Tis the season to be on the water. Maybe you're paddling Quinn’s Pond, surfing the wave at Whitewater Park, or floating the Boise River. However you do it, you’ve probably seen a Hydrus board out there. Maybe you even have one.

What you might not know? Those boards weren’t just made in Idaho – they were born here.

Meet Hydrus Board Tech, a family-run company based in Eagle that’s building some of the most durable, high-performing paddleboards in the world.

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How it started

Hydrus co-founder Jason Zawadzki grew up surfing in Southern California. After a serious knee injury left him unable to pop up on a surfboard, he pivoted to surfing with a paddleboard. Jason started shaping his own boards and that was the beginning of his love of paddleboarding.

When Jason moved to Idaho, his brother Nick (an avid whitewater kayaker and rafter) pulled him into river life. Jason tried kayaking, but couldn’t keep up with his little brother as quickly as he wanted. Partly out of competition and partly out of curiosity, Jason took his paddleboard on the river instead.

They had a blast – and beat the hell out of his fiberglass paddleboard in the process. So they decided to build better ones. They wanted boards specifically for rivers: more stable, thicker, and with a shape built for moving water. And, most importantly, made from something more durable than fiberglass.

What followed was years of experimenting with industrial composites. They tried Kevlar, aerospace materials, rubberized epoxies – anything they could get their hands on. They were shaping boards in the garage and then in the backroom of Jason's financial office, with paddleboards propped on sawhorses next to stacks of client files. They would build a board and then take it out onto Idaho water to test it.

Eventually, people started asking if they could buy one. In 2012, Jason and Nick officially launched their paddleboard business: Hydrus Board Tech.

They moved into a bigger shop in the Eagle. Jason worked his financial job upstairs and built boards with Nick downstairs.

At this point they were still experimenting with materials and shapes. Then came the breakthrough.

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The invention of ArmaLite

After a lot of trial and error (and a graveyard of bad boards), they created their signature construction: ArmaLite.

ArmaLite was originally developed from a military-grade chemical used for lightweight bulletproofing in Humvees. Over the course of three years, Jason and Nick adapted the material for use in paddleboards and surfboards, navigating challenges like the foam melting under high heat. The result was a lightweight, highly durable board that could handle rough conditions (like hitting rocks in rivers) while still being hand-shaped for performance.

Hydrus also makes inflatable paddleboards, which are now their most popular product. They’re high-performing, lightweight, and sturdy, making them a favorite for casual paddlers and serious athletes alike.

A small shop with a big heart

Jason and Nick were the perfect team: Jason the entrepreneur, Nick the engineer. They grew up building everything together, from houses with their dad to CNC machines and snowboards.

In 2021, Nick passed away in a tragic accident while paddleboarding the Payette River.

“I couldn’t go back to the shop,” Jason said. “It was just too many memories.”

The business slowed. Production of hardboards stopped. Jason wasn’t sure if he’d continue – with the business or with paddleboarding.

But the community of friends, customers, strangers that Jason and Nick had amassed showed up. People reached out with phone calls, cards, kind words, and eventually, encouragement to keep going.

“I knew I had developed some friendships and I knew that we really got to know some people, but didn't understand to the extent that Hydrus was impacting them, and how much they were following our story,” said Jason.

Along with community support, a mindset shift brought Jason back to Hydrus after losing his brother. First, he felt a deep need to finish what they had started together. He also saw an opportunity to expand Hydrus into something more holistic – a business centered on well-being and the health benefits of paddleboarding. Over the years, he’d heard countless stories from customers about how the sport had helped them physically and mentally. That became the heart of the mission. Hydrus wasn’t just about making good boards anymore, it was about doing something good in the world.

Art meets science

To Jason, board shaping is a kind of sculpture.

“I’ve always considered myself an artist first,” he said. “Then you add in science, hydrodynamics, and the feel of surfing – all those romantic things surfers know and love.”

Shaping river boards is a particularly unique challenge. Unlike ocean waves, which are more consistent and powerful, river waves vary wildly from place to place. That means every detail matters: volume, buoyancy, tail and nose shape, concaves, fin setups, and even the length of the fins.

“It’s been a lot of trying stuff and a lot of feedback from a lot of riders over the years,” said Jason. “And [talking to customers] is something that we love to do. I still try to get on the phone with a lot of people.”

Jason and his partner, Angela, are constantly talking to customers over the phone or via text, getting feedback and figuring out what riders are looking for so they can ensure their products are meeting customers' needs.

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Why people love Hydrus

Yes, the boards are insanely durable. Yes, they’re high-performing and hand shaped. But what really sets Hydrus apart is the people.

Jason and Angela still get on the phone with customers. When you have a question, you talk to one of them. They remember names. They care.

From their shop in Eagle, Hydrus ships boards to over 45 countries. They work with elite athletes, rescue teams, expedition paddlers, and regular folks who just love being on the water.

“Our thing is to build [our boards] the best that we can and then back it up with good customer service. Treat everyone like family,” said Angela. “We want everyone to feel like they’re family.”

What’s next for Hydrus

Jason and Angela have big dreams: creating a manufacturing hub right here in the Treasure Valley for existing and expanded Hydrus products, as well as other health, wellness, and fitness products.

But they’re taking it slow. What matters most is building the best boards they can and continuing to treat each and every person who buys one like family.

Their favorite paddle spots

I had to ask them for some local paddleboarding recs. Here’s what they said:

• Quinn’s Pond or Star Pond – Easy access and kid-friendly
• Boise River from Linder to Star – Mellow local float
• The Meanders in McCall – For a scenic, lazy paddle
• Upper Payette Lake - Gorgeous with wildlife sightings
• Payette River around Horseshoe Bend - For the adventurous

Jason and Angela also recommended joining the SUP Idaho Facebook Page for ideas on where to paddle and as a way to meet other people involved in the sport.

Try one yourself

If you’re curious to try a Hydrus board, check them out at ​hydrusboardtech.com and use code fromboise for 10% off your purchase.

There's a reason why they are one of the highest rated paddleboards in the world.

You can listen to our podcast convo here.

👉 Get 10% off your Hydrus board with code fromboise.

Thanks for reading!

With love from Boise,

Marissa

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