Paddleboarding Essex | Where To Learn & Paddle in Essex!

Paddleboarding has been around for years. But with people looking for outdoor ‘socially distanced’ activities during 2020, SUP saw a rise in popularity. From lakes, rivers to the sea, paddle boarding involves a giant board, similar to a larger surf board and a paddle. The idea being you then stand up on the board, but knee paddling works too. Instead of making the investment of buying equipment straight away, several paddleboarding companies in Essex offer rentals or lessons for beginners.

Disclosure: I won 2 free ‘Ready to Ride’ lessons with Frangipani SUP from a competition ran by Visit Essex. All opinions are my own.

Paddleboarding Essex

Frangipani SUP

I have been paddle boarding all around the world. However, I entered a competition with Visit Essex because I knew my sister has been wanting to give paddle boarding a try and thought it would be fun to go together. The BSUPA (British Stand Up Paddle Association) Level 1 ‘Ready to Ride’ course takes approximately 2 hours. Groups are small, with only 6 people. The course either takes place at Trifarm swimming lake near Boreham or Home Water Lake near Maldon.

We went to the Home Water Lake location at Chigborough Farm near Maldon. There’s a parking area across the road from the lake, and a cabin with toilets. Currently, participants have to bring their own wetsuits and water shoes. If participating in the summer, trainers and clothes, that you don’t mind getting wet, can be worn. Paddleboarding equipment, life jackets and rash vests are provided.

Out of all the water sports I’ve participated in, Frangipani SUP was the first company to suggest putting a rash vest on over the TOP of a life jacket…GAME CHANGER. If you do water sports this is an amazing tip that I will be taking away with me. It stops the life jacket riding up over your head when you fall/swim in the water!

BSUPA Level 1

The first hour of the lesson is mainly land based. You learn about the equipment and practise the basics of paddling when laying down, on your knees and standing up. The second part of the lesson then takes place on the lake. Here you practise the paddling techniques that you learnt on land. To pass the BSUPA Level 1, there are several different things that you need to be able to do. Once the basics have been mastered, you then learn some different techniques for turning. It can take a little while to get used to balancing on the board, SUP is great for core strength.

As I’ve paddle boarded several times before, I was already confident with several of the techniques but I learnt some new things too. The ‘step back’ turn was my nemesis and the only time I actually fell in. I’m usually pretty stable on a board but that particular turn definitely put me to the test.

Another requirement for the Level 1 is to be able to get back onto the board, in water that’s out of your depth. If you haven’t fallen in a deeper area of the lake (like I did) or you managed to stay on the board the whole time, you are required to get in the water to demonstrate the skill.

The idea of the Level 1 course is to teach you the foundations of stand up paddle boarding for still or slow moving water. When you know various techniques you are then free to go away and use the ones that work best for you. Level 2 goes into more details about tidal paddles.

After The Session

At the end of the session, we were given:

• a can of coke (great for hydration or if you accidentally swallowed pond/sea water)
• a colourful Frangipani lei
• some stickers
• a card with the BSUPA Level 1 certification

Frangipani SUP also offer practise sessions, instructor courses and exploration tours all near Boreham or Maldon. The ‘Ready to Ride’ course costs £55 per person. My instructor was Anni and she was great!

Other Essex Paddle Boarding Locations

Several other companies offer paddle boarding in Essex.

Curve Water Sports in St Osyth near Clacton has 1 hour paddle board rentals for £15. They also have wake boarding and an inflatable water park.

Another lake location is Mersea Boating Lake on Mersea Island. 1 hour board rentals are £15. The lake is only 1.5m deep but participants are still required to wear life jackets (included in rental price).

During the summer The Paddle Hut at Brightlingsea has 1 hour rentals for £15. Please be aware that Brightlingsea is a tidal location and you have to demonstrate that you a competent at the basic skills. They also offer a 1 hour lesson for £25 (not BSUPA Level 1).

If you are closer to Southend, WetNDry SUP based in Rayleigh also offer BSUPA Level 1 courses. They also have SUP Yoga sessions. I took part in a SUP Yoga in the US and it’s a unique experience!

Just across the Essex border in Hertfordshire, Lee Valley White Water Centre has 1 hour paddle boarding sessions for £10. They also have white water rafting, hydrospeeding and kayaking activities.

Independent Paddle Boarding Essex

If you have your own stand up paddle board equipment and are looking to take to the Essex waters, several popular locations include: the River Chelmer, Paper Mill Lock and the River Stour (near Dedham). If SUPing independently make sure you are adhering to all the rules and regulations. For example, annual licences are required to launch on the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation. Also consider the route, if you park and launch from one location, how will you get back? Will someone collect you and drive you back, or will you need to paddle the same route in reverse?

West Mersea Beach on Mersea Island is also a popular location as the water is often calm and shallow but remember, IT IS TIDAL.

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