The District Magazine Vol. 2 Issue 2, Summer 2017 | Page 15

and, after 2 years with little time off, she took
the risk, quit her job teaching, and pursued her
business full-time.
While she was mobile and renting from a
trailer towed behind her truck, the City of
Tampa started pursuing Tessa, and eventually
succeeded in getting her business in its current
location at a city owned building at the beach
next to Whiskey Joe’s. The move has been all
positives so far, and has allowed Tessa to have
a shop where she sells apparel, boards and
the stuff people usually forgot, like sunscreen
and towels. She even has a concession where
people can pick up some food or drinks.
For rent, WhatSUP Paddle Sports offers paddle
boards, kayaks, bikes or longboards, and
also offers excursions, lessons and classes,
including a popular paddle board yoga class
on Wednesdays, which includes a free drink at
Whiskey Joe’s.
“The yoga class is a lot of fun,” Blosser said.
“We all get together out on the water for a
while, and then head over to have some drinks
and food. It’s a really diverse group, and we love
just talking and getting to know each other.”
On a beautiful, sunny day, I had the opportunity
to paddle board with Tessa — my first time
trying it. We spent about two hours hugging the
line where the shallower “shelf” area near the
shore turns into a deeper channel, which is the
best place to view wildlife. Although we weren’t
lucky enough to see the dolphins that frequent
the area, there were tons of rays, fish and birds
to view, including a beautiful rainbow-colored
parrotfish weaving through some tall sea grass.
Whatever you’re into, and whether you’re a
beginner or expert, WhatSUP Paddle Sports has
something for you. With the perfect location,
and Blosser’s contagious enthusiasm, there’s no
next place for your next outdoor excursion.
THE DISTRICT - TAMPA’S URBAN DWELLING MAGAZINE
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