Become an Instructor/Leader

If you are looking to improve your safety and skills and become either an Instructor or Leader, then we can help.

Our partner, Thomo’s Outdoor World are providers of personal performance awards (PPA), Leadership awards, Instructor qualifications and Safety & Rescue courses in all things SUP. working to British Canoeing frameworks.

We deliver industry recognised training, CPD and accreditation to ensure we’re at the top of the sport. As British Canoeing delivery partners, you can be sure of quality and experience.

Have a look at what’s available to support your journey through Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP):-

Paddle Explore Award

This award gives you ownership; because you choose what to focus on and where you move next in the world of paddlesport. Working with a coach you will be able to develop a programme that suits you, as a result no two Explore Awards are the same. In this award you will take ownership of your own decisions and learn to make confident choices, based on the places you paddle, wind and weather. Above all you will recognise your ability to independently paddle your chosen craft in a sheltered water environment.

Personal Performance Awards

These discipline specific awards can be taken in the following craft types and environments:

SUP Sheltered Water

Touring

Open Water Touring

Multi-Day Touring

These awards endorse your skill, judgement and decision making when in the environment with your craft. It is tailored to each paddler and will give you the ability to plan and undertake safe journeys. This award empowers you to make key decisions at the right time. You will learn to judge environmental factors, the location chosen and those you are with will affect your paddle. By the end of the award, you will be confident in planning and undertaking journeys in winds up to Force 3 and moving water.

Paddleboard (SUP) Instructor

This qualification is for people whose main focus of work is delivering SUP taster/starter sessions within clubs, centres or other organisations. This is run over 2 days and needs a minimum of 4 - maximum of 6 to run. You need to be able to paddle your Stand Up Paddleboard independently on flat water. You will also need to be able to keep yourself and others safe on and near the water, for example a paddler falling off their SUP.

SUP Inland Open Water Leader

This qualification is appropriate for leading others on journeys on inland open water. This includes large areas of open water that exceed the sheltered water definition, where the paddlers are no more than 500 metres offshore and in wind strengths that do not exceed Beaufort force 4. It also includes moving water environments up to, but not including Grade 2 rivers.

The British Canoeing SUP Inland Open Water Leader would be deemed appropriate to operate in inland tidal water, which includes defined beaches where the group could easily land, slow moving estuaries (less than 0.5 Knots) and in winds not above Beaufort force 4 (force 3 if wind direction is offshore).

SUP Coastal Leader

The British Canoeing Awarding Body SUP Coastal Leader qualification is appropriate for leading others on journeys on moderate sea. This includes a stretch of coastline with some areas where it is not easy to land but there will always be straightforward land points, a maximum of two nautical miles apart. Crossings not exceeding two nautical miles. Up to 2 Knots of tide (but not involving tide race or overfalls). Wind strengths do not exceed Beaufort force 4. Launching and landing through surf (up to 1 metre, trough to crest height).

We are here to help and support, so please feel free to contact us if you have any questions, or want additional information.