Stand-Up Paddle Boarding


Season:	April – September
Adventure Level:	Mild
Ages:	9 and up
Cost:	Adult: $79* • Youth $69*
Departure Time:	10:45 AM & 1:45 PM
Return:	2.5 hours later

Experience a 1/2 day of beginner stand up paddle boarding instruction!

Stand-Up Paddle Boarding (SUP) is the fastest growing paddle sport in the world. Come check out our sampler trip with experienced instructors and learn how much fun it is!

Our instructors will start on land with the basics of board and paddle design, how to properly hold your paddle, and board paddling positions. Before heading out onto the water, our instructor will give you a thorough safety talk and make sure you are comfortable with self rescue and river language.

Once on flat or slow moving water, instructors will go through the balance progressions of laying on your board, kneeling and finally standing up. Within each position you will learn different paddling techniques and paddle strokes to help you maneuver your board efficiently and effectively. We then learn how to tilt the board to carve in and out of currents and experiment with this. Finally, if time allows, our goal is to teach you to ferry across the river. Ferrying is a technique used to maneuver across the river through a current. We start with learning this skill on our knees, then, advancing to our feet. This provides the basic skills needed to start surfing every river wave you can find!

You don’t need huge waves to have fun on a SUP, you will be entertained with every little eddy, wave or ripple in the river. Join us for a fun new water activity or to get a great core workout! Depending on the river water level, your instruction will either be in a lake or a slower section of the Animas River.

Itinerary

Meet at our main office in Durango 30 minutes before your departure time.
Check in, sign release forms, get dressed for the river! Wetsuit and bootie rentals are required through June and highly recommend from July on.
Shuttle to the put in for safety and technique orientation.
Hit the river!
Practice your paddle boarding skills and have a great time doing so! We will stop for a snack half-way through.
Take out and shuttle back to our office approximately 3 hours later.

Important Considerations:

The maximum number of guests we can take at one time is 8.
The trip will either be on a slow moving section of the Lower Animas River or a local lake.

What to Wear or Bring:

Wetsuits are required through June and highly recommended all season. Swimsuits are great to wear under wetsuits, keep in mind, while learning, you have a higher chance of swimming.
Bring sunscreen, water, a hat and sunglasses if desired, and your sense of adventure!

Special Ways We Care for You While Paddle Boarding:

Quality, experienced instructors provide safety and technique orientation
Small guide to customer ratio, averaging 1 to 6 (maximum)
Free helmets and splash jackets
Wetsuits available for rent
Our paddle boards are larger for more stability

*Please note that all itineraries are subject to change due to river conditions. Additional River/Land Access Fees not included.
Click here for directions to our main office in Durango.