Aloha SUP (stand up paddleboarding) provides the unique opportunity to learn how to SUP in central Ohio. It's a great chance to get on the water and do something different for $30. The only thing you need to bring is swim wear, sun protection and mosquito repellant. Oh, and don't forget your water!
To bad our initial enthusiasm was crushed as soon as we arrived by the WEIRD ATTITUDE of the instructor. He primarily interacted with a couple of people in the group (cute, young and female) and ignored the rest. No eye contact with several of us. He was short and abrasive when responding to questions, but later claimed he was joking. He wasn't funny. At points, he was downright rude. I'm being kind when I say his social skills were seriously lacking. The teenage assistant could have given him lessons on communication & inclusiveness. At the end, he did ask how we enjoyed our time. If I was keeping it real, what i should have said was I enjoyed paddling away from him.
Hoover is a good spot to get on the board for the first time. No serious waves. You are sharing the space with small watercrafts and have to pay attention. Paddling uses a lot of muscles so being out for an hour is plenty of time for most. But you can spend up to 75 minutes out there. In our group of about 15, everyone was able to stand on the board. So don't sweat it. Once you are the water, it's all good.
Some negatives include: Sunbury Rd. traffic noise, no nearby restrooms and very little shade during instruction time. An offering of bottled water or cups of water would have gone a long way in customer satisfaction.
Our next SUP adventure will be with another company. read more