Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP) Lessons in Bude

Try a stand up paddle boarding lesson with us while your on your visit to Bude. A SUP lesson is a great way to explore Bude’s historic waterways, get in touch with nature while learning a new skill and creating new memories with loved ones. Stand up paddleboard lessons are a great activity to do with large groups, family, friends or even on your own.

A stand up paddle boarding (SUP) lesson is a great way try out this fantastic and fast growing sport. The large surfboard style paddle board creates a stable platform for you to stand on. The extra long canoe style paddle makes it easy for you to motor around in just a few minutes. Stand up paddle boarding is less challenging than surfing which makes it an even more accessible for all of your group.

Get kitted up with a suitably sized inflatable paddle board and extendable paddle. Listen carefully to the instruction and you may not get wet… However, you can get fitted with a wetsuit just incase! When you are on the water you will learn to how manoeuvre the board on your knees before getting up on your feet and explore the waterways looking like a pro.

Stand Up Paddleboarding Bude Canal

Taster Stand Up Paddle Boarding Lesson

Get a taste of Stand Up Paddleboarding with a SUP lesson in Bude, Cornwall. A great experience whatever your age or ability.

A Stand Up Paddle Boarding Taster session starts with meeting your SUP instructor and getting kitted up. Your stand up paddleboarding (SUP) lesson includes a suitably sized stand up paddle board  and extendable paddle. Once kitted up, it’s time to listen to the instructor to find out how to use your paddle and manoeuvre your SUP board. We are quick to get on the water so that you can start to put things in to practice. You will be motoring around before long so maybe a little journey up the canal to feed the tourists or maybe an on board ice cream from The Bude Barge.

Sessions are 2 hours with 1.5 hours of tuition and 30 minutes of free paddle time.

£40 per person. All SUP equipment is included

SUP Improver – 2 Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP) Lessons

Learn and improve on the basics of paddle board control and technique. Start to venture in to new areas.

This session carries on from the Taster SUP Session where you start to master the different paddle strokes and develop a variety of techniques to control your board. Journeying should be a breeze for you by now and so we hope to venture further than before.

£75 per person

Hen Party Paddleboarding

Group Paddle Board Lesson

Stand Up Paddle boarding is a brilliant group activity. Stand Up Paddleboarding is much easier (and less wet) than surfing and so more accessible for everyone in your group what ever their age or ability. A perfect activity for a group with different ages such as a stag or hen party.

Sessions are 2 hours with 1.5 hours of tuition and 30 minutes of free paddle time. All equipment is included.

1 – 6 persons – £40 per person

6+ persons – £35 per person

Hire a Stand Up Paddleboard

Cruise the Canal on a Stand Up Paddleboard. With 2 miles of sheltered waterway, towpath, bridges, lock gates, wildlife, tranquil scenery and a floating cafe. It’s a really great way to explore a beautiful bit of Bude!

All SUP Rentals come with A RedPaddle Stand Up Paddle-board and Extendable Paddle. Rentals are for 2 hours and can be collected from the Crescent Carpark in Bude.

£20 per person

* You must acknowledge competnce in being able to use a SUP before renting. All under 18’s need accompanying by an adult. Minimum age is 10

Stand Up Paddle Boarding Lesson Reviews

Don’t just take our word for it… See what others say about their paddle boarding experience with us in Bude!

Stand Up Paddle Boarding Experience

We had an intro session to SUP (stand up paddle boarding) with Glyn on Bude Canal. It was excellent, there were only three of us so we got lots of input from Glyn and I was standing up in no time. The scenery and wildlife were wonderful and I have fallen in love with SUP and will definitely do it again.

My only slight frustration was that we wanted to borrow wetsuits and the confirmation of our booking said we should email to let them know. Despite two emails I didn’t get a response, and when I tried to phone I was directed back to email. On the day there were loads of wetsuits available so there was no issue (and in fact we’d have been fine without as the canal wasn’t very cold), but perhaps if this is always the case, the website could be updated or something to save unnecessary emailing.

MissFennee, Tripadvisor
Great Start For Paddle Boarding
My grandkids aged 14 and 16 took part in a paddle boarding lesson on the canal in Bude this week; it was a great success as they both felt confident on the quiet canal, and were soon standing up after useful instruction from Glyn and James. I was very reassured as the instructors stayed with the group the whole time, all in all this experience helped their holiday off to a great start. Thank you team!
Vacation612195, Tripadvisor
Absolutely Brilliant

Having been keen to try paddle boarding for some time, we took the plunge on our Bude holiday. Arrived feeling a little nervous, Glyn our instructor couldn’t have been better. His instructions were clear and the pace was just perfect for us. No rush to get up on our feet but enough encouragement which saw us both standing fairly confidently after only about 15 mins on the water.

He made us aware that we would get wobbly legs to begin but have us tips to stay relaxed and those wobbles were gone in a few minutes, just as he said they would.

The equipment was excellent, using top of the range boards I’m sure helped us.

Anyway a 50 year old and 60 year old now firmly hooked! Thank you Glyn

jamessV9497OJ, Tripadvisor
Great Introduction to SUP
Brilliant 2 hours SUP on bude canal. Glyn provided all the necessary instruction and guidance to get us up and away cruising the canal. Brilliant experience.
Andre H, Tripadvisor
Morning SUP Experience On Bude Canal

We decided on adding a family SUP session with Freewave this year. We had no experience on the boards, so we were a bit apprehensive but then pleasantly pleased that we all managed to impress our excellent tutor John.

From afar this looks easy but there are plenty of tips and skills to learn. The earlier morning session on the canal is really relaxing – there is no pressure to perform – when you get into it and find some confidence.

Another good experience with Freewave and one that the family can enjoy together, if you don’t surf. On this front, our children have had surfing sessions with Freewave and each time they have had fun and improved.

Geoff, Tripadvisor
2 Hour SUP in Bude
Just had a 2 hour beginners SUP on the canal with Glyn. Had a fab time in between the ducks and swans. Thoroughly recommend this to anyone
Claire R, Tripadvisor
Standing Up at First Time Paddle Boarding!
Second time we have used Freewave for our new experiences on the water and again – everything was fab!
This time we tried SUP on Bude Canal with Glyn and Ellie. Despite there being 12 of us on the water (all first-timers) everyone was able to stand up easily by the end of the 2 hour session and glide effortlessly like a pro back to the meeting point. Ellie joined us in the water for guidance and support and Glyn directed the lesson from the bank. With just the right level of instruction and humour throughout it was a great experience enjoyed by all ages – definitely 12 – 70 I’d say!

Would thoroughly recommend Freewave for any water based activities in the Bude area – professional run outfit with a good social and community focus. We will be back!
Kirsten D, Tripadvisor
Awesome, Amazing & Highly Recommend
I booked an SUP 2 hour session & lesson with Freewave Surf Academy in Bude on the canal. I booked direct via their website & the session took place on Saturday 28th August. Mataeo & another I instructor, (apologies, I’m rubbish with names), took our session & were absolutely amazing!! Having never done anything like this before for myself & 2 daughters aged 13 & 10, the instructors were AMAZING! Great coaching, encouragement & such a fantastic experience had by us plus the others in our group. We paddled the whole canal up to the lock & back down, then had 30 minutes free time to practice. Considering when I booked my girls weren’t keen is an understatement! Following the experience…’can we do it again soon!!!’ I highly highly recommend this company & coaches & would definitely use again for another outdoor experience! Thanks 😊
Booty-barb, Tripadvisor
Paddle Boarding

Having never paddle boarded before, we’ve been wanting to try this for awhile, so booked a SUPlesson with the Freewave team a couple of months ago. Email communication after booking was perfect, any questions we may have had were answered.

We met Glyn and he was great with his explanation but calm encouragement, especially with the children.

Bude canal was a perfect spot for our lesson and it wasn’t long before the majority of us were standing up, what a beautiful paddle we had, we were lucky to have a gorgeous weather.

We all had a brilliant time, will definitely be back next year- Thank you!

xXxCara07xXx, Tripadvisor
SUP Fun On Bude Canal
Booked a 2 hour SUP lesson on Bude canal for our two teens. The instructor was brilliant, really friendly and great with the kids. After an initial briefing they picked up the technique really quickly and off they went paddling up the canal. We walked alongside and learnt lots about the canal and the wildlife. It’s a beautiful area. We all really enjoyed the 2 hours with Freewave and would recommend to anyone visiting the area.

We all had a brilliant time, will definitely be back next year- Thank you!

Jane M, Tripadvisor

Something a bit more upbeat? Try Surfing Lessons or go full power with a Coasteering experience!