What EpicSUP does

EpicSUP is a paddleboard and kayak rental operator founded in 2011 and headquartered at a single waterfront dock on Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas (2200 South Lakeshore Boulevard). The company offers hourly and daily rentals of stand-up paddleboards (SUPs) and single and double kayaks, with SUPs priced at $23/hour or $45/day and kayaks at $15/hour or $35/day (per person for doubles). Its equipment inventory comprises 130+ paddleboards and 20+ kayaks, with a documented differentiator being the only dock in Austin renting true 12'6 x 26" and 28" competition raceboards. Supporting offerings include gift cards ($25/$50) and Paddle 10 Punch Cards ($150 for 10 one-hour paddles, non-expiring), both sold via a Square-based online storefront; an off-site Paddle Delivery Service ($250/week plus $200 deposit) available September through March; and large group event hosting for up to 150 people targeting corporate team-building, bachelor/bachelorette parties, birthdays, reunions, sup yoga, and similar occasions.

The business operates on a usage-based, pay-as-you-go direct-to-consumer model with no proprietary technology platform — bookings for large groups (30+) are routed through email inquiries to [email protected] and a phone line (512-574-2516), while walk-up retail dominates dock-side revenue. A multi-tier discount program targets students (10% Mon-Thu), military (15%), Trail Conservancy members (20%), Friday Dog Day customers (10%), and residents of nearby Oracle, Amli, and Southshore districts (10%), with an additional 10-15% group discount for parties of 10-19 and 20+ respectively. Marketing relies on Instagram, the company website, direct email/phone, and community word-of-mouth emphasizing Austin-local culture and an 'ohana paddle lifestyle.'

Customer segments span individual recreational users (families, tourists, beginners, fitness paddlers), large group event organizers, discount-eligible personas, and dog owners (via the recurring Friday Dog Day). Operations are seasonal and weather-dependent, with peak hiring between May and June, a small core team of approximately 6 employees, and an ownership profile consistent with a bootstrapped, founder-operated independent local business — no external funding, institutional investors, parent company, or public-market presence is disclosed. Strategic partnerships are community-anchored (The Trail Conservancy, Flatwater Foundation, Texas Ski Dock, New Belgium Brewing, Keep Austin Beautiful, Udemy) rather than commercial or capital-oriented.

Name

EpicSUP

Legal name

EpicSUP

Website

https://epicsup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

EpicSUP is an Austin, Texas paddleboard and kayak rental operator founded in 2011, serving walk-up recreational paddlers, large group events (up to 150 guests), and discount-eligible local segments from its single dock on Lady Bird Lake.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Watercraft Rentals

NAICS

Recreational Goods Rental (532284)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine Recreation Rentals & Tours Retail Counter (On-site Sales) (CRAMAIAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Water & Marine Guiding Services (Kayak, Canoe, Raft, SUP, Sailing) (THAAALAB)

Keywords

• Paddleboard rentals
• Kayak rentals
• Watercraft rentals
• Outdoor recreation
• Group event hosting

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin, Texas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Paddleboard Rentals: Hourly and daily rentals of stand-up paddleboards (SUP) to individual consumers and groups. Hourly rate is $23/hour, daily rate is $45/day. Includes 'In/Out' privileges allowing unlimited paddling within the rental day with return breaks.
2. Kayak Rentals: Hourly and daily rentals of single and double kayaks. Single kayak: $15/hour or $35/day. Double kayak: $15/hour or $35/day (priced per person). Rated for up to 275lbs (general) or 325lbs (fishing kayaks).
3. Gift Cards and Punch Cards: Prepaid gift cards sold in $25 and $50 denominations. Paddle 10 Punch Card sold for $150, good for 10 one-hour or 5-day paddles. Cards do not expire.
4. Off-Site Delivery Service: Delivery of SUP boards and kayaks to customer properties for off-season (September-March). Priced at $250/week plus $200 security deposit. Requires 72-hour notice. Not valid on Lady Bird Lake.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

EpicSUP rents stand-up paddleboards and kayaks (single, double, and fishing models) on an hourly and daily basis from its Lady Bird Lake dock in Austin, Texas. The business also sells prepaid Paddle 10 Punch Cards and gift cards, hosts large group events (up to 150 people) such as bachelor/bachelorette parties and corporate outings, and provides off-site delivery of equipment during the September–March off-season.

Product overview

EpicSUP operates as a paddleboard and kayak rental business offering watercraft rentals and related services on Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas. The core product portfolio consists of paddleboard rentals, single kayak rentals, and double kayak rentals, all available on an hourly or daily basis. Supporting offerings include a Paddle 10 Punch Card for frequent renters, gift cards in set denominations, off-site paddle delivery services during off-season months, and large group event hosting for up to 150 participants. Discount programs target students, military personnel, local residents, and dog owners on Fridays.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Paddleboard Rental Hourly ($23/hour) and daily ($45/day) stand-up paddleboard rentals at the Lady Bird Lake dock for individual consumers and groups. Boards are rated up to 400 lbs and include 12', 11'6", and 10' boards, as well as 12'6 x 26" and 28" competition raceboards available only with prior experience and staff approval.
• Single Kayak Rental Hourly ($15/hour) and daily ($35/day) single kayak rentals at the Lady Bird Lake dock. General sit-on-top kayaks rated up to 275 lbs; sit-on-top fishing kayaks rated up to 325 lbs.
• Double Kayak Rental Hourly ($15/hour per person) and daily ($35/day per person) double kayak rentals at the Lady Bird Lake dock. Sit-on-top doubles rated up to 550 lbs.
• Paddle 10 Punch Card $150 prepaid punch card valid for 10 one-hour or 5 day-paddles any day during open hours. Cards do not expire and can be purchased at the dock. Designed for frequent individual renters.
• Off-Site Paddle Delivery Service Seasonal delivery of SUP boards and single kayaks to customer properties for off-site rentals. SUP boards and single kayaks rent for $250/week plus a $200 refundable security deposit; delivery fees apply. Requires 72-hour notice. Not valid on Lady Bird Lake.
• Gift Cards Prepaid gift cards redeemable for paddleboard or kayak rentals, sold in $25 and $50 denominations. Cards do not expire and are valid during open hours only. Discounts cannot be combined with gift card offers.
• Large Group Events Private group event hosting for parties of 10 to 150+ at the Lady Bird Lake dock, including bachelor/bachelorette parties, corporate team-building outings, birthdays, reunions, sup yoga events, marriage proposals, and celebration of life events. Groups of 10–19 receive 10% off; groups of 20+ receive 15% off. Events of 30+ require direct inquiry and approval via [email protected].

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Flatwater FoundationminorOthersCommunity partner shown on the partners page. The Flatwater Foundation appears to be a local organization supporting the paddling/water sports community in Austin.
• Texas Ski DockminorOthersTexas Ski Dock, established in 1996, with locations in Austin and Houston. Listed as a community partner on the EpicSUP partners page.
• New Belgium BrewingminorOthersBrewery partner that appears on the EpicSUP partners page, likely providing refreshments or co-marketing for events.
• UdemyminorOthersOnline learning platform listed as a partner, possibly offering instructional content or training resources for paddling techniques.
• The Trail ConservancycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerActive TTC members receive 20% off rentals any day of the week. The Trail Conservancy focuses on trail and outdoor space preservation along Lady Bird Lake and the Austin hike and bike trail, aligning with EpicSUP's outdoor recreation mission.
• Keep Austin BeautifulminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal nonprofit organization focused on beautifying Austin. Listed as a partner supporting the local Austin community together with EpicSUP.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Sun & Ski Sports: Multi-region outdoor and water sports retailer carrying paddleboards, kayaks, and paddling accessories. Competes with EpicSUP indirectly through equipment sales that may cannibalize rental demand among enthusiast paddlers.
• REI Co-op: National outdoor recreation co-op that sells paddleboards, kayaks, and paddling gear and offers rental programs at many locations. Represents the broader incumbent outdoor retailer that competes for EpicSUP customers' equipment dollars, though it does not specialize in Austin dock-based SUP/kayak rentals.

Direct peers

• Texas Ski Dock: Established Austin (and Houston) water sports retailer founded in 1996 that also operates paddle sports demos and rentals. Already listed as an EpicSUP community partner, it is the most established local paddle sports brand EpicSUP competes with for retail and rental share.
• Rowing Dock: Austin-based kayak, canoe, and stand-up paddleboard rental operation located on Lady Bird Lake — EpicSUP's most direct head-to-head competitor on the same body of water, with overlapping customer segments and similar product offerings.

Others

• Oru Kayak: Direct-to-consumer origami-style kayak manufacturer. Not a direct rental competitor but adjacent in the paddle sports ecosystem — represents the consumer-ownership trend that can erode rental demand over time.

Regional players

• Float On Paddleboard Tours & Rentals: Portland, Oregon-based stand-up paddleboard tour and rental operator serving a different geography than EpicSUP. Comparable business model (guided tours plus hourly rentals, group events) and a useful regional comp for unit economics in the SUP rental category.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/epicsup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/epicsup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about EpicSUP