Instruction
Our private and group lessons take students through everything you need to know to enjoy the excellent sport of Stand Up Paddleboarding the first time you try it. Board, paddle and life jacket are included in the price of the lesson. Lessons can be scheduled for individuals and groups of all sizes by email: jason@paddlesurfchamplain.com or phone, (802) 881-4905.
PRICING: $35 per hour
CLASS SYNOPSIS: We'll start with a discussion of the features of the surfboard and paddle; go over wind and weather considerations, safety practices and U.S. Coast Guard regulations; learn the different Stand Up Paddle strokes on land before entering the water; feel the balance point of the board from a kneeling position on water then get a feel for the board from the standing position; discuss advanced strokes and board-handling skills in the Stand Up Paddle position.
** Students completing the introductory lesson get $10 off a half- or full-day board and paddle rental!
STEP-UP (SURF) CLINIC:
You have tons of experience paddling on lakes and flatwater. You're comfortable on your board and can paddle distances without a hint of falling. You're ready to take your paddleboarding to the next level and connect with the roots of the sport (and maybe a trip to the coast is in your future). OUR STEP-UP CLINIC IS FOR YOU!
Paddlesurf Champlain instructors will give you a head start for paddling the ocean and getting into the surf on your SUP, here on Lake Champlain. Learn how to spot waves and choose the right one to catch, techniques for paddling out into the waves, how to step back and pivot yourself into position to ride, where to be on your board when paddling into a wave, when and how to switch into your surf stance, and how to get yourself into the wave's sweet spot.
We'll use wind and boat waves on Lake Champlain if conditions permit, or learn it all on flatwater.
Cost is $35. Class time is one hour
Guided Kayak & Paddleboard Tours
Let an experienced local paddler lead you around Burlington Bay and along the eastern shores of Lake Champlain. Tours can be scheduled for groups of all sizes through email: jason@paddlesurfchamplain.com or phone, (802) 881-4905. Read about our favorite tour routes below; routes are subject to change to accommodate wind, weather and water conditions.
TOUR PRICING
60 minute tour: $25 per person
90 minute tour: $35 per person
2 hour tour: $45 per person
THE SUNSET TOUR
We'll head south out of Oakledge Park about 75 minutes before the Lake Champlain sun sets over the Adirondack Mountains, reaching the beaches of South Cove in time to watch the sky and water light up orange. The way back will offer westerly views as the sun disappears behind the mountains and we complete the journey back to Oakledge Park as the lake quiets down at dusk. Tour Time: 90 minutes
WINOOSKI RIVER TOURS
Visit our River Tours page for details
THE BEGINNER
Take a cruise from the main beach at Oakledge Park to the South Cove area. This is a short cruise of less than a mile out and back. It offers a close-up look at the offshore lighthouse at Oakledge and a great view of the Burlington skyline.
Tour Time: 60 minutes
THE DOWNTOWNER
Head north out of Oakledge and parallel the Burlington Bike Path into the downtown area. See where the “Spirit of Ethan Allen” ferry docks, view the Patrick Leahy Echo science center from offshore and cruise past Burlington’s grassy Waterfront Park.
Tour Time: 60 minutes
RED ROCKS
We’ll paddle our way south out of Oakledge Park and skirt the rocky shoreline into Shelburne Bay. Around the corner lies Red Rocks Park, where interesting rock formations jut out over the water, and we can watch the cliff jumpers brave 40-foot drops into the lake!
Tour Time: 90 minutes
SHELBURNE POINT
This tour takes paddlers Southwest out of Oakledge Park, paddling seemingly straight into the expansive Adirondack wilderness. Soon we are out into the broader lake, opening up views of the Green Mountains to the east. The destination is Shelburne Point, with its sunny, secluded beaches and towering rock formations. It’s a good place to refresh before heading back east to the Oakledge Park shore.
Tour Time: 2 hours