Southern Comfort SUP

Basic Stand Up Paddleboard / FAQ

1. Am I going to get wet/do I need to know how to swim?

   While there are some people who don't fall in the water, most do. It's no big deal, simply swim back to your board and hop back on. You must know how to swim in order to have a safe time while paddle boarding, you don't have to be able to beat Michael Phelps but you need to be able to swim to your board in case you fall in. Using a PFD or relying on your leash and/or your board is a really poor substitute for having swimming ability.  

2. Where do you run your training sessions?

   We utilize several area lakes and back water spots in the Austin & Hill Country Area, we chose the spot that will best match your ability and will be the easiest for you to learn. Sometimes weather conditions will dictate where we have to run the lessons.

3. Do you provide the boards?

   Yes we provide the boards, let us know your approx height and weight range so that we can best match you to the proper size board. The Stand Up Paddle boards and paddles that we use are of the highest quality and are most conducive to safe learning and productive SUP’ing.

4. Can I rent the boards after the training session?

   No, but let us know in advance that you would like to rent the boards after your training session, so we can arrange for boards to be available at a prefered rental location.

5. Is it as easy as everyone says it is?

   Most people are surprised at how fast it takes them to stand and maneuver on their boards. Within the first 15 minutes of our sessions, 95% of participants are standing and paddling. In fact, we usually tell people that if they don’t fall in within the first 30 minutes of class, they probably won’t fall in at all. But it’s okay if you do. And, it’s also okay if it takes you a little longer to build up the courage to go from kneeling on your board to standing. The idea is to have fun and do what’s most comfortable for you.

6. What do I need to bring?

   We recommend bringing a small beach bag with the essentials; sunscreen, water bottle, and a towel. Other than that, you can just wear your bathing suit/ board shorts/shoes or flip flops.

Training Sessions - Operations / FAQ

1. Are the fitness and yoga training sessions going to be really hard? Do I need to be an expert to perform the poses on the board?

   Not at all! We offer modifications for everything, and it's really about being outdoors and having fun!! We recommend trying SUP Core Fitness first, which moves at a more gentle pace.

2. Do I need to be in great shape?

   Stand up paddle boarding can be as leisurely or strenuous as you want to make it. In fact, the beauty of SUP is that it is so incredibly versatile — and accommodating to all levels of fitness. As long as you can kneel, stand, and paddle, you should be able to make SUP work for you. Our training sessions are all about making your time on the water enjoyable as possible. That means that there’s no pressure to do anything that isn’t comfortable for you.

3. Can I take a fitness or yoga class my first time paddling?

   You must take a beginner lesson or have prior paddling experience before attempting SUP Fitness or SUP Yoga. We paddle in our classes (sprints in SUP Core Fitness & Athletes of SUP) and it is very important to learn the proper technique before developing poor habits, which may cause soreness or injury over time.

4. How do we pay?

   We prefer cash, but can accept everything that PayPal accepts — credit, debit and electronic funds transfer. Normally you would pay your instructor after the lesson.

5. What happens if its raining?

   This being central Texas, a little rain won’t stop us from holding lessons. Should the weather be bad enough to cancel, we’ll call you using the phone number provided during registration at least an hour prior to your lesson.

6. What is your cancellation policy?

   Please notify us at least 24-hours before your training session if you must cancel. We are more than happy to refund your money — or reschedule you.

   Participants that fail to show will be charged in full for the training session, no exceptions.

   Private lessons must be canceled or rescheduled on your part at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled training session to avoid being charged.

   All Cancellations must be confirmed with SoCo SUP staff,  voice mail messages or e-mails will be accepted.