JEFF LAKEY
Jeff founded NOLA Paddleboards in 2011. He grew up in Metairie, LA, and graduated from the University of New Orleans in 2005. He moved out to Encinitas, CA, in 2006 and became a beach lifeguard. Here he discovered the sport of paddleboarding was becoming ‘a thing’ all along the north San Diego coastline. After three years, he missed Gulf Coast living and moved to Destin, FL, for a year-round Emergency Medical Technician beach-safety position. He spent two great years there working on the beach, surfing, and paddleboarding all along the Emerald Coast. As nice at it was there, he realized there is no place like New Orleans. He moved back home in 2010 to combine his passion for the relatively still young sport of paddle boarding with his love for this great city by creating NOLA Paddleboards! Jeff became the first person to stand-up-paddle across Lake Pontchartrain on July 4th, 2012, in support of Team Gleason and is currently an EMT and member of the New Orleans Fire Department.