Stand-up paddling begins with a gently sloping learning curve in the protected waters of King Harbor or the calm summer water off local beaches. But the curve quickly steepens for paddlers who choose to surf or to enter any of the year round races in Southern California.
Fortunately, the South Bay offers instruction to match the conditions. New City of Redondo regulations ensure that only qualified instructors offer lessons in King Harbor.
Olympus Board Shop
Jeremy Godokiss’ Olympus Boards is known for its Sup Fit Yoga classes and Gypsy paddle excursions out to the whales and to Palos Verdes. Lessons and rentals are available to novices and veteran watermen and waterwoman.
4807 Torrance Blvd., Torrance. (310) 214-180
OlympusBoardShop.net.
Tarsan Stand up Paddle Boarding
Gene Smith, a competitive stand-up paddler, and his crew of fellow racers offers an SUP camp for kids Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Instructors are CPR and First Aid certified. Tarsan’s two stores offer boards, gear and apparel. Its family and individual membership program offers free use of boards. The King Harbor store offers easy access to King Harbor’s protected waters while its Hermosa Beach store is just one block from Hermosa’s small, easy to ride, summer waves.
936 Hermosa Ave, Suite 105, Hermosa Beach. (310) 798-7878.
831 N. Harbor Drive, Redondo Beach. (310) 798-2200.
tarsanstandup.com.
Nikau Kai Waterman Shop
Jason Shank’s beautiful, well equipped downtown Manhattan Beach shop is just two blocks up from the Manhattan pier, where the beach is noted for long, soft south wells during the summer. Nikau Kai emphasis SUP surfing and hosts summer contests. Lessons for all levels are available by appointment.
1300 Highland Ave. Manhattan Beach. (310) 545-7007.
NikauKai.com
Paddle House
Paddle House next to the International Boardwalk in King Harbor is part clubhouse, part boardshop. In addition to sales, rentals and lessons, it offers a sauna, showers and board storage. Its dock in front of the shop offers easy access to the protected harbor waters.
164 N. International Boardwalk, Redondo Beach. (310) 310-372-1600.
paddle-house.com
King Harbor Yacht Club Stand-up Paddleboard Fleet
In recognition of stand-up paddleboarding’s growing popularity, the King Harbor Yacht Club has added a SUP fleet to its fleets of sail and power boats. The club’s docks face King Harbor’s main channel.
280 Yacht Club Way, Redondo Beach. (310) 376·2459.
KHYC.org
Michelob Ultra USSUPA
Hermosa, Manhattan stops
The United States Stand-up Paddling Association will hold the first of its five 2015 tour stops in Hermosa Beach on Memorial Day, May 25, beginning at 4 p.m. at the Hermosa pier. A second USSUPA race will be held August 2 at the Manhattan pier. Other races are June 13 in Cardiff, Huntington Beach September 19 and Tourmaline October 11
USSUPA.com, BeachSport.org. ER
