Stand up paddleboarding river adventure for beginners
Learn to stand-up paddleboard (SUP) and have a mini-adventure on the beautiful River Avon with Wittering SUP; an ASI certified SUP school and a British Canoeing Quality Mark Centre.
COVID19 LATEST: All our sessions will be socially distanced, hygienic and will adhere to government guidelines and advice from British Canoeing, the ASI and the Avon Navigation Trust as these evolve over time as well as meeting our own internal COVID19 risk assessment standards.
Exciting update! We can now do 'COVID secure' group paddle sessions under the current guidelines from Monday! These will be restricted to private groups of up to 4 people from the same household for the time being. Wee are still delivering our 2-hour 1-2-1 training and touring session. This is perfect for beginners who want to go from complete novice to proficient paddler or existing paddlers looking to improve their technique. This is not a group session, you will have the complete attention of ASI instructor, James Wittering.
Click here to book a 1-2-1 session with us :)
We also know that times are hard for everybody right now so we're offering a 10% discount code to all Wittering SUP tribe members!! :) Click here to get yours! If you’ve always wanted to learn how to stand-up paddleboard or have previously dabbled on some rental boards and would like to learn properly with a fully qualified instructor in a beautiful location then this is the experience for you.
Yes! That ⬆⬆ picture ⬆⬆ really is where we paddle from; I took it last Summer on a beautiful misty morning whilst setting up for a lesson 😍
This is absolutely one of our favourite spots for a paddle along the River Avon. The stretch from the beautiful Eckington Bridge Picnic Site to Nafford Lock is the perfect way to experience stand up paddle boarding so we’ve combined a beginners lesson (everything you need to get you up and paddling confidently, safely and correctly) with a gentle exploration of this beautiful stretch of the river.
What happens on the day?
The itinerary for our 2 hour session will look like this:First things first:
* Meet and greet at the picnic site, lots of smiles and high-fives 😃
* We kit you out with your paddle, board and safety gear
* You will learn all about paddleboards, their key features, accessories and different types
Our land based briefing (approx 15 minutes) will teach you:
* How to kneel paddle (forwards / backwards / turning)
* How to transition from kneeling to standing
* How to paddle correctly (including the 5 phases of the paddle stroke)
* Safety procedures; how to fall correctly and how to get back on your board
* We will then carry our boards to the water, get in and practice our kneel paddling techniques
* Once everybody is happy and confident (usually about 15 minutes) we will start to explore down the river, taking turns to practice transitioning from kneeling to standing (never rushing this bit, all at your own pace)
* From here it’s simply a case of honing your skills as we go, whilst at the same time as we enjoy the tranquillity of the river, meet some local wildlife (buzzards, kingfishers, herons, otters and even swimming dear are all about if we're lucky!) and have lots of fun as you learn a new skill and find out for yourself why SUP is the fastest growing watersport in the world!
Who is this activity perfect for?
Families or friend groups from age 8 to 80! All we ask is that you are fit and healthy and can swim at least 50m in open water. This a very accessible water sport and you don't need any experience whatsoever to enjoy our Learn to Paddle sessions. If you are at all concerned about accessibility issues or have a disability and would like to discuss that with us then please get in touch and we’ll do everything we can to help.Each session is limited to 8 spaces per sessions so that we can give everyone maximum attention and fun times! However, we can certainly cater for larger numbers with a pre-arranged private booking - Just get in touch and we’ll put together a package for you 😃
What is included?
Our two-hour sessions include all the gear you need to get on the water, we’ll kit you out with:* An adjustable paddle (we’ll adjust this to your height who you arrive) * You’ll be learning on a beautiful 10’6” Sandbanks SUP Style Art Board * Safety leash on every board and buoyancy aids if required
What should you wear?
We just ask that you dress for the weather; board shorts and tee shirts are a favourite in the Summer, or perhaps your yoga outfit. Quick-drying and sun-safe are a good choice (don't forget your suncream on a warm day).During the cooler months you may want to wear a few layers or perhaps a hoody; feel free to bring your own wetsuit.
On my feet I prefer a physical connection with my board so I tend to go barefoot, but any water-shoe is fine or even a pair of old trainers that you don’t mind getting wet.
Feeling a little unsure?
New skills outside of our comfort zone can always seem a little daunting, but we are always SO much more capable than we think we are. We are passionate about making sure everybody feels safe, confident and happy with their experience; our approach is gentle, supportive and compassionate and you have nothing to worry about; we’ll look after you :)Are there any facilities?
There is plenty of free parking at the picnic site and the campsite over the road has kindly given us access to their toilets, but bring along plenty of water and maybe even a picnic to enjoy after your adventure (there are some lovely pubs just down the road too).Refund Policy
We have to plan ahead and session spaces are limited so we offer a full refund if you notify us of your cancellation 2 weeks before your session or a 50% refund a week before your booked session (gift voucher sessions are non-refundable).We only operate under the safest conditions, as such if the weather (wind), or water (flow/flood) conditions are not appropriate for beginner’s lessons we will notify you and either offer you a refund or arrange a more suitable date for your experience.
If you have any other questions then please get in touch, we'd love to hear from you.
