Flatwater 1 Stand Up Paddleboard Skills

Successful participants will receive the Flatwater 1 Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) Skills award.

Please note that in January, 2025 the name of this course was changed from Basic Stand Up Paddleboard Skills to Flatwater 1 Stand Up Paddleboard Skills. See a complete list of other program changes.

Prerequisites

Skills Certification

None.

Paddling Experience

None.

Minimum Course Length

2–3 hours, or more at instructor’s discretion.

Class Ratio

1 instructor:6 participants

Minimum Staff and Certification

A minimum of one Flatwater 1 SUP Instructor is required to teach this course.

Course Location

• Enclosed and sheltered with easy landing options immediately present.
• This course may be conducted in a pool.

Environmental Conditions

Class-0 environment. See Water Classification for Lakes and Oceans.

Participant Assessment

Activities focus on individual safety and comfortable paddling along a calm shoreline. While there is a great deal to learn at this level, the activities should concentrate on personal progress and an awareness of the need for future learning. Paddlers should leave the course encouraged to continue their learning and aware of their individual limitations.

Learning Outcomes

Safety Skills

Safety skills concentrate on the safety of the individual paddler while paddling near shore with uninterrupted stretches of easy landing opportunities.

Falling Off Safely

The participant will demonstrate confidence falling off the board safely in shallow and deep water while maintaining control of the board and paddle.

Teaching Note

Competence in this skill does not have to be demonstrated by participants at this level but it should be explained and understood.

Remounting the Board

The participant will remount the board quickly in shallow and deep water, maintaining control of the paddle.

Teaching Note

Competence does not have to be demonstrated by participants at this level, but it should be explained and understood.

Use of a Leash

The participant will:

• demonstrate how to properly attach a leash and understand why they should use it at all times, and
• demonstrate knowledge of the importance of using a leash.

Understanding Weather and Paddling Conditions

The participant will demonstrate awareness of the current and forecasted weather and how it will affect the water and paddling conditions.

Paddling Skills

Introduce an understanding of the essentials of manoeuvring and control of the SUP. Successful completion of this course indicates competence to paddle a SUP along an enclosed and sheltered shore in the company of a more skilled partner.

Lifting and Carrying a SUP

The participant will lift and carry the SUP board in a safe and appropriate manner, using the handle (suitcase method), on the shoulder and balanced on the head.

Choosing and Holding a Paddle

The participant will demonstrate knowledge on selection of the proper length of paddle and demonstrate the proper grip.

Mounting and Dismounting the SUP on Your Knees

The participant will demonstrate how to mount the SUP board from a dock and/or beach to a kneeling position.

Paddle While in the Prone Position

With the paddle securely stowed, the participant will paddle a minimum of 50 metres with their hands while in the prone position.

Paddle in a Straight Line on Your Knees

The participant will paddle a minimum of 50 metres on their knees and maintain a straight line by switching sides as needed.

Stand Up on the Board

The participant will transfer from kneeling to a standing position on the board while maintaining balance and stability.

Paddle in a Straight Line

The participant will paddle forward in a straight line for a minimum of 100 metres, switching sides as needed.

Forward Stroke

The participant will demonstrate knowledge of the four parts of an efficient forward stroke: catch, power, exit and recovery.

Braking Stroke

The participant will demonstrate knowledge of and how to use of a braking stroke to stop the board.

Sweep Strokes

The participant will demonstrate use of both the forward sweep stroke and reverse sweep stroke to turn the board.

Paddling in Windy or Turbulent Conditions

The participant will demonstrate confidence paddling in slightly windy or turbulent conditions by using more stable and lower profile paddling positions.

Teaching Note

Competence in this skill does not have to be demonstrated by participants at this level but it should be explained and understood.

Knowledge

Participants should be familiar with the following topics as they pertain to stand up paddleboarding.

Board Design

The participant will demonstrate knowledge of the parts of the SUP board, different board shapes and their effect in the water.

Board Outfitting

The participant will demonstrate knowledge of Flatwater 1 outfitting of a board for personal comfort, control and safety.

Clothing

The participant will demonstrate knowledge of appropriate clothing for paddling in different water temperatures and weather conditions.

Safety Equipment

The participant will demonstrate knowledge of basic safety equipment required for paddleboarding, and its proper use.

Paddles

The participant will demonstrate knowledge of the attributes of various paddle materials and how to choose the correct paddle length.

Injury Prevention

The participant will demonstrate knowledge of various warm-up procedures that can prevent common injuries and the importance of proper paddling technique for comfort and injury prevention.

Equipment Care

The participant will demonstrate knowledge and application of the proper care of the paddle, lifejacket, throwbag or towline, leash, and board.

SUP Resources

The participant will be made aware of the various sources of information such as: Paddle Canada, provincial paddling associations, SUP-specific organizations, books, videos, websites, local clubs, retailers, and outfitters.

Transporting a SUP

The participant will demonstrate knowledge of how to secure one or more paddleboards to a vehicle for safe and secure transport.

SUP Heritage

The participant will demonstrate knowledge of the heritage of paddleboarding, including the long Hawaiian traditions of both surfing and paddle sports, and their impact on modern stand up paddleboarding.