Stand Up Paddleboard White Water Leader

Course Description

Become a Stand Up Paddleboard White Water Leader!

• Looking to lead journeys on white water?
• Are you a white water paddler or do you have experience paddling in grade 2(3) white water rivers?
• Do you want to support your club?

If so, the Stand Up Paddleboard White Water Leader could be for you!

Why become a Stand Up Paddleboard White Water Leader?

First of all, the Stand Up Paddleboard White Water Leader is open to anyone with experience of paddling in moderate white water. The award will enable you to lead fun, safe and enjoyable white water trips for groups of paddlers.

You will be supported to develop your personal and leadership skills during two days of training, with like-minded white water paddlers. Alternatively, if you have sufficient experience you could go straight to assessment.

Furthermore, this award is used by clubs, outdoor centres and organisations to support their white water journeys on grade 2(3) rivers.

What can a Stand Up Paddleboard White Water Leader do?

Your award will support you to lead safe and enjoyable journeys. You will lead white water paddlers with a range of experience on trips based on their needs and aspirations in a moderate white water environment.

As a Leader, you can work independently or be deployed by a club, centre or organisation to lead trips and journeys. The purpose of these trips may be wide ranging from educational experiences, social adventures or trying something new.

You will be able to provide Paddle UK Awarding Body Awards and Training, such as:

• Personal Performance Awards – the Start Award, Discover Award and the White Water SUP Award

Note: other experience, training or qualifications may be required. Find out more in our develop skills section.

How should I prepare for the training course?

To get the most from your course you will need to feel comfortable paddling on grade 2(3) white water rivers. We would recommend holding the SUP White Water Award before booking onto your training. 

How should I prepare for the assessment?

Before your assessment, you need to attend the White Water Safety. This course will support you to consider safe practices, provide practical solutions to common issues and appropriate responses to incidents, providing peace of mind when venturing out onto the rivers.

There are lots of ways you can prepare for your assessment. It is important that you take an active role in deciding the appropriate training and experience that you need. You could book onto the Paddle UK Awarding Body White Water Leader Training course to support you in developing the required skills. Alternatively, you can choose bespoke learning opportunities to support your development stage. Find out more on the content tab.

Leadership eLearning and online Resources

These optional, interactive eLearning package will take you through some of the key principles behind:

• Paddle UK Awarding Body Model of Leadership.
• Leading in unfamiliar environments.
• Leading mixed craft journeys

And provides resources and guides as well as a digital self-analysis tool. Find out more!

Registration

The SUP White Water Leader has a formal registration requirement.

Leadership Registration

Registration is a process for leaders who are planning to attend a Leadership Assessment course. The purpose of Registration is to confirm you hold all prerequisites, it's quick and confirmation is sent straight to your inbox*. This should then be shared with the assessor to confirm eligibility for assessment. It also gives you peace of mind that you have everything you need in place and you can focus on enjoying your assessment. Please do not try to Register unless you hold all prerequisites:

*Note - as long as you meet the prerequisites, you will be automatically sent confirmation of your Registration.

What does Registration cost?

How do I Register?

• You will need to be a National Association member
• You need to be at least 16 years of age to register
• Once you're a member, you access your membership portal and register through the dedicated platform
• For more information you can use our Registration Guidance here.

Course Content

It's your development pathway! You choose if you want to attend formal training courses or develop your personal skills, leadership and safety and rescue, with a mentor or through your Club/Organisation. When you're ready for assessment you are in control. It's your group, your trip and our assessor joins you for the day.

SUP White Water Leader Training

Typically run over two days, Paddle UK Awarding Body SUP White Water Leader training courses will support the development of your personal skill level and leadership ability to lead a group of paddlerboarders in a moderate white water environment. The training emphasises the application of strokes to achieve suitable techniques and boat control in real situations.

The training covers four key areas:

• Personal paddling skills
• Rescue skills
• Safety, leadership and group skills
• Theory

Some training courses can be extended to include the assessment prerequisite White Water Safety training.

Formal leadership training is not mandatory, however if you chose to access the training you will have a great couple of days, develop your community of practice as well as making friends and paddle with likeminded paddlers.

SUP White Water Leader Assessment

We believe in assessments for learning and you will definitely learn a lot from your assessment. To find out more click on the assessment tab.

Course Assessment

We do everything we can to take the stress out of assessments, we are focused on the journey and not the destination. The experience will be safe, engaging and enjoyable, with you at the heart of the process, involving you in as much of the decision making as possible.

Typical Assessment

Your assessor will guide you through the stages of arranging your assessment, discussing with you the best times and dates for the assessment, helping you ensure you have a group to lead and the appropriate assessment conditions on the day.

By the end of the assessment, you will have to demonstrate knowledge and skills in four areas:

• Personal paddling skills
• Rescue skills
• Safety, leadership and group skills
• Theory

SUP White Water Leaders will need the ability to judge the conditions and the standard of the group and make appropriate decisions. The assessment takes place over a typical paddling day, depending on the logistics relating to access to suitable environments, you and your assessor may agree a longer assessment.

Help and support ahead of your assessment

• The SUP White Water Leader Assessment Guidance – this explains, in detail, the standard required for assessment.

  Available March 2024

• Leadership eLearning – This optional, interactive eLearning package will take you through some of the key principles behind the Paddle UK Awarding Body Model of Leadership. This is a good refresher of the Leadership principles, at any point on your journey towards becoming a White Water Leader.

Leadership eLearning and online Resources – This optional, interactive eLearning package will take you through some of the key principles behind the Paddle UK Awarding Body Model of Leadership. This is a good refresher of the Leadership principles, at any point on your journey towards becoming a Leader. You also might find it useful to carry out a Self-Assessment using Paddle UK Awarding Body Leader Self Analysis Tool Find All resources here!

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