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Somewhere to paddle, and people to paddle with

SUP Club · River Avon · Arden Sailing Club, Defford, Worcestershire

The next step after
your first lesson.

SUP Club is a weekly instructor-led paddle on the River Avon at Defford, for adults who can already stand up on a board and want to keep going. Most people who join are in one of two boats. They have done a lesson, enjoyed it, and then realised they have nobody to paddle with. Or they can paddle well enough but their confidence stalls the moment they think about going out alone.

The club is the answer to both. A small, friendly group, a qualified instructor on the water, and the same stretch of river week after week until it starts to feel like yours.

You do not need your own board, and you do not need to be good at self-rescue. Those are the things we work on together, in calm water, with someone alongside you. What you need is to be able to swim and to want the river to become a regular part of your week.

Join a session
Weekly paddles.
Small group.
Same river, every week.
WhenWeekly, instructor-led
WhoAdults, 18 and over
LocationArden Sailing Club, Defford
LevelDone a lesson, or competent
Swimming50 metres required
All kitIncluded
£20
per session · all kit, parking and showers included
Bring your own board
Use code BYOB at checkout (takes £5 off, with your own board and licence)
Join a session
No board needed. No need to be a strong paddler.
Reviews

The best-reviewed paddleboard school
in the Midlands.

These reviews mean a lot to us. We read them on the hard days, and they remind us why we keep the club going.

"James and Alex made us feel extremely comfortable and welcome. Beautiful location and we will definitely be back."
Robyn · River Avon
Adults paddleboarding together on the River Avon at Wittering SUP, Defford, Worcestershire
Why a club

Confidence is built
in company.

Most people who try paddleboarding once never go again. Not because they did not enjoy it, but because the next step is the hard one. Going out on your own feels like a lot. Buying a board feels like a commitment. And there is that quiet worry about what happens if you fall in and there is nobody there.

A club removes all three. The kit is here, the instructor is here, and the group is here. You turn up, you paddle, and the confidence that felt out of reach after one lesson starts to build week on week, because you are doing it regularly and you are doing it with other people.

Self-rescue stops being a worry once you have practised it a few times, in calm water, with someone beside you.

This is also where Blue Health stops being a phrase on a website and becomes a Tuesday habit. Regular time on the water does measurable things to stress and attention. The club is the structure that makes it regular.

A tribe that paddles
The single most common thing we hear is that people loved their lesson but have nobody to go with. The club is a ready-made group of people who want the same thing. Most regulars arrive knowing no one and leave with paddling friends.
Self-rescue, properly learned
Falling in and getting back on is a skill, not an accident. We practise it in calm water until it is boring. Once it is boring, the fear that stops most people paddling alone is gone.
Skills that keep building
Stroke, turning, reading the water, paddling into wind. The things a single lesson can only introduce are the things regular sessions let you actually master. Progress you can feel, week on week.
A weekly reset
Twenty minutes near moving water lowers cortisol and shifts attention out of the reactive, screen-driven state most of us live in. The club makes that a standing appointment rather than a good intention.

£20 per session. All kit included. Join a paddle →

SUP Club members paddling on the River Avon Adult paddleboarding group on the Avon at Defford, Worcestershire
What to expect

What a club session
actually looks like.

01
Arrive and settle in
Park on site, grab a board, paddle and waist belt, and say hello. The group is small and the same faces come back, so it does not take long to feel like a regular. New people are looked after.
02
A short focus for the session
Some weeks it is a skill. Stroke technique, turning, paddling into wind. Some weeks it is self-rescue practice. Some weeks it is just a relaxed social paddle. We tailor it to the group and the conditions on the day.
03
On the water together
An instructor is on the water with the group throughout, offering coaching where it helps and stepping back where it does not. You paddle at your own pace, with company, on a calm and quiet stretch of the Avon.
04
Practise the scary bits
Falling in and climbing back on, in calm water, with someone right beside you. It is the part people dread and then end up enjoying. Once you have done it a few times it stops being frightening.
05
Explore a little further
As the group settles, sessions open up. Wildlife spotting, longer paddles, the occasional away-day to a new stretch of water, and themed sessions like sunset paddles when the evenings allow.
06
Warm up and stay a while
Hot showers, changing rooms, and a kitchenette back at the sailing club. Most people hang around afterwards for a hot drink and a chat. That part is as much the point as the paddling.
Before you join

What people usually
want to know.

Level
You need a bit of paddling under your belt, not a lot
The club is for people who have done a lesson with us or who can already kneel, stand and steer a board. You do not need to be fast, graceful, or good at self-rescue. If you can do those things, this is a lesson rather than a club, and we will happily point you the right way. Not sure where you sit? Give us a shout and we will tell you honestly.
Nerves
Especially good if your confidence stalled after one lesson
A lot of people enjoy a lesson, then never go again because the next step feels too big. The club is built for exactly that gap. The same calm water, the same friendly faces, and an instructor on hand means the things that felt daunting on your own become ordinary. Quiet, steady progress, with no pressure to keep up.
Kit and cost
Everything is provided, or bring your own and pay less
A standard ticket includes a licensed board, paddle, waist belt, and the option of a wetsuit, buoyancy aid and dry bag. Parking, hot showers and changing rooms are all on site. If you have your own board and a Paddle UK licence, enter the code BYOB at checkout to take £5 off.
Getting wet
You will probably fall in. That is rather the point.
Self-rescue is something we practise on purpose, so going in becomes a skill rather than a shock. Bring a towel and a dry change of clothes. In the cooler months a wetsuit is wise and we have some you can borrow. If you have specific needs or anything that might affect your session, tell us when you book and we will make it work.
SUP Club paddling on the River Avon, Defford, Worcestershire
What paddlers say

In their own words

★★★★★
I felt totally safe, even when my body turned to jelly and of course I fell in. So positive, supportive and fun throughout. Can't wait to come back and do it all again.
Rosalind Dixon-Burnett · Google
★★★★★
I was very nervous but Alex put me at ease. I was so proud of myself, and that was all down to the great teaching and support. Would 100% recommend.
Emma · Google
★★★★★
As people around 60 years of age, we still found it within our capacity. We both fell in, then both stood up on our boards, so we rated our morning a success.
Chris Sherlock · Airbnb
★★★★★
My partner is very nervous on open water but he thoroughly enjoyed it too. Just the right amount of challenge and a lovely, peaceful experience on the river.
Selina · Airbnb
★★★★★
James gave us the confidence to get out on the water for the first time. Very relaxed and informative, and we had lots of fun.
Victoria Baynham · Google
The practical bits

What you need
to know before you join

When
Weekly, instructor-led
Day and time on the booking page, weather dependent
Location
Arden Sailing Club, Defford
Worcestershire · WR8 9BJ · occasional away-days
Who it is for
Adults, 18 and over
Under 18s have their own Kids SUP Club
Price
£20 per session
Bringing your own board? Use code BYOB at checkout for £5 off
Level
Done a lesson, or competent
Comfortable kneeling, standing and steering
Swimming
50 metres required
What to bring
A towel, a dry change of clothes, and clothes you do not mind getting wet
In summer most people paddle in shorts and a tee. In cooler months a wetsuit is sensible, and we have some to borrow along with thermal rash vests. Barefoot is fine on the board, or water shoes or old trainers if you prefer. Buoyancy aids are optional and free to borrow.

Hot showers, changing rooms and a kitchenette on site.

Warm up after your paddle, make a hot drink, and stay for a chat. Most of the club lingers a while once the boards are away. That is half the point of it.

Join a session

Ready when
you are.

Pick a date and book a single session at £20. If you are bringing your own board and a Paddle UK licence, enter the code BYOB at checkout to take £5 off. There is no membership to sign up for and no commitment to a block. Come once, see how it feels, and come back when you want to.

If you have any specific requirements, physical, sensory, or anything else that might affect your session, tell us when you book or get in touch first. We always find a way to make it work.

Not sure whether the club or a lesson is the right starting point? Call or email and we will tell you honestly. No hard sell.

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