WHO WE ARE
Aloha!
I'm Jess, owner of Water Wanderers, a full-service stand up paddleboarding (SUP) and kayak rental business based out of Charlestown, Rhode Island. Despite all the uncertainty in the world, I began this business in 2021 because I believe in the restorative power of nature and in helping others reconnect with themselves and Mother Earth. The sentiment that guides my personal and professional life is that of “aloha,” the Hawaiian term whose deeper meaning beyond “hello” and “goodbye” is “joyfully sharing life.” I believe that people are their truest selves in nature and that the world is a better place when we are all kinder to ourselves, one another, and our Earth. Water Wanderers’ mission is to share knowledge and passion for the culture of stand up paddle boarding in order to inspire all of us to live and love more freely.
Jess
ABOUT
JESS JALBERT
FOUNDER/DIR. OF OPERATIONS
Jess hails from Vernon, CT originally but has lived in South County for the last 20 years, having earned her BS at URI. In 2009, she co-founded Moku Nalu Paddle on Block Island and enjoyed many years learning the ropes of the SUP business + culture. More recently, Jess has worked in addiction recovery services, but decided to shift her focus back to her passion for SUP during the pandemic. Jess is PaddleFit Certified, and holds certifications in both First Aid and CPR.
Anyone who’s met Jess even once knows her as a gentle, kind, and generous soul with an adventurous spirit and a killer smile. She believes in transparency and authenticity, and leads with grace, passion, and a desire to learn as much as she can in order to grow both personally and professionally. When she’s not paddle boarding, you can find her hanging with her son, Coyle and dancing to Reggae music.
SHARE THE STOKE
It's better together.
Even if you've never stepped foot on a board before, you've probably heard the term "stoked" at one point or another. Popularized by California surfers in the 1950s, stoked means to reach a state of happiness that borders on euphoria, a feeling of blissed-out nirvana. Like so many in the surfing community, we believe deeply in the concept of sharing the stoke. Basically, that the feeling of pure joy and elation is much better when it's shared with others. In fact, we've found this to be true of many who rent with us: once they've gotten a taste of the SUP culture, they can't wait to introduce the lifestyle to those they love. Our goal, both as business owners and members of the surfing community, is to share our knowledge and passion for SUP culture with others so we can all enjoy the stoke together.