Private 1:1 SUP Coaching | Wittering SUP | River Avon, Worcestershire
Private 1:1 Coaching · River Avon · Defford, Worcestershire

One session.
Built entirely around you.

A 1:1 session is the most direct route to progress on the water. One instructor, one paddler, 1.5 hours on one of the quietest stretches of the Avon in Worcestershire. No group to keep up with. No divided attention. The session begins where you are and goes in the direction you need.

Some people book because they are nervous and want to try paddleboarding without an audience. Others come with specific technique goals, or because they have tried to teach themselves and know something is not working. Others have disabilities or physical requirements that make a tailored session the right choice. Whatever the reason, the session is shaped around it from the first five minutes.

James is an ASI Technical Coach, one of a small number in the UK. Alex holds multiple water-based qualifications and is known for her patience and adaptability. Between them they have coached hundreds of individual paddlers on this stretch of the Avon since 2019.

Private 1:1 SUP coaching session on the riverbank at Arden Sailing Club, Defford
Book a session
Your pace.
Your goals.
Your session.
Duration1.5 hours
LocationArden Sailing Club, Defford
Ages18 and over
Swimming50 metres required
All kitIncluded
ASI accreditedAward-winning school
£90
per session · one paddler Choose a date and book
3-session course also available. Save £30.

Questions before you book? Call James on 07850 938 255 or drop us an email

Reviews

The best-reviewed paddleboard school
in the Midlands.

These reviews mean more to us than we can easily say. We read them on the hard days, and they remind us why we do this.

“The whole experience was so relaxing I had not felt so peaceful for a long time.”
Zoe V  ·  River Avon
Paddling on still water with blue skies, River Avon Solo paddler at sunset on the River Avon
Who this is for

Three different reasons
people book a 1:1.

Nervous beginners
You want to try it without an audience
A group session is brilliant for most people, but some people would rather take their first steps on the water with an instructor and nobody else watching. That is a completely reasonable thing to want. The 1:1 session is quiet, private, and moves at whatever pace you need. James and Alex have worked with people who were very nervous indeed, and the sessions go well.
Improvers and self-taught paddlers
Something is not working and you know it
Most people who have taught themselves have a habit or two that is costing them. An inefficient stroke, a stance problem, a tendency to look down. One focused session usually fixes more than people expect. James covers the five phases of the paddle stroke in detail, and Andrew Mullen's review below is typical of what people find when they book to sort something specific.
Adaptive and specific requirements
Your session needs to be built around you
Disability, neurodiversity, a physical condition, an injury. We have run sessions for wheelchair users, people with cerebral palsy, people with significant anxiety, and many others. James and Alex research what is needed before you arrive. The river is accessible and the approach is flexible. If you are not sure whether something is a barrier, call or email and we will tell you honestly.
The session

What the 1.5 hours
actually looks like

01
Arrive and settle
Meet at Arden Sailing Club. There is time to get your bearings, talk through what you want from the session, and raise anything you are worried about before we begin. We address it on the bank, before you are anywhere near the water.
02
Everything on the bank first
Board anatomy, paddle technique, self-rescue, and safety. We cover it all on dry land with kit in your hands. By the time you step onto the water you will know exactly what is going to happen and what to do if things go differently.
03
On the water at your pace
Kneeling first, standing when your body is ready. For technique-focused sessions, we focus on the phases of the stroke from the outset: catch, drive, exit, recovery. You will leave knowing what correct actually feels like.
04
Out on the Avon
Once you are comfortable, we paddle. A quiet stretch of the River Avon at Defford: calm water, open sky, good distance from anyone else. Time to apply what you have been working on without thinking about it. Kingfishers, occasionally herons. Sometimes we explore a few simple yoga poses on the board for balance, stretch, and enjoyment.
05
Coaching throughout
Unlike a group session, every observation is about you. Your stance, your stroke, your confidence. Corrections are given in the moment, on the water, while you are doing the thing. Most people find this accelerates progress significantly.
06
Debrief on the bank
Where you started, where you got to, what to focus on next. If you are thinking about paddling independently or booking the 3-session course, we will tell you honestly what we think will help most. No upsell. Honest advice.

£90 per session. 1.5 hours on the Avon, entirely yours. Choose a date and book →

SUP yoga on the River Avon near Wittering SUP, Defford
The 3-session course

Turn a new skill
into a lasting one.

A single session is a good start. Three sessions, spaced to suit your schedule, is how most people go from tentative to properly confident on the water.

Over the three sessions we move from foundations through to advanced water safety, refined paddle mechanics, and longer reaches of the Avon. By the third session most people are paddling independently and know enough to keep improving on their own.

Book your first session below and we arrange the remaining two dates directly with you, at no extra effort.

Three sessions.
One commitment.
Save £30 across three sessions
Three sessions
£270 £240

Book your first session below. We contact you after to arrange the remaining two dates around your schedule.

Book your first session →
What people say

In their own words

★★★★★
A brilliant 1:1 session with Alex. Felt anxious on arrival, but her warm welcome and sense of humour immediately put me at ease. I had lost confidence on the water and we went back to basics. I left with new skills and an enjoyable paddle behind me.
Florence  ·  Confidence rebuild
★★★★★
I need some adaptations as I have cerebral palsy. James and Alex researched it and ordered what was needed. I had a fab time. I wish more places were this inclusive and open minded.
Katy E  ·  Adaptive session
★★★★★
Excellent 1:1 coaching. It helped with my confidence on the board and I learned to self rescue. Alex was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. I would highly recommend.
GoPlaces  ·  First timer
★★★★★
A great one to one lesson with Alex. A fantastic teacher with a relaxed yet very focused style. Would highly recommend to everyone wanting to take up SUP and will be back for more.
Stuart T
★★★★★
We had a brilliant 1:1 lesson with Alex. Friendly, caring and exceedingly skilled. At all times felt safe and in expert hands. Amazing to watch the sun go down while paddleboarding for the first time.
Lynne  ·  Evening session
Your instructor
James and Alex Wittering, Wittering SUP
James and Alex
Wittering
ASI Technical Coach · MBCT Teacher · Blue Health Facilitator
SUP Yoga Instructor · Open Water Swimming Coach

James and Alex have been coaching paddleboarding on the River Avon at Defford since 2019. James is an ASI Technical Coach, one of a small number in the UK, and brings a coaching depth to 1:1 sessions that goes beyond technique. He is a qualified MBCT teacher and certified Blue Health Facilitator, which means the session is informed by movement science and nervous system awareness as well as paddle mechanics.

Alex holds multiple qualifications across SUP, yoga, and open water swimming. She is known for her patience and adaptability, and has a particular track record with anxious beginners and adaptive sessions. Between them, they have not had a paddler they could not help.

Your 1:1 session will be led by whichever instructor is the best match for your goals, or by both if you prefer.

ASI Technical Coach ASI Blue Health Facilitator MBCT-L Teacher SUP Yoga Instructor Open Water Swimming Coach
Adaptive coaching

The water is for
everyone.

If you have a disability, neurodiversity, or a physical condition that means a standard session would not work, the 1:1 format is the right choice. We adapt the session before you arrive, not on the day.

Tell us what you need when you book, or call first if you are not sure. We will tell you honestly what is and is not possible, and we will always try to find a way to make it work. We have run sessions for people who were told by other providers that it was not possible for them.

Researched before you arrive
We do not improvise adaptive sessions. We research what is needed, source equipment if required, and brief before you get to the water.
Physical disabilities and mobility
We have adapted sessions for wheelchair users, limb differences, and a range of mobility conditions. The boards can be adapted and the approach changed significantly.
Neurodiversity and anxiety
James's background in MBCT and nervous system awareness is directly applicable here. The session is paced and structured to work with how the nervous system responds to new environments and physical challenge.
Not sure if it applies to you
Call 07850 938 255 or email bookings@witteringsup.co.uk. We will give you a straight answer.
The practical bits

What you need
to know before you book

Duration
1.5 hours
Location
Arden Sailing Club, Defford
Worcestershire · WR8 9BJ
Ages
18 and over
Swimming
50 metres required
Pricing
£90 per session
3-session course: £240
Kit included
Board, paddle, all safety kit
Wetsuits available if needed
What to wear
Dress for the weather and the activity
Board shorts and a tee in summer. Layers in cooler months. Quick-drying fabrics work well. Barefoot is fine on the board, or bring old trainers. Bring a towel and a change of clothes.
🌾

10% off at Revill's Farm Shop next door. For paddlers.

Hot drinks, cakes, and a proper lunch after your session. Show your booking confirmation at the till. Worth staying for. Most people do.

Good to know

Before you book,
a few useful things

On-site facilities
Arden Sailing Club has toilets, changing rooms, hot showers, light refreshments, picnic tables, and free secure parking on site.
Cancellation and refunds
Full refund with two weeks notice. 50% with one week's notice. If conditions are unsafe on the day, we will let you know in advance and arrange an alternative date at no extra cost.
Redeeming a gift voucher
Wittering SUP vouchers can be entered at checkout. If your voucher is from a third-party provider such as Virgin Experience Days or BuyAGift, visit our voucher redemption page instead.
Book your session

Ready when
you are.

Choose a date below, pick your time, and select your tickets. Any questions before you book, give us a call or send an email. 1:1 sessions are personal and we are always happy to talk through what would work best before you commit.

To book the 3-session course: book your first session here and we will be in touch to arrange the remaining two dates around your schedule.

Want to give this as a gift? Our experience vouchers cover 1:1 sessions and have no expiry date.

Choose your session

Pick a date and book