WATER SKILLS ACADEMY SUP INSTRUCTOR COURSE

DURATION: 2 DAYS

course COST: £250 + WSA Membership £66

ASSESSMENT FEE: £200

ABOUT THE WATER SKILLS ACADEMY SUP INSTRUCTOR COURSE

The WSA SUP Instructor Course is designed for those who want to teach SUP basics to beginners and improvers in a sheltered water environment. The course is predominantly designed for freelance instructors and those working within the structure of a school or centre.

The WSA SUP Instructor Course is very hands-on with lots of practical training. You will learn essential safety information, gain knowledge of equipment, group management and lesson delivery content and skills to get clients paddling effectively.

You will be assessed on your technical SUP paddling skills and lesson delivery. Those who are “at standard” will be awarded the qualification. Candidates who do not meet the required standard will be given an action plan and will have to go through the reassessment process once skills have been consolidated.

There is an additional £200 charge for this reassessment.

Ability

You will be required to have good paddling skills in light winds, upwind, across wind and downwind and be able to demonstrate turning strokes effectively and confidently, including a step back turn. Please note this is NOT a course to develop your technical paddling skills. You are expected to be a confident paddler with good knowledge of the paddle stroke and be confident on your board.

Remit

Minimum age: 18

Recommended ratios: 1:8

Small areas of enclosed water, such as canals, ungraded rivers with little or no flow, ponds, small lakes, or sheltered harbours, sheltered bays on larger lakes or the coast.

Rivers and inland waterways, ungraded and not in spate with little or no flow and must have the ability to deliver a static session.

Maximum distance of 200 metres from a safe exit point.

Winds of no more than Force 3.

No offshore winds more than Force 1.

No weirs.

Tidal with little or no flow and must have the ability to deliver a static session.

No high traffic areas, such as busy harbours or harbour marina entrances.

The SUP Instructor award does not qualify individuals as a guide. Please see our adventure guide courses for further details on our guide training.

Assessment Criteria

You will be assessed on your lesson delivery, personal paddling and communication skills. You will also be required to complete a pre -course online module.

Course Prerequisites

To enrol on the course you must have good paddling skills moving forward, turning and be confident paddling in sheltered, enclosed waters.

Minimum of 10 quality paddle days (QPDs - 2-4hrs) logged on WSA Dlog prior to attending ‘WSA SUP Instructor Award’ Training.

Candidates must have also completed the WSA SUP Safety & Rescue Course prior to attending. You must also hold a current first aid certificate - this can be completed after the course and WSA recommends a 2 day outdoor specific first aid course.

Complete the pre - course online module.

Age

Minimum age 18

Learn more about how to become a SUP Instructor over on our journal.