Today we’d like to introduce you to Holly Orr.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
The short answer is my hobby of paddling on the river took over and became my profession.
A more in-depth look at the history of my business will take you back to when I was in high school. In 2000 my older brother had the brilliant idea that we should enter the Texas Water Safari, a 260-mile non-stop canoe race from San Marcos to the Coast. This expanded my view from a kid on a camping trip tooling around the lake in a canoe to the experiencing the challenge of racing, exploring new water ways and meeting some wonderful people. I was hooked on paddling and the culture of ultra marathon canoe racing! While time marched on, paddling remained a large part of my life. I worked to develop my skills both as a competitor and an instructor.
The story to Texas Canoes and Kayaks and Paddle With Style should not be told without sharing two other names. Tom Goynes and Duane TeGrotenhuis. In 1972 Tom and his wife Paula launched San Marcos’s first canoe rental. Tom was also an avid racer in Texas Water Safari, winning several times. They also have a camp-ground along the river where groups still enjoy camping today.
In 1986 Duane and his wife Evelyn bought the Goynes canoe rental business and continue to provide rental services along the San Marcos River. They grew their business and opened a retail store named TG Canoe & Kayak. The shop is conveniently is located right next to the Goynes campground near the San Marcos River.
When I moved from Spring Tx to San Marcos in 2006, I worked part time for the Goynes and began to develop a deeper friendship with both of these families. They were willing to take me under their wing and teach me various key items about running a paddle sport business. Both men encouraged me to start teaching canoeing, knowing it was my passion and dream. By sharing my contact information with their customers, it helped me establish a business.
In 2009 I launched Paddle With Style. I begin by offering paddling programs designed to help kids in central Texas learn how to canoe. Within a year I began offering lessons geared for adults entering into the Texas Water Safari. Expanding to offering lessons for everyone of all interests, ages, and skill levels for paddling. Since starting out I have traveled all over the country offering various canoe and kayak courses specializing in American Canoe Instructor courses and the Texas Water Safari.
I also worked part time for the TeGrotenhuis helping with rentals and retail. In 2016 they were ready to retire from renting canoes and I was ready to expand my business from just teaching to rentals. I was ready to go all in, making it my primary livelihood. I was told by Duane this type of business is a “labor of love”. If you are just in it for the money, you can work elsewhere and make more without as much sweat and stress. However, if you love the business, you can do alright for yourself. I bought his boats; he sent me his customers and I continue to grow Paddle With Style.
In 2020 I launched Texas Canoes and Kayaks to take over and focus on the recreational side of the business. Today Texas Canoes and Kayaks offers rentals and guided trip for small and very large groups. Offering eco tours, team/building, cooperate river trips and overnight tours.
(*Noted this was before the covid shut down, which was a tough survival story of it’s own; followed by a tornado in 2022 which destroyed most of my inventory; another big setback that we had to work through. )
Paddle With Style specializes in coaching ultra marathon canoe racing, kids paddling programs and American Canoe Association instructor workshops. In addition to custom sewing canoe related items like boat covers.
I can testify that the “3 generations” of San Marcos’s first canoe rentals goes far beyond a simple business. The Goynes and TeGrotenhuies have passed down their knowledge, love of the river to me.
I am proud to continue offering lessons, guided trips and rentals for all ages and skill levels along the San Marcos River. We are lucky to have this gem of a river here in Texas.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There have been some ups and downs; but overall it has worked out.
I started out small and avoided as much business debt as possible. I also surrounded myself with others who had experience in running successful business and tried to learn as much as possible from them. I believe these two keys factors have helped me run a sustainable business in hard times.
Natural disasters like flooding and high water come with the territory of running an outdoor based business. There have been several times when I was counting on a profitable weekend and it was a rain out. Typically, if a group reschedules only 50% will be able to make a different day, so it is a big loss. I closely monitor the river and if it is too high, I will cancel all rentals and not charge my customers. Safety is a top priority.
Like many businesses Covid/2020 was super tough. Being shut down right before spring break, and throughout the summer was very challenging. We couldn’t shuttle people in our vans and our river access through the city parks was closed. While some outdoor businesses hit record high numbers, we hit record low numbers. I began sewing face mask and providing them to the local shops to sell to sustain through the spring.
In March 2022 a tornado swept through my property. It destroyed my home, vehicles and the majority of my canoe and kayak inventory. While I did have some insurance coverage, it did not cover everything and was a huge set back. The downside of being a small business is when things like this happen you can’t manage normal business duties and clean up the mess at the same time. My friends and community came to my rescue and went above and beyond to get me back on my feet and operating again.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I believe one thing that sets me apart this the fact this is more than a business to me. It truly is my way of life. As a family we enjoy paddling and racing together. I have volunteered serving on the Texas Canoe and Kayak Racing Association board many years, coronating river clean ups and racing events.
As a business, I have quality gear and clean vans. I strive to provide a positive experience for people on the river. My team shares the love of the river and are trained kayaking instructors. The San Marcos River is one of the most beautiful rivers in Texas and we offer trips on 3 different sections.
I have taught from Vermont to California working with various individuals and organizations including Texas Parks & Wildlife, REI, United States Geological Survey (USGS), Boy/Girl Scouts, Texas State University, Texas A&M and Baylor University . https://www.paddlewithstyle.com/about
The Texas Water Safari is my passion, and my students have done very well in a race that is billed as the worlds toughest boat race.
https://www.paddlewithstyle.com/competition
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Find someone who is in the business that you respect. Visit and learn from that person. Go to events to meet new people and network.
Pricing:
- It is best to call or check our web page
Contact Info:
- Website: www.texascanoekayak.com & www.paddlewithstyle.com
- Instagram: Paddle With Style
- Facebook: Texas Canoes and Kayaks
Image Credits
Photo Credit @Sandypaddler
