Unveiling the Secrets of Lake Ohrid in a Unique Way

The season for writing many travel stories is approaching, especially considering that our COVID-19 infection numbers are significantly decreasing and tourism is slowly but surely making a grand comeback.

Our travel stories are connected with local heroes who give their all to promote local tourism. One of the newest names on our list of people who truly mean tourism is Ivona Veljanoska. Recently, she organized an eco-cleanup action for Lake Ohrid using the SUP boards from her club – the SUP Club.

For Kajak.mk, she shares her story and the beginnings she and her brother Vladimir had in developing a new attraction in Ohrid.

Ivona says that they have been on boards since childhood, back when the boards were made of wood and used for rowing and sailing.

For the first time, they stood on a board completely by chance when close relatives visited them in Ohrid. At that time, SUP (stand-up paddleboarding) was something completely new to them.

Since 2018, their passion for this sport has grown, and as their interest increased, they started organizing tours and training sessions.

The first two years, we mainly worked with foreign tourists who were already familiar with this sport, but since last year, we’ve been pleasantly surprised by the great interest from domestic tourists, she says.

Ivona and Vladimir grew up in the fishing neighborhood of Kaneo. They have spent their entire lives swimming, sailing, rowing skiffs, and kayaking. Ivona has several victories in international rowing regattas with skiffs, while Vladimir has been training professionally in flatwater kayaking for over 10 years. As a junior, he achieved numerous wins and successes at international championships across Europe and the Balkans, and as a senior, he participated in two World Championships and one European Championship as a representative of North Macedonia.

Every SUP paddleboarding session in Ohrid is an adventure in itself, says Ivona. She adds that Macedonia has many undiscovered natural beauties and places worth visiting and experiencing in such a unique way. Ohrid Lake is one of the ideal spots—very safe and with excellent weather conditions.

Ivona enjoys the time spent on the tours and the many positive reactions from tourists, as well as how they experience our country and culture.

Foreign tourists are mostly attracted by the peace and tranquility. Additionally, the panoramic views and the unique blend of mountains, lake, and town are what captivate every visitor.

More information about Ivona’s club can be found with one click HERE.