Stand-Up Paddleboarding, SUP for short, is an emerging sport with Hawaiian heritage that’s caught on big all up and down California. The newest craze: teaching dogs to hitch a ride. A great way for both of you to learn is with SUP PUPS, operating out of Waterman’s Landing Beach Café at Lake Tahoe.
Three-hour clinics at this popular paddling spot adjacent to dog-friendly Patton Beach will be offered July 16 and 17, with Tonya Kahler, the nation’s only Certified Dog Behavior Consultant and Paddleboard Instructor, at the helm. Cost is $60, with rental boards available for another $60.
You and your pup can also find instant SUP love with 101 Surf Sports in San Rafael, where Dog-Paddle Saturdays offer opportunity to join a SUP outing where everyone has a dog on board.
In San Diego, SUP Pups Paddleboard will teach both of the ropes when it comes to paddling the calm waters of San Diego Bay.
Looking for a SUP community closer to home? Go to sup.meetup.com and enter your zip code: You’ll find enthusiasts, many of them with dogs, meeting regularly in Sacramento, Napa, Modesto, Lodi, Woodbridge, the Tri-Valley region, East Bay, Tahoe and beyond.
Keep in mind that while you don’t need to own your own equipment to give SUP a try, you may want to invest in a doggie life jacket to keep Spike safe during those irresistible jump-off moments.
To learn more: SUP With Your Pup
Photo Credit: @thatstokedgolden
