Today we’d like to introduce you to Jon Ory
Jon, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was the director of an international community service based, summer abroad program in New Zealand and Fiji for 12 years. I moved to Raglan, NZ in 2008 where I managed a kayak shop and worked as a guide. Our company had the opportunity to borrow some stand-up paddleboards (SUPs) for a youth group, and that was the first time I taught paddleboarding. Time warp, there wasn’t YouTube university or Google for that matter. Needless to say, the kids had a blast and learned to SUP in about 5 minutes. Two years later, I moved back to Charleston to say goodbye to my 96 year old incredibly Grandmother, and for the first in my life, I knew that I wanted to be an entrepreneur, and start a paddleboard company on Folly Beach. In May 2011, I opened CHARLESTON SUP SAFARIS and over the past 14 years, we have offered paddleboard tours, rentals, SUP sales, summer camps, and yoga. Additionally, we have organized 16 paddleboard races over 12 years, based on costume themes such as Halloween or St. Patrick’s Day. We have donated over $25,000 to local charities that work directly with the youth in our community. Y2O has been our sponsored charity for the past eight years, and we have taken the kids in this program paddleboarding, kayaking, surfing, and providing beach education. We continue to operate our business at 83 Center St, Folly Beach, and this year we’re stoked to have added kayaking tours and rentals, and a six-passenger boat tour to our SUP Safaris.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Since starting Charleston SUP Safaris, I have found my true calling as an outdoor educator, and everything just flows in life. Even though returning home after living abroad presented challenges, like readjusting from living half way around the world in a surfing paradise, knowing that I wanted to establish a paddleboard company allowed me to reconnect with my hometown, Chucktown. Through this venture, I have had the pleasure of meeting incredible new people while also rekindling old friendships and making new alliances in the local business community. Speaking of these alliances, Covid was a challenging time for all small businesses. Folly Beach mandated that all businesses close, however, it only lasted for five weeks so we got back out on the water, and it ended up being a great season because people were allowed to go outside. We love the water, so it was easy to embrace the new rule of going outside. We made the best out of this challenging time.
Since I own a seasonal business, every winter presents amazing opportunities to travel, and if my squirreling the nuts away financial strategy works, then I take advantage of my time off by volunteering with a few surfing nonprofits that work directly with members of our local community as well as offering service trips overseas. Folly Beach was my home for 12 out of the 14 years while running SUP Safaris, until I bought a home on James Island just 2 miles off the beach, so I now enjoy riding my bike to work in the morning. In January, my wife Liz and I eloped in Cape Town, South Africa so life is great. New life challenges accepted.
As you know, we’re big fans of Charleston SUP Safaris. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Charleston SUP Safaris has been voted the best stand-up paddle company in Charleston and has received international recognition as a leader in the industry. We are the original paddle board company in Charleston, having guided over 6,000 paddlers through Folly Beach’s waterways over the past 14 years.
Join us on the beautiful Folly River to learn how to paddle board with our expert guides and explore the salt marsh ecosystem while searching for local wildlife. We offer stand-up paddle board dolphin safari tours, rentals, SUP sales, river and surf lessons, SUP yoga, fitness, and summer camps. New in 2024, we offer kayak tours, rentals and a six-person boat tour to Morris Island.
Charleston SUP Safaris specializes in accommodating large groups, family outings, bachelor or bachelorette parties, corporate team-building events, and special occasions. Visit our shop and our professionally certified guides will take you out on the water.
Our passion and primary focus is paddle boarding. Before your trip, our lifeguard-certified guides provide proper ground school instruction and in-water paddle training, ensuring safe, fun, and exciting trips. Whether you’re seeking an invigorating flat water paddle through our estuaries or are interested in catching ocean waves, we love the water and want to share “The Stoke” with our customers. Come check us out! Everyone’s learning how with the paddle board with SUP Safaris.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Throughout my entire life, I have consistently been an integral part of athletic teams, reaching the pinnacle of my athletic career as a collegiate football player. I thrived in team environments and acquired invaluable traits such as hard work, loyalty, and leadership, all of which I have successfully applied to both my personal and professional life.
Pricing:
- $55 SUP tours
- $45 kids under 12
- $55 Kayak tours
- $45 kids under 12
- $35 two hour rentals
Contact Info:
- Website: https://charlestonsupsafaris.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlestonsupsafaris/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CharlestonSUPSafaris
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/sup_safaris
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@charlestonsupsafaris7797
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/charleston-sup-safaris-folly-beach
