A Paddle UK Qualification
Your Stand Up Paddleboard Sheltered Water Award will give you an understanding of how to plan and paddle an enjoyable and safe trip on a Stand Up Paddleboard. You will be able to journey in water that is no more than 200 metres from the shore and up to force 3 winds.
Why take the course?
When paddling SUP you need to be in control.
In order to have an enjoyable day out on the water we need to make some key decisions to ensure we are in the right place at the right time. You will consider the weather, wind and water conditions. As these, along with any waterway restrictions, may affect where and when we paddle. In addition, you will consider the personal protective equipment available and choose the most suitable to keep you safe on the water.
This Award demonstrates the required paddling standard for Paddlesport Instructor and SUP Instructor.
Course content
During the course you will look at the environmental factors to determine how far you can safely travel from shore. Whilst identifying safe exit points and expanding your knowledge of rescue techniques. It will give you the proficient skills to adapt to problems and enable you to have a safe and enjoyable day out on a stand up paddleboard.
This will include:
- Getting Ready
- At the Venue
- At the Water
- SUP Skills
- After the Session
- Future Development
At the end of each session, you and your Coach will consider where you need to go next. This will be tailored around you and dictated by your own personal goals. You will consider ways in which you can gain more information to use in your post-trip assessment, such as watching other paddlers or perhaps using video to analyse your technique.
Safely embark on longer journeys
This award will develop a range of skills and knowledge to get you safely through your journey. Balance and control of the board is important. You will learn the correct feet, body positioning and strokes required to keep you balanced. This can be whilst moving forwards or whilst steering the board. Your Coach will also ask you to consider how you could adapt your plans if needed should conditions on the water change. You will also need to know how to rescue yourself or another paddler using a SUP should they, or you, get into difficulty.
Each day we spend SUP paddling we further expand our skills and knowledge. In SUP, steady, more gradual development is encouraged, which creates a more enjoyable experience on the water. With no two trips ever the same, we never stop learning. Continually evaluating the choices we make creates a natural evolution of decision making ability and skills.