Sturgeon Falls River SUP & Surf Weekend

Prerequisites: Stand up paddlers with previous experience and who have completed our Introduction to River SUP course or equivalent. If that’s you then you are ready to take it to the next level on our Sturgeon Falls River SUP & Surf Weekend! Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

Course includes:

• 3 days of dry land and on-water SUP instruction from certified and experienced Paddle Canada instructors.
• 4: 1 student to instructor ratio: Giving you the best in personalized instruction and feedback.
• All technical paddling gear: Please see the Gear and Clothing tab.
• Camping fees: If you are driving to the course you will need a Manitoba provincial park pass for your vehicle.

Please note that the course does not include personal clothing or gear, food, camping equipment, or travel. Please see the Gear and Clothing tab.

Course Cancellation: It is rare that we cancel a session due to weather considerations however we will do so if, in our judgement, the conditions are dangerous or are likely to present a poor learning environment.

Course starts at 9:00 AM. Please arrive about 15 minutes early, so that you are unloaded, changed, and ready to begin at the start time. Arriving late will cut into your instructional time, and that of others on the course. We will send out more details to all registered participants.

• Day 1: Our first day begins at the Nutimik Lake boat launch in the Whiteshell Provincial Park. From there, we will paddle out to Sturgeon Falls for the day and get right into river safety and river paddling skills (eddy turns, ferries, etc.). We will also get started into river SUP surfing on standing waves! After paddling for the day, we will return to the Nutimik campground for dinner and campfire.
• Day 2: From camp we paddle out to Sturgeon falls to spend the day! Building on the skills learned on Day 1, you will learn how to use the river to your advantage and challenge some bigger rapids and waves.
• Day 3: On Day 3 we make our way back to Sturgeon Falls for our final day of river SUP surfing. Today’s the big day where we progress to bigger, more challenging, and more fun waves! If you’re not tired yet you will be after today. The course will wrap up late afternoon.

Attention: Although we do our best to work through all course content, please note that logistics, location, timing, itinerary or anything else, may be adjusted by your instructor to ensure group safety, comfort and success, over the duration of the course.

We provide the technical paddling gear that you will need appropriate to the course as part of your course costs:

• Brand name river specific paddleboards by Badfish SUP, Blue Planet, Red Paddle.
• Adjustable paddle, leash, PFD, signal whistle, throwbag, helmet.
• You are welcome to bring and learn on your own paddling gear if you have it. (Please note course fees remain the same.)

You will need to bring your own personal gear and clothing for the session:

• Cold water immersion clothing is a must. As a minimum we recommend a shorty style neoprene wetsuit or one-piece neoprene paddle top combined with neoprene shorts or leggings. And that’s for warm weather conditions.
• We recommend going with full on cold water immersion gear so that you “go for it” without the fear of falling in or getting cold! So a drysuit, a 3mm farmer john wetsuit of surf wetsuit would be the best choice!
• Insulating layers, weatherproof shell layers.
• Towel and warm, dry change of clothes (just in case!)
• Secure protective footwear such as water shoes, paddle shoes, neoprene paddle/surf booties or sport sandals.
• Headwear: sun hat, toque (warm hat), sunglasses with straps.
• Any personal first aid, medications, sunscreen etc.
• Waterproof and floatable camera.
• Food for the weekend, high energy snacks, drinking water.
• Thermos with hot drink for cool days.
• Camping equipment: tent, sleeping bag, cooking utensils, stove, etc.