’re looking to paddleboard the Teton River, here are 9 reasons to choose Wai Mauna—the Driggs paddleboard specialists.
1: Paddleboarding Is All That We Do!
There are lots of ways to enjoy the river: kayaks, drift boats, tubes, etc., but paddleboarding is all that we do—it’s our passion and we’re happy to share it!
The owner, Kyle, is a former professional paddleboard racer and all is certified by the American Canoe Association as Stand Up Paddleboard instructor. We’ll show you the proper way to hold the paddle, where—and how—to stand up, in addition to tips about navigating the current and how to get more out of your stroke.
If you’re looking to go paddling on the Teton River in Driggs we’re the go-to paddleboard specialists!
2: Teton River Shuttle Included (And You Finish Right Back At Your Car!)
We make it SUPER easy and convenient to go paddleboarding in Driggs. We’ll meet you at the takeout where you’ll finish your trip, shuttle you up the river to the put-in spot, and when you finish your trip and exit the river, your car is right there waiting for you.
It gives you the freedom to continue your day to your next adventure in Driggs!
Already have your own board or kayak? We do Teton River shuttles for just $15/person!
3: Comfortable Belt Pack PFDs
Let’s get one thing straight—PFD’s save lives, and you should ALWAYS have one when paddling on the river. In fact, it’s the law.
That said, there are different options for PFDs to make your paddle more comfortable. Any paddler under the age of 14 needs to wear a traditional, inherently buoyant PFD, which are the kind you’re probably used to.
Anyone over the age of 14 just needs to have it on the vessel, but it’s always safer to have it on your body, since that PFD strapped to the front of your board doesn’t do much good if your board is gone.
To combine the safety of a PFD on your body with the feeling of not even wearing one, we offer Coast Guard approved, Type V PFDs, which are basically like fanny packs worn around your waist that can be inflated in the event of an emergency. We’ve never seen anyone actually have to inflate one, but it’s nice to know that it’s there!
4: Flexible 4” River Fins
What’s the most likely way you’re going to fall down when paddleboarding on a river? It isn’t from the current, or lack of balance, but from using a 9” that’s too long and you hit a sand bar or a rock.
It’s kind of like slamming on your brakes on a mountain bike, where the bike (or in this case, board), stops—but your body’s momentum keeps going. That’s why we outfit all of our boards with flexible 4” fins, which are specifically made for navigating rivers and paddling in shallow water.
5: Wide, Stable Boards
If you wrote off paddleboarding after only one try, because it was simply too hard to stand up, there’s a really good chance that the board you were using just simply wasn’t big enough.
Our Imagine Surf boards are designed by Dave Kalama—a Hawaiian waterman and big wave surfer who is largely credited with having started the sport.
The boards we use are wide, thick, and packed with liters of volume, which all translates to a stable surface that’s perfect for paddleboarding in Driggs.
6: The Chance To Spot Wildlife!
We’re blessed here in Teton Valley with a healthy, thriving ecosystem. Moose and trout are the most noticeable wildlife you’ll spot while paddleboarding in Driggs (oh…and dozens of cows!), but keep an eye for other critters like beavers, otters, sandhill cranes, or any of the 100+ species of birds that live here in Teton Valley.
7: Lowest Priced Paddleboard Rentals in Driggs
Our Teton River paddleboard rentals begin at just $59! That includes the board, paddle, PFD, small dry bag, and shuttle ride up the river. Depending on which section of the Teton you paddle the prices range from $59-$79.
Want to bring the family along with you? It’s just $10 for a small kid to ride on the front of the board!
8: The Chance To Support Local Teton Valley Businesses and River Conservation
We’re all about helping support local business and the Teton Valley community. We love helping out with river cleanups, and the confirmation email you receive upon booking is packed with discounts, promotions, and specials from businesses right here in Driggs.
We also support local, river-focused non profits like Friends of the Teton River, and $1 from every rental is donated to Friends of The Teton! We’re also members of 1% For The Planet, and we want to educate everyone who comes paddleboarding in Driggs about ways to protect the watershed.