SUP Fitness Certification

What makes Paddle Into Fitness the right choice for you?

Train with the Paddle Into Fitness® team, including former ROXY Pro SUP Athlete Gillian Gibree (Aquatic EMT, Ocean Lifeguard, ACE Personal Trainer, WPA Instructor, E-RYT 200) and certified Paddle Into Fitness Master Trainers. Develop the skills, confidence, and knowledge to safely teach Stand Up Paddleboarding and SUP Fitness while learning from instructors with professional racing, coaching, and water safety experience.

During your training, you will:

• Refine your paddleboarding skills through advanced stroke technique, efficient paddle mechanics, race-training fundamentals, advanced turns, and board handling.

• Receive comprehensive water safety training, including rescue techniques, real-life emergency scenarios, risk management, and water laws and regulations.

• Develop a thorough understanding of the equipment needed to teach successful SUP classes, including boards, paddles, anchors, fins, and essential accessories.

• Learn how to safely and confidently teach the Paddle Into Fitness® Beginner SUP Lesson, including paddle technique, water safety, and introductory instruction.

• Master Paddle Into Fitness® signature SUP Fitness programming:

  • Beginner Lesson – Teach first-time paddlers the fundamentals of Stand Up Paddleboarding, paddle technique, and water safety.

  • Surfer's Sculpt – A 1.5-hour beach and water-based fitness class featuring functional movement, interval training, and a SUP Yoga cool-down.

  • Advanced SUP – Learn to coach advanced stroke mechanics, race starts, buoy turns, finishes, and interval training while designing progressive programs for private clients.

• Receive our 12-Week Intro to SUP Fitness training program, designed to help instructors safely progress clients from beginner fitness to confident paddlers through a structured, "Couch to 5K" approach.

• Learn how to build and market successful SUP fitness programs through our Business of SUP Workshop, including branding, marketing, and growing your business.

What's Included

Upon successful completion, you'll receive:

• Paddle Into Fitness® SUP & SUP Fitness Certification

• Level 1 WPA (World Paddle Association) Certification (a $300 value)

• 2.6 ACE Continuing Education Credits (CECs), plus CECs available through NASM, AFAA, and canfitpro

• A listing in the Paddle Into Fitness Instructor Directory to help prospective clients discover your business

• Lifetime access to our online learning portal, course manuals, and instructional videos

• Exclusive instructor discounts on paddleboards, paddles, apparel, SUP accessories, water sports insurance, and the Paddle Into Fitness Inflatable Paddleboard.

Whether you're a fitness professional, coach, or passionate paddler, you'll graduate with the certifications, teaching skills, business knowledge, and ongoing support to confidently lead safe, engaging, and professional SUP Fitness programs.

Get Started:

Paddle Into Fitness certifications include both an online learning module and an in-person water skills assessment. Begin the classroom portion of your certification from anywhere by reading the training manual, watching detailed instructional videos, and completing quizzes at your own pace. This flexible format allows you to start your certification at any time during the year and practice the skills before attending your in-person training. You can also submit videos to receive personalized feedback from Gillian before your practical assessment. Your online course remains accessible after certification, allowing you to review the material anytime as a refresher. SUP rental equipment is included for the in-person training, or you are welcome to bring your own board and equipment if preferred. See what's included in the certification by previewing our online learning portal and curriculum here.

Register:

Complete the application and payment to receive immediate access to the online learning portal. You will be asked to upload proof of current CPR, AED, and First Aid certification. This does not need to be completed before training, but is required before your Paddle Into Fitness certification can be issued.

Participants should:

• Be proficient swimmers (able to swim at least 25 yards) & comfortable participating in water sports.

• Ideally have at least one year of stand-up paddleboarding experience.

• While not required to apply, we recommend at least one year of fitness instruction or coaching experience (such as group fitness instruction, personal training, or similar). We also strongly recommend holding a nationally recognized NCCA-accredited fitness certification, such as ACE, ACSM, NSCA, or NASM.

• If you have not yet earned a primary fitness certification, you should be actively studying for an NCCA-accredited credential or planning to obtain one within the next 12 months. For participant safety and instructional quality, we do not recommend teaching SUP Fitness classes until you have earned a primary fitness certification.

• Applicants with experience teaching fitness-based yoga formats, such as Yoga Sculpt, Yoga Pilates, Power Yoga, or similar classes, are encouraged to apply. This experience provides a strong foundation for the SUP Fitness Certification.

The foundational full-day SUP Instructor Certification is included in the price as part of your SUP Fitness training. If you are also interested in SUP Yoga, sign up for the Complete Certification. Interested in private or small-group instructor training? Please contact us for availability and pricing.