Courses and TrainingCoaching and Training
The BSUPA scheme is split into three categories, Level 1 which is designed to take people who have never stand up paddled before and give them a base level of skills making them “Ready to Ride”. Level 2 focuses on taking students who have a Level 1 certificate and introduces them to stand up paddle surfing and making them “Ready to Surf”. The key learning points in the first two levels are a basic level of skill to ensure that students can stand up paddle safely and develop core technical skills.
There will also be a BSUPA Coach qualification that will be very in depth and will allow instructors to teach advanced racing and surfing skills to a maximum of one instructor to two students.
BSUPA registered schools who use BSUPA qualified instructors will be able to issue certificates to customers when the instructor feels that the customer has attained the level of skill necessary.
BSUPA Level 1 – Ready to Ride
The BSUPA Level 1 "Ready to Ride" course is aimed at people who have never stand up paddled before or people who have had a go but want to learn the basics.
Training Team
Simon started paddle surfing in 2006 and started teaching SUP the same year and is really into the surf and expedition side of SUP.. Simon has been involved in windsurf tuition and coaching since the age of 16 and has worked in the UK and abroad .As head coach of BSUPA he has developed with the training team the BSUPA scheme and is working with AALS,the RNLI on SUP safety and working with the team to develop the next stage of the tuition program .Simon runs a dedicated SUP school –X-train on West Wittering beach .
Current BSUPA Instructors
Current BSUPA Instructors...
Full details coming soon.
Becoming a BSUPA Instructor
Becoming a BSUPA instructor
Why become a BSUPA instructor?
Teaching any sport you need to have a professional and structured approach, for the safety of your clients and you also need to be able to inspire and teach stand up paddle surfing to a high standard.
BSUPA's aim is to create a teaching platform that combines core technical skills to teach stand up paddle surfing and inspire a new generation stand up paddlers to take up the sport in a safe and fun manner. The courses will provide a recognised qualification to water sports instructors who wish to develop their careers by teaching stand up paddle surfing. 2010 will be the first year of the Leve 1 instructors course and we will review and update the courses at the end of each season with feedback from instructors and schools.
The schemes has been developed and written by Simon Bassett BSUPA Head Coach, Andy Gratwick BSUPA Trainer, Matt Argyle BSUPA Chairman and Trainer, Chris Rea BSUPA Trainer with contributions from Neal Gent, Jeremy Waite and Chris Rainbow.
Level 1 Instructor Candidate Pre requisites:
- RYA Powerboat Level 2;
- Minimum age 18;
- Valid first aid qualification (for example RYA First Aid or RNLI);
- Riding ability, competent on a range of boards and able to surf in medium waves;
- Current member of BSUPA;
- Students without any previous water sports teaching experience or qualifications will be required to ghost qualified BSUPA instructors before certificates are issued.
Feedback from new instructors:
Simon BassettWe had a tough time getting the BSUPA coaching course of the ground – my goal was to create a professional and safe teaching platform for SUP in the UK, with Andy who is a expert in teaching instructors and the BKSA head coach, Chris Rea who has a wealth of knowledge in surf and life Guarding and Matt who worked with me to format the instructors manual made the whole project possible. What was great about the instructors course was we all learnt a lot from each other as everyone brought something new to the SUP teaching table.
Bobby Thatcher - The Source London - www.thesourcelondon.com -
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The course was informative but also a lot of fun. There was a really positive group dynamic and it was great to meet new like minded people.
Peter Stevens - West Country Watersports - 01872-275342
For me the first BSUPA instructors course was a major piece of the puzzle that sees SUP take a major leap forward in credibility. Having enjoyed, participated and introduced people to SUP over the last few years, the course reinforces BSUPA in its role as the recognized NGB and more importantly it helps SUP to stand on its own with a unique identity as a sport in its own right. Regarding the course -The content and presentation of the Instructors ticket is It was professional and comprehensive in all the relevant areas that it covered - Technique - Course syllabus, Communication, Health and safety, and a structure for future career development in SUP. I am very pleased to have this professional qualification and certainly regard it as a good investment to take my SUP involvement forward.
Jock Patterson - Tribal Wave - 07827 778914
I have been teaching for the last two years and have found the BSUPA instructors course really useful and it made me realise theat teaching the sport in flat water and in surf you need to pay a lot of attention to the safety of the students. The instructors course gave me a real insight into group control, safety methods and highlighted the importance of having a structured framework to teach in.
Andre Shorland - Torquay Wind & Surf Centre - 01803 212411
Having been involved in the early days of both windsurfing and kitesurfing, it was good to see the BSUPA set up; a well thought out instructors course with many experienced people sharing their expertise and inputting into the course. It was well structures, thorough and informative, not only covering water safety and instruction but also beach and water etiquette which is very important as this is a great new versatile sport open to all ages and paddlers whether using a beach, coaster or in land waterway need to do so responsibly and mix in with other water users.
Adventure Activities Licensing
Teaching Under 18s
We are pleased to be working iwth AALS to create a safety policy for teaching under 18s BSUPA SUP courses. Marcus Baillie has tasked Jeremy Waite to work with us and other watersport providers so we can create a best practice guidance for BSUPA instructors and schools.
For more information, please see the AALA website
BSUPA Coaching Scheme
Welcome to the BSUPA coaching scheme. We have worked hard building this course with help from instructors and governing bodies from across the water sports sector. BSUPA's aim is to create a teaching platform that combines core technical skills to teach stand up paddle surfing and inspire a new generation stand up paddlers to take up sport in a safe and fun manner. This course will provide a recognised qualification to water sports instructors who wish to develop their careers by teaching stand up paddle surfing. 2010 will be the first year of this course and we will review and update the material at the end of each season with feedback from instructors and schools.
Becoming a BSUPA School
To become a BSUPA accredited school, you will need to comply with the following voluntary code of conduct:
Current BSUPA Schools
School Name: X-Train
School Area: Sussex and Hampshire
School Category: BSUPA Instructor Training Centre, BSUPA Level 1 School.
School Phone: 01243 513077
School Email:
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School Address: West Wittering Beach, West Sussex, PO20 8AJ
School Website: http://www.x-train.co.uk
School Location Map: Click here for Google Maps
School Licenses: AALS, RYA, BKSA, BSUPA
School Information:
X-train is an established watersports training centre run by Simon Bassett since 1991. X-train has full facilities including a club house, changing rooms and showers, rescue, shop/office, board and equipment storage onsite and a full rental centre. X-train offers beginners to advanced stand up paddle surfing courses, in flat water and in small surf. We have the latest beginners paddle boards from RRD and NSP, full rescue, changing rooms and hot showers. We also run paddle safaris in Chichester Habour, private tuition, advanced clinics, paddle surf events and paddle surf equipment demos. We also supply all the latest gear from NSP, SurfTech, Drops, GONG, Kialoa etc from our online store http://www.2xs.co.uk. BSUPA members get a 5% discount.
School Name: Harlyn Bay Surf School
School Area: Cornwall
School Category: BSUPA Instructor Training Centre, BSUPA Level 1 School.
School Phone: 01841 533 076
School Email:
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School Address: 23 Grenville Road, Padstow, Cornwall PL28 8EX
School Website: http://www.harlynsurfschool.co.uk/
School Location Map: Click Here for Google Maps
School Information:
Set on the golden sands of Harlyn Bay, there can be no better place to learn to surf or to discover the sheer exhilaration of paddleboarding, coasteering or sea kayaking.
We believe in offering you the very best customer service and the highest possible level of surf and watersports tuition. Passionate about the Cornwall surf, Harlyn Surf School is always at the forefront of the surf industry and so it’s no surprise we were one of the first in the UK to launch the world’s fastest growing watersport, Stand up Paddleboarding in 2009. This year sees the launch of our latest activity, coasteering, a fantastic experience scrambling across rocks, exploring nooks and crannies, diving into rock pools and seeing the local wildlife plus we have a great new shop in our unit on the beach and coming very soon online!
We also run amazing surf camps every summer which are incredibly popular with teenagers and children. These are surf courses running over five consecutive days, so you really get a chance to develop your surfing skills. Private, improver and group surf lessons and activities are available so there really is something for everyone! We are really proud to be the first surf school in the UK to be awarded an Adventure Activity Licence as a mark of our good safety management and we are an Academy of Surfing Instructors Accredited surf school --- ASI are the world leaders for surfing education and accreditation. What's more we are a Surf Life Saving GB Lifeguard training centre, one of only a handful in the UK -- so you can be rest assured you will be in safe hands!
So, whether you want to enjoy paddleboarding, sea kayaking, coasteering or surf, Cornwall is the only place to be. And Harlyn Surf School, Padstow, is your ideal choice for a truly amazing experience!
School Name: Crantock bay surf school
School Area: Cornwall
School Category: BSUPA Level 1 School.
School Phone: 0800 0231 404 or 07779584177
School Email: Use this online form.
School Address: 2 Lanherne Avenue, St Mawgan, Newquay, Cornwall TR8 4EL
School Website: http://www.crantockbaysurfschool.com
School Location Map: Click Here for Google Maps
School Information:
Crantock Bay surf school is based on the beautiful national trust beach at Crantock, just three miles outside the UK surf capital town of Newquay. Crantock beach is an ideal location to learn to surf, with plenty of empty waves for everyone, on its wide sandy bay.
All our instructors are qualified Beach Lifeguards and BSA registered surf coaches, to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable surfing experience with us. Weather just starting out or already an experienced surfer our lessons help you to build technique, confidence and ocean awareness for children from 8 yrs and upwards and adults.
As well as surfing lessons we also offer kayaking, stand up paddle surfing and bodyboarding lessons (check out are courses page) so why not try one of our multi activity days to keep you entertained on your holiday's. See you in the water.
School Name: Torquay Wind and Surf Centre
School Area: Devon
School Category: BSUPA Level 1 School.
School Phone: 01803 212411
School Email:
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School Address: Shop and Booking Office, 55 Victoria Rd, Ellacombe, Torquay, TQ1 1HX
School Website: http://www.kitesurfingtorquay.
School Location Map: Click Here for Map
School Information:
Celebrating 30 years (2008), husband and wife team, Andre' and Dulce Shorland started out back in '78 with the existing shop then known as The Skate & Surf Centre, and have always been at the forefront of new sports in this country such as surfing, skateboarding, windsurfing, powerkiting, kitebuggying, kitesurfing and stand up paddle boarding.
The business has evolved over the years from the manufacture of surfboards, a very successful skateboard team which competed all over the UK, the RYA recognized Torquay Windsurfing School which taught a great many over the course of 25 + years, and the shop.
Andre' and Dulce were also founder members of the Windglider Class Association in the UK the first Windsurfing class to achieve Olympic status back in 1984, and both competed nationally and internationally, having won many competitions with brother Mark, the Shorland trio, Dulce became National Heineken Ladies champion in 1980.
In 1999 Andre' and Dulce became involved in Kitesurfing and Kitebuggying, the shop now called Torquay Wind & Surf Centre stocks a wide range of equipment, all tried and tested, everything we sell we believe in, Andre' was for a time the Flying Doctor, Powerkite's Magazine Dr Kite.
Andre' who is the longest qualified kitesurfing instructor in the UK as listed on the IKO website, runs the Torquay Kitesurfing, Kitebuggying and Stand Up Paddle Surfing School, originally Torquay Windsurfing School, one of the first Kitesurfing Schools in the country, if not the first, and is recognized by the BKSA.
