Lessons & Hire
Imagine a sport that can be a relaxing cruise along the coastline taking in the wild-life, a thorough cardiovascular work-out or a heart pounding adrenaline ride in equal measure – and you’ll know what’s SUP. Stand up paddleboarding, or paddlesurfing, is the latest adrenaline water sport to hit the U.K shores and there is no better place to try it out than at SUP Gower on the stunning Gower peninsula in South Wales. Stand Up Paddlesurfing is a sport which we can be learnt in 10 minutes. Its great way to enjoy the coastline even if you have never had a surf lesson.
SUP is also getting a lot of praise as a great form of cardiovascular crossover training and considered a great way to exercise and keep in shape even without riding in waves, even Cindy Crawford has been seen with a paddle!
A first time Stand up paddleboarder
Credit – Balmoral boards
SUP tips
SUP SAFETY
- NEVER go out in off-shore winds
- Always take a lesson before heading out into the Ocean
- ALWAYS wear a leash rope in the surf
- Flat water paddling is easier than it looks
- SUP surfing is HARDER than it looks
Get advise on paddle length and board size – it will make a world of difference to your enjoyment of the sport!
WHY Paddle Surf?
PADDLE SURFING adds a cool new dimension to the ocean and catching and surfing waves. A whole new skill set is required to use the paddle. It is a simple, yet beautiful tool and it is almost like learning to surf all over again with all the thrills that go with it!
Many surfers forget the feeling they first had when they caught their first wave and were instantly hooked.
Benefits
Experience this again or for the first time ,but with a steeper learning curve the basics are learnt within 10 minutes on flat water!
The large board and the power of the paddle can get you into waves VERY early already standing up. You see the waves easier as you are higher up and therefore you are faster to get to the right position in the lineup and it is easier to get to un-crowded wave spots.
One of the problems with progressing to a high level in ‘surfing’ is that you become picky with the conditions and when its good everyone is out and No one wants to share waves!
When you start out Paddle Surfing riding 1-2’ on-shore junk waves becomes fun again!. Getting fitter and have the ability to cruise the coastline exploring and surfing waves you never knew existed adds the STOKE again!
Paddling 6’ above the water and seeing down into it, adds a whole new dimension to enjoying the ocean.
RESPECT
It is important with any new sport to show RESPECT and stay away from crowds and other surfers – which is not hard when you can move around so easily.
It is all about RESPECT and SUP etiquette!
PADDLING
Keep the top arm straight. Once you start bending your upper arm you will use too much power and paddle inefficiently. Apply longer more powerful strokes when gliding along and shorter higher frequency strokes to catch waves.
STANCE
When paddling in a straight line it is best to stand 90 degrees to the board(PRONE) – once you catch a glide or a wave, change into surfing position – one foot forward. The ‘surf’ or offset stance is less stable so practice paddling with feet ‘offset’. The narrower the board is, the harder it is to keep balance. Boards around 28 to 30 inches offer enough stability for most people.
SURFING
Stand up paddle boards allow you to catch waves well before they actually break. They are hard to turn from the paddling position so you need to get back towards the tail to have any effect on direction. You will learn to use the paddle for trimming, steering and turning.
Have a look at what we can offer you:
Learn to paddleboard: £45 for 2 hour session
Learning to paddleboard is easy, this session will get you to grips with the board, the equipment used in the sport and work on your core balancing technique.
Its all about Standing up, falling in and having a lot of fun!
Stand up paddleboard Gower coastal cruises: £45 for 2 hour session
The views you’ll get when standing up are quite something! The Gower Peninsula’s coast is fantastic to paddle around. Depending on the conditions we will take you on a Guided cruise of Some of Gower’s most Spectacular coastal scenery Spotting the wildlife and all under your own power.
Stand up paddleboard wave sessions: £45 for 2 hour session
S.U.P surfing offers all the sensations of normal surfing but has the advantages of catching waves you thought were ripples! once riding on the wave the basics are the same apart from the paddle in your hands which helps you to balance and also turn on the wave. Anyone can do this …..Most people will figure out the balance point on the board within 10 minutes and be cruising around or starting to catch waves.
Private 121 lesson: £35 for 1 hour
For those of you who want to progress onto riding bigger waves or just need some guidance on technique. We can take you to the best spots on the day
Stand up paddleboard Hire: £7.50 per half hour or £15 for 1 hour.
All day hire (4 hours or more £50)
If you are wanting to take boards away from site we usually require a Credit or Debit card to be left with us for the period of Hire