Instructor Courses and Certifications in the UK are run by BSUPA, the British Stand Up Paddle Association. They run courses for all levels of paddle boarders. Once you are ready to become an instructor, you will start with SUP Level 1.
Pre-requisites to begin the Level 1 Instructor Courses are as follows:
SUP LEVEL 1
The aim of the SUP course is to teach you how to plan and deliver your paddle board sessions safely and effectively for your students. Across 2 days, you’ll be taught how to coach students on paddle skills and general SUP knowledge. Some of your time will be spent in the classroom, but you’ll also spend time on the water so there’s a good mix of practical and theoretical learning.
The course covers detail such as how to assess sites, weathers, tides and techniques for rescue and teaching. It also goes over the best paddle board equipment and the right gear to use. You’ll leave the 2-day course with a great amount SUP knowledge, enhanced paddle board techniques and strokes, and of course the all-important SUP certification you need to help you get your first instructor job.
ASSESSMENT: At the end of the course, there’ll be an exam and you’ll also be required to take a paddle test on the water. This way both your theoretical and practical knowledge of paddle boarding and technical teaching will be tested.
The BSUPA instructor pathway is as follows:
BSUPA Level 1 Instructor
With this certification, you can teach and issue BSUPA Ready to Ride Certificates and teach on flat water conditions between 30 - 50m from the shoreline.
BSUPA Level 2 Sup Tour/Race Instructor
You can teach and certify all the following BSUPA levels: Ready to Ride, Ready to Race, Ready to Tour, Born to Race/Tour and Guided Tour Experience. Again, water conditions should be flat and between 30 - 50m from the shoreline.
BSUPA level 2 Sup Surf Instructor
You can teach and certify Born to Surf and Ready to Surf in waist high soft surf conditions and between 30 - 50m from the shoreline
BSUPA Coach
You can teach and certify all-plus specialist coaching subjects. That includes fitness, race-surf, yoga, whitewater, paddle tech and wellbeing. 30-50m from the shoreline.
BSUPA Trainer
The highest level of BSUPA instructor course, where you can teach and officially certify instructors in level 1 or level 2 tour, and also surf.
POPULAR SEARCHES:
British Stand Up Paddle Association
*Please remember that this is general information. We keep it as up to date as possible, but it's important you do your own research and know all the risks and requirements before heading out into the Wilds. If you are an expert in your sport and/or would like to become a contributor for Work the Wilds, please drop us an email at info@workthewilds.com or Contact Us
