SUP Instructors

If you are going to take a lesson, seek a certified instructor. There are a few certification programs out there, and I am in the process of listing as many as I can, but the World Paddle Association has an excellent program and here is the current list of instructors who have been certified through their program.

There are a lot of truly experienced watermen out there who give excellent instruction. If they are not certified, make sure to ask them about their credentials/experience. The better your instructor, the better the lesson and the safer and happier you will be with this sport.

There are other certification programs. I don’t have experience with them, but honestly, if they take the time to make sure people know about water safety and took the time ot set up a curriculum, then they should be good. Thank you Rob Casey:

• ASI, 6-8hr one day class taught by Gavere and the DeBoer’s.
• WPA
• ACA (American Canoe Assoc) 3 day course, the most extensive
• A.C.E. Certification taught by Brody Welte and Standup Fitness
• Paddle Canada – 2 day course, really good one which in time will have specific certs on rivers, outer coast paddling, and surfing as well as flat water.
• NSSIA

For more information on how to get certified as an instructor, go to: http://worldpaddleassociation.com/apply/ to see more about the process and costs.

The WPA Water Safety curriculum includes classroom and on-water instruction as part of the water safety education classes:

• Board/equipment considerations
• SUP etiquette
• Safety planning
• Injury prevention
• Water dynamics
• Boating laws
• Board/paddling skills
• Rescue techniques
• Water safety information

If you are a certified instructor and want to be on this list, email me at john@distressedmullet.com. The main goal of this list is to give people who want to learn, an option to learn from a true SUP educator who will keep them safe and having fun.

CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS

California

Jay Butki, WPA aquamoose@aol.com
WPA, Master, Los Angeles CA 90405

Brody Welte, brodywelte@gmail.com
WPA, Class II, San Diego, CA

Mitch Kahn, mitchkahn@me.com
WPA, Master, San Clemente, CA 92672

Rob Pelkey, robpelkey@aol.com
WPA, Master, Dana Point, CA 92629

Bill Whitford, billy@newportaquaticcenter.com
WPA, Master, Newport Beach, CA 92660

Byron Kurt, byron@worldpaddleassociation.com
WPA, Class III, Dana Point, CA 92629

Mark Carlisle, monarch575@cox.net
WPA, Class II, Dana Point, CA 92629

Tracy Engelking, h2oblue92672@yahoo.com
WPA, Class II, San Clemente, CA 92672

Larry Froley, graywhale@comcast.net
WPA, Class II, Roseville, CA 95626

Ernie Johnson
WPA, Class II, Dana Point, CA 92629

Colin McPhillips
WPA, Class II, San Clemente, CA 92672

Fred Merrill
WPA, Class II, San Clemente CA 92672

Mickey Munoz
WPA,Class II, Dana Point, CA 92624

Mike Vaughn
WPA, Class II, Santa Monica, CA 90405

Jennifer Holcomb, jnnholcomb@gmail.com
WPA, Class I, Huntington Beac, CA 92648

Peggy Munoz, peggy@mickeymunoz.com
WPA, Class I, Dana Point, CA 92624

Jaime Donnelly, jaimedonnelly@gmail.com
WPA, Class II, Sacramento, CA 95818

Scott Estrada, fit.works@sbcglobal.net
WPA, Class II, Sacramento, CA 95818

Josh Neff, jneff@csus.edu
WPA, Class II, Gold River, CA 95670

Paul Zacharias, pzdakine@gmail.com
ASI class 9, San Diego, CA

Colorado

Morgan Mason, morgan@level11sales.com
WPA, Class II, Boulder, CO 80305

Paul Darrah, pauldarrah@hotmail.com
ACA SUP Level 2, Buena Vista, CO 81211, 970-250-5748

Florida

Gary Wise, surf.sport@yahoo.com
WPA, Master, Miramar Beach, FL 32550

Jeremy Gould,  Jgould1023@yahoo.com
WPA, Class I, Tampa, FL 33606

Kurt Forster, entreguru@yahoo.com
WPA, Class I, Safety Harbor, FL 34695

Mark Melancon, yolo.mark@gmail.com
Class I, Ft. Meyers, FL 33908

Russell Farrow, rafxke@tampabay.rr.com
WPA, Class I, Clearwater, FL 33764

Indiana

Tim Truman, tgtharv@msn.com
WPA, Class II, Indianapolis, IN 46228

North Carolina

William Pope, wopope@bellsouth.net
WPA, Class II, Wilmington, NC 28409

James Bain, surf-salt@hotmail.com
WPA, Class II, Wilmington NC 28405

Greg Lew, Sagelew@bellsouth.net
WPA, Class II, Wilmington, NC 28409

Jason Colclough, jcolclough75@gmail.com
WPA, Class II, Wilmington, NC 28409

Phil Luther, sidearmphil@gmail.com
WPA, Class II, Wilmington, NC 28412

Haywood Newkirk, newkirkh@bellsouth.net
WPA, Class II, Wilmington, NC 28403

Craig Stephens, stephens1018@gmail.com
WPA, Class II, Wilmington, NC 28409

Chris Hill, chill.68@hotmail.com
WPA, Class II, Holly Ridge NC 28445

John Beausang, john@distressedmullet.com
WPA, Class II, Wilmington, NC 28403

Todd Bostian, toddbostian@hotmail.com
WPA, Class II, Wilmington, NC 28409

Oregon

Clay Halverson, clay@standonliquid.com
NSSIA certified SUP and Surf instructor, Bend, Oregon 541-639-4596

Dan Gavere, sales@supinstruction.com, 801.554.2236
ASI Master Instructor and Private WW SUP Instructor

Utah

Betsy Risner, betsy@goyaevents.com
WPA, Class II, Park City, UT 84036

Bob Risner, bob@goyaevents.com
WPA, Class II, Park City, UT 84036

Virginia

Anne Gassett,
ACE/Paddle Fit Certified, annegassett@gmail.com
757-576-7915

Bryan Smith,
Blackdogpaddle.com; blackdogpaddle@gmail.com; 804-57-STAND (7.8263)
ACA L-II SUP Instructor,  ASI L-II SUP Instructor; Richmond, VA

Camille Smith,
Blackdogpaddle.com; blackdogpaddle@gmail.com; 804-57-STAND (7.8263)
ACE Paddle Fit Instructor, ACA L-II SUP Instructor; Richmond, VA

Washington D.C.

Kathy Summers, supdc@me.com, 202-550-8699
ACE Paddle Fit Instructor, ACA L-II SUP Instructor

Washington State

Rob Casey, salmonbaypaddle.com; rob@robcasey.net
ASI, ACA certifications

Mexico

Alfredo Salafranco, supmexico@gmail.com
WPA, Class II, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico