Standards for Instructors
A safe SUP instructor is someone who has the following:
1. Extensive activity environment experience
2. Correct paddle technique
3. Rescue and aid qualifications
1. Extensive Activity Environment Experience
Experience in your activity environment is about understanding the weather, water conditions and hazards that apply to that type of environment (e.g. inland such as river, canal, lake or exposed waters such as the ocean etc).
A SUP Instructor will need to have SUP specific experience, having a minimum of 100 hours on water SUP experience in each activity environment.
For example: Inland waters 100 hours
& 50-100 hours in exposed waters (if you operate in exposed waters).
& 50-100 hours SUP surf experience (if you are paddling in small waves).
Downwinding, white water and SUP surfing larger waves are specialist areas (for experienced SUP paddlers only).
2. Correct Paddle Technique
Correct SUP paddle technique is different for each environment and is important so you can manage your clients and keep them safe
(you might even need to tow them if they are too tired to paddle or become unwell in a lesson).
SUP Yoga Teachers: Must hold yoga teacher certificate minimum 200 hours
SUP Fitness Instructors: Must hold a personal trainer qualification
SUP Pilates Instructors: Must hold a pilates trainer qualification
3. Rescue and aid qualifications
If your clients become injured and / or need rescuing, the following are also required to be held by SUP Instructors.
3.1 Rescue Certificate
You must hold a rescue certificate that is SUP or surf board specific. Make sure you know how to prone paddle a board (just like a surfboard) and how to get a student onto the SUP board in order to paddle to safety.
3.2 First Aid Certificate
You must hold a first aid certificate that covers topics for the types of injuries that occur in the outdoors.
A workplace first aid certificate is not suitable.
It should cover the following topics at minimum:
CPR, cramp, hypothermia, dehydration/heat exhaustion/heat stroke, strain/sprains, fractures, breaks and dislocations, breathing emergencies including choking and asthma, head injuries, eye injuries, bites and stings, bleeding, shock, epilepsy, allergies, drowning.
4. An understanding of the SUP instructor
operational guidelines
SUP Instructors may work for a SUP School, or have their own SUP school business, offering lessons, tours or rentals.
Additional guidelines apply for SUP school operations.
Below are SUP operational guidelines for SUP instructors, including student entry requirements. These operational guidelines differ depending on the activity environment.
SUP Enclosed Flat Water Instructor
Operate in the remit of the activity environment conditions.
- 1 qualified SUP instructor to 8 students
- Instructor in the water at all times with clients
- Groups of 8 students to be separated by minimum 100 metres (to avoid overcrowding)
- Minimum age 8 years
- Coiled leash with quick release
(attached to ankle or waist belt)
Student minimum requirements: able to swim 100m
In flat water, if not able to swim 100 metres, it is deemed an at risk client, and private session / controlled environment may be required.
SUP Surfing Instructor
Beginner / intermediate / advanced surf locations.
Operate in the remit of the activity environment conditions.
- 1 qualified SUP instructor to 2 students (non busy
location) 1 student (busy location)
- Instructor in the water at all times with clients
- Minimum age 12 years
- Long leash with quick release leash
(attached to ankle only)
Student minimum requirements: must be able to swim 100m, experienced paddler in exposed waters, experienced at surfing, ocean safety knowledge, skills and awareness, ideally have surfing knowledge and ability equivalent
basic level.
SUP Yoga Teacher
Operate in the remit of the activity environment conditions.
- Free flowing sessions: Up to 12 students to 1 qualified SUP
instructor. If more than 6 students, an assistant is
required (a competent paddler)
- Anchored sessions: Up to 16 students to 1 qualified SUP
instructor. If more than 8 students, an assistant is
required (a competent paddler)
- Instructor in the water at all times with clients
- Minimum age 8 years
- Coiled leash with quick release leash (knee / waist belt)
when paddling to location. Leash not worn when
delivering SUP yoga sessions
Student minimum requirements: N/A
SUP Exposed Waters Instructor
Operate in the remit of the activity environment conditions.
- 1 qualified SUP instructor to 8 students (in flat water
conditions)
- 1 qualified SUP instructor to 6 students (in swell up
to 2 ft conditions, no breaking waves)
- Instructor in the water at all times with clients
- Minimum age 8 years
- Coiled leash with quick release (attached to ankle
or waist belt)
Student minimum requirements: must be able to swim 100m and have experience in flat water locations if taking client into conditions with swell.
SUP Downwind Instructor
Operate in the remit of the activity environment conditions.
- 1 qualified SUP Instructor to 6 students (inland
waterways), 4 students (ocean)
- Instructor in the water at all times with clients
- Minimum age 8 years
- Coiled leash with quick release leash
(knee / waist belt)
Student minimum requirements: Must be able to swim 100m. Ocean safety knowledge, skills and awareness (for ocean paddling). Inland waters safety knowledge, skills and awareness (for inland bodies of water).
SUP Tour Guide
SUP tours may vary in distance e.g. 4km up to 30km
Operate in the remit of the activity environment conditions.
- 1 qualified SUP instructor to 6 students
(inland waterways)
- Instructor in the water at all times with clients
- Minimum age 8 years
- Coiled leash with quick release leash (knee / waist belt)
Student minimum requirements: Must be able to swim 100m. Ocean safety knowledge, skills and awareness (for ocean paddling). Inland waters safety knowledge, skills and awareness (for inland bodies of water). Able to paddle the required tour distance.
SUP Fitness / SUP Pilates Instructor
Operate in the remit of the activity environment conditions.
- No more than 16 students to 1 qualified SUP instructor.
If more than 8 clients, an assistant is required
(a competent paddler)
- Instructor in the water at all times with clients
- Minimum age 8 years
- Coiled leash with quick release leash (knee / waist belt)
when paddling to location. Leash not worn when
delivering SUP fitness sessions
Student minimum requirements: N/A
Instruction Techniques in General
- In shallow water and water depth less than 3ft and on entry and
exit to water, participants must paddle on knees or bum.
- Buoyancy aid is not required, (unless required by law). As you are
abiding by instructor ratios, in water with clients at all times, all
clients can swim 100 metres, suitable clothing is worn (e.g. wetsuits)
only operating in the remit of the activity environment conditions.
Rentals
1. Supervised
- Renters operate from the shore and return to the same place.
- Operate in the remit of the activity environment conditions.
- Qualified SUP instructor in attendance at all times.
2. Unsupervised
- Renters take a board and go to their own location
(instructor not in attendance)
- Operate in the remit of the activity environment conditions.
- Qualified SUP instructor to provide rentals and identify skill level
of instructor prior to renting, if weather conditions are suitable for
paddling, provide paddling location maps and
emergency response details.
- Renter to declare they are experienced paddlers for the activity
environment, and only go into agreed paddling locations.