MOUNTAIN LIFE - Blue Mountains | Summer 2019

36 and ran along the city’s beaches. Knowing that Lake Ontario was no longer as polluted as it had been, he began to canoe and kayak, then realized that you don’t need an ocean to catch swells. But the waves were inconsistent, so about five years ago Lennert got into paddleboarding, which he had tried during a trip back home. At the same time, organizations such as Swim Drink Fish were helping to increase water quality awareness, and the local SUP scene was growing. All of this crystallized into Surf the Greats, which started as a jokey Instagram hashtag and has evolved into a thriving SUP and surf shop that offers lessons, rentals and repairs and, with its storefront in the Leslieville neighbourhood, serves as a hub for the city’s waterborne community. “It was a passion project at first,” says Lennert, who got certified as a SUP and surf coach before opening Surf the Greats in 2014. “I wanted to create a community where I could belong—so I could stay here. Canada has a such a long history of paddling, and SUP has so much potential. There’s a learning curve, and education and safety are important, but in a big city like Toronto, the sport can be incredibly liberating. You can get away from all the people and noise and get a new perspective. Once you get somebody standing on a board and paddling and feeling comfortable, their relationship with the lake changes. If they start paddling regularly, it can change their life.” Surf the Greats has stayed true to Lennert’s eco- mindset by hosting beach cleanups and holds workshops on everything from wave forecasting to mindfulness, encouraging people to connect with both the aquatic environment and themselves. “We just want to get people onto the water,” says Lennert, “and to help them see a different side of the city.” Beyond Cherry Beach, the Spit and Islands, Lennert has a handful of other favourite put-in spots. To surf, Woodbine Beach and the Scarborough Bluffs are your best bet, especially when the wind is whipping in fall and winter. The Humber River and the Rouge River Amidst a couple million other souls confined to dry land, this entire waterscape is our carefree and car-free playground The Leslie Spit. DAN RUBINSTEIN