Ormond Beach family creates national paddle board competition

Ormond Beach Observer
Neighbors

Whether they’re working on their landscaping business or a water sporting event, the Ganz family finds they work better together.

For the Ganz family, almost everything is a family affair.

After working together to create a successful landscaping business, the family of five decided to take another direction this year and started Paddle Stars, a national paddle boarding race. Tommy Ganz Sr., and his wife Barbara Ganz got the idea for the event after watching their oldest son Tommy Ganz Jr., become addicted to the sport a year ago.

“It’s one of the fasting growing sports in the world,” Tommy Ganz Sr., said. “(Tommy Ganz Jr.) has been a surfer since he was kid. Going out on a paddle board, he just fell in love with it. Because of his real competitive nature, he took to the paddle board racing side and started racing all around country."

“I just hopped on one and that was it,” Tommy Ganz Jr., said. He recently finished 34th at a world competition in California and is one of the top racers in the local area.

The family anticipates about 100 elite paddle boarders and 100 recreational paddle boarders to compete. The large draw for boarders could be Paddle Stars' cash prizes. The highest one being $10,000.

The two day event, held July 26-27, will take place at both City Island on the Halifax River and on Daytona Beach near the Ocean Walk center. Paddle Stars Race for the Cash includes free activities like a special olympics race, paddle board lessons and kids fishing lessons.

Though the Ganz family is excited to see this event grow, they admit there are unique obstacles when it comes to working with your family.

“There’s emotional ties,” Tommy Ganz Jr., said. “There are times when everyone wants to do something different. When you’re doing it together, there’s a team and you’re not really the boss. Sometimes it gets a little tough, a lot of screaming at the dinner table, but it all works out in the end.”