Stand Up Paddle Board Rentals

Includes Board/Paddle

Surf Diva Surf School is one of the first schools in San Diego to offer lessons and rentals of SUP boards through its new program called What’SUP!. Located in the most idyllic spot on the west coast to gently launch into the ocean’s premiere scenic and environmentally protected aquatic park, La Jolla Cove and ecological preserve, What’SUP! features top male and female instructors from as far as Hawaii and Australia who are drawn to this program because of its stellar worldwide reputation.  

What’SUP teaches all ages, including kids, since we are open to anyone who can swim. In fact, co-owner Izzy Tihanyi notes that women seem to learn to balance on the boards a bit easier than most men. “We’ve taught many couples where the husband is a great surfer and the wife is just starting out. But on a SUP they are on an even playing field and the ladies just love it!”

You don’t have to be a surfer to learn to SUP. It’s fun to just paddle in the flat water and to look down at the kayakers (literally, not figuratively). The view from above is amazing. The water at La Jolla Cove is so clear that you can see clear through to the leopard sharks (not dangerous, mostly bottom feeders) garibaldi (California’s state fish), and the occasional sea lion, dolphin, or sea bass. From the stand up paddle board it’s one of the most beautiful views in the world: the sweeping cliffs with the famous caves of La Jolla all the way past the Scripps Institute of Oceanography Pier to the fine dark silky sand at Black’s Beach.

Catching waves is something that we also teach, but we recommend a basic surfing background before attempting to launch in to the line-up. “It’s important to know what you are doing if you are going for waves, especially in a crowded spot. These are huge boards and understanding how the manoeuvre in the surf is important for both safety and etiquette,” says Izzy Tihanyi. “Our SUP instructors are both excellent surfers and paddlers, a pre-requisite to teaching this amazing sport.” So before paddling out to the surf, sign up for a package of SURF n SUP lessons at Surf Diva Surf School, you’ll be glad you did!

The recent growth of SUP has been recently noted by TransWorld Surf Magazine in an April 2009 article outlining the phenomenal reach of the sport: “Because of the quick learning curve and the fact that you don’t actually need a wave, folks in landlocked areas have taken to SUP, cruising sounds, lakes, rivers, bays and streams.”

Example of rental equipment 

11' - 11'6" - 12'1"  Boards