SUP Rentals Santa Barbara

SUP Rentals In Santa Barbara

Looking for something new and fun to do? Santa Barbara boasts a wide variety of natural beauty that California has to offer. I have lived on the Central Coast for my entire life and I am constantly in awe of the views that surround the area. I am always looking for new and exciting ways to explore Santa Barbara. What better way to get a new perspective of Santa Barbara than from the water with affordable SUP rentals?

What’s SUP?

SUP stands for Stand Up Paddleboarding. A SUP paddler stands on top of the board with their feet side by side about shoulder-width apart. Their paddle is similar to that of a canoe paddle, although it is much longer. The paddle length will vary for people of different sizes or SUP disciplines. You propel yourself through the water alternating paddling sides every few strokes to maintain a straight course.

The beginning of SUP can be traced to numerous parts of the world over a thousand years ago. The original uses for SUP were much more utilitarian than leisurely. The modern SUP popularity explosion, especially in Hawaii and the United States, began in the early 2000s. From Santa Cruz to Malibu, surfers were buying SUPs for the smaller days as an alternative to longboarding. A SUP can offer surfers a way to stay in shape when they aren’t able to surf. SUP has grown so much in the past 20 years and now almost every town along the coast will have SUP rentals available.

The sport of Paddleboarding is now much more diverse than 20 years ago. Surf SUP was the most popular in the beginning because it was surfers that were progressing the sport. Now, SUP has evolved into blending numerous other activities; river navigating, racing, touring/camping, fishing, and even SUP yoga! There is a SUP sub-activity for everyone, and it’s never been easier to get out on the water!

SUP Rentals in Santa Barbara

Cal Coast Adventures provides fun and excitement in the Santa Barbara area providing outdoor adventures for everyone. We rent SUP in the Santa Barbara area at Haskell’s Beach, West Beach, and Butterfly Beach. Our West Beach stand can be opened year-round but our other two locations will typically operate April-September. All rentals and operations are weather dependent, but Santa Barbara has over 300 days of sunshine each year! The best time to reserve a rental is in the morning before the wind has time to pick up in the afternoon.

If the wind is too strong on the day of your reservation, consider taking one of our tandem kayaks out for a paddle instead. They are much easier to handle in the wind.

No matter if you’re a beginner or an advanced paddle surfer, we have a great variety of stand up paddleboards to fit your needs. You will find a large fleet of SUP rentals to choose from, with options to hop in a kayak as well! Most of our SUPs are made for leisurely paddles up and down the beautiful coastline, however, we do have select boards that work for SUP surfing as well. We will work with you to ensure you and your group have everything they need! Larger corporate events are also available if planned ahead of time.

We are also available to drop off the board at any beach in Santa Barbara, Goleta, Montecito, and Carpinteria. Free delivery is offered on rentals over $100, otherwise, a $15 fee is added to the rental price. The SUP rental includes a board, paddle, life jacket/PFD, as well as a wetsuit if you need one.

Long-Term SUP Rental

If you’re planning to rent the SUP for multiple days, you get a fabulous discount on the prices. You can also get stand up paddleboard lessons at Cal Coast Adventures, and have some fun surfing the waves. If you’re staying at Refugio State Beach or El Capitán Beach and would like an overnight rental worth over $150, you can have your board transported for only $15 each way as well. Meeting us at the entrance would be best as the park charges $10 per board we bring into the park. So if you would like it delivered directly to your campsite then a $10/board fee will be additional.

Our friendly staff is always happy to help answer any and all questions relating to SUP rentals, or the Santa Barbara area. If you’re reading this and have any questions of your own, leave a comment below and we will get back to you!

Fun For The Whole Family

Stand up paddleboards are great for children and adults alike. If you’re a bit hesitant to get in the water for the first time with your SUP board, feel free to contact Cal Coast Adventures at 805-628-2444 to discuss lesson plans and options. The staff is trained in providing assistance to beginners and people who want to learn about using SUP boards safely. They can help you find the right board to get you started, and give you great tips, so you can begin cruising in no time. On a tour, we always cater to the slowest member of the group to not leave anyone behind. We paddle out together and come back in together!

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How Do I Stand Up?

In my experience, most people are very tentative for the first 15 minutes on the SUP. After 15 minutes I see clients relax and gain their confidence. We will give you tips and pointers on the beach before sending you out into the water.

Every first-time SUP renter should start on their knees. This will allow them to get a feel for the board and how it responds when you paddle. Rocking side to side shows you how surprisingly stable the board is. Once you feel more comfortable with the ocean moving under the board, it is time to stand up. REI CO-OP has a great page for helping beginners learning to stand.

Once you plant your feet, keep your head up, eyes forward, and focus on the horizon. Think like you’re riding a bicycle; look where you want to go. If you look down at your feet and the water, you will end up down there! As you stand up SLOWLY, remember to keep looking forward and breathe. I always tell SUP renters to not try too hard. If you think too much about balance, you won’t actually be balancing. Pretend you are standing normally and just let your legs and feet do what they normally do all day long. Relax, breathe, and be patient; you most likely will fall into the water, but that’s all part of the learning experience!

Yes, this takes some patience and a little bit of practice. 9 times out of 10 the people who rent a SUP will be on their feet in no time and heading into the harbor checking out the boats and local marine life. The other 1 out of 10 will still have plenty of fun just staying on their knees if standing is too much work.

Get Out There

There are no rules about how to have fun on a SUP; everyone does it differently. What are you waiting for?! Come on down to Cal Coast Adventures and get some paddleboard rentals for you and your friends. Customer satisfaction isn’t enough for us; we strive for customer STOKE! We want your SUP rental experience to exceed all of your expectations and keep you coming back. See you on the water!