Everything you need to know to make the most of your SUP adventure

How young can you learn to SUP?

We teach from the age of 6. This does however really depend on how capable the child is at this age. We understand all children are different and one child may find following instruction easy while another can really struggle and we want everyone to have the best time possible. An adult on a separate board must accompany any child under the age of 10.

We have taught a 92 year old, so as long as you’re fit enough, we’re up for it if you are.

Will I be able to stand up on my first lesson?

Over 99% of our customers will be stood up and paddling independently in the first 15 minutes. While we cannot 100% guarantee you will be stood up first time, there has been less than a handful of people who have been unable to for various reasons. We have a range of learning techniques and lots of patience so don’t worry – we’ll make sure you are up and paddling as soon as possible.

Will I fall in?

Paddle boarding is essentially a dry sport and it is rare for people to fall in on our beginner sessions if they follow our structured teaching plan but don’t worry if you do. We also use the best inflatable SUP’s on the market, which are very stable and give you the very best experience possible for you to learn on. The conditions at Kingsbridge also are extremely sheltered which makes it a great place to learn to SUP. Trying to keep kids out of the water however is a different challenge altogether!

What do I need to bring with me?

We provide all the equipment needed for you to actually paddle board. You just need to turn up in T-shirt and shorts or suitable swimming attire as well as suitable footwear to walk to and from the pontoon (we recommend flip-flops). We advise against wearing a wetsuit during the warmer months, as you can heat up quite quickly. However we do offer wetsuits at no extra costs should you require one. We also have a small selection of wetsuit boots for those to really suffer from cold feet. Bare foot gives you the best chance to stand, as you feel more connected to the board.

A change of clothes and a towel is always useful but generally not required.

What happens if I pay a deposit to book a session and I need to cancel?

We get extremely busy – especially in the summer – so booking is essential. Since 2020 and the COVID pandemic we moved to taking payment in full at time of booking but understand sometimes plans change. We try our very best in these situations to re-book you into another slot that is suitable, failing that we offer you a full refund of your deposit/payment.

If you cancel with less than 48 hours before your session, we will not be able to offer a refund, as staff will have been paid to be ready for your session.

What happens if the weather is bad?

Sessions may be cancelled in the event of bad weather if it is dangerous to go out. As a general rule, winds in excess of 20mph, gusting 30mph will cancel a beginner session or hire. Thunder and lightning will also cancel all sessions.

If we have to cancel a session we look to re-book, but if we cannot get a suitable slot for you we are happy to refund you. In the event of heavy rain we will also look to re-book sessions, however, if it is still safe to run and you would like to go out then we are happy to accommodate your session. We live in England and so light rain/drizzle will unfortunately not be grounds to cancel your booking.