What a blast! I've kayaked the Newport Harbor and Back Bay area a few times and seen a lot of SUP riders, some with great form making it look effortless, while others not so much, so I wanted to find a top-notch instructor to get me out of the gate. I found that in the SUP Spot, but what I hadn't counted on was having an all-around great time doing it. I met with instructor Jodie at the Ruby Lane Beach on Balboa Island, and we spent the first few minutes on shore going over the basic techniques for a beginner. We then set out in the calm protected waters of Newport Harbor for a trip that went in a loop past the entrance to the Back Bay with Jodie offering tips along the way to start refining my technique. After getting my sea legs under me, we found a quiet secluded cove to work on more advanced techniques and skills before calling it a day. For a beginner with no prior experience, I can't imagine a more positive introduction to SUP. I enjoyed it so much that I returned a few days later to try something more adventurous - setting out from the Newport Harbor Beach Patrol station and paddling out past the mouth of the harbor into the ocean waters outside the bay. I figured I'd get wet on this trip and wasn't disappointed. I knew upfront that this would be outside my comfort zone, but with Jodie taking it all in stride my apprehension level was kept in check and I had an exhilarating experience in a classic California setting that I wouldn't have had the nerve to tackle on my own. What really sets this experience apart is the professional and laid-back approach of Jodie. She's a former professional surfer and life-long paddleboarder, but that's not the most important thing for a beginner. What really makes the entire experience positive is the motivation and genuine concern she has for conveying her passion for SUP to her students. For her it's obviously not about giving a lesson but more about making sure that you are having fun doing it. At the end of the day you don't feel like you had a formal lesson but instead spent the time with a friend who gave you paddleboarding tips. I believe there are a few spots in the Long Beach,/Manhatten Beach/Newport Beach areas where instruction is offered, and Jodie mentioned that group instruction is also offered with a max 5:1, student:instructor ratio. If you are looking for a great water activity that just about anyone can do, SUP is for you. If you aren't in shape and worried about being able to do it, the intro lesson makes it accessible. If you are in shape and want to learn a new activity for an awesome aerobic/core workout it can be that for you as well. If you just want to experience the thrill of walking on water then SUP is the closest you'll come. If you want an instructor who combines a professional approach with a genuine concern for your enjoyment then you'll be grateful that you found the SUP Spot! read more

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These guys are pros, literally. This is a great place to get your Stand Up Paddling Lessons. Jodie Nelson and Steve Adler are avid SUP people that will work well with you no matter what your skill level or physical shape. We met them in Newport Harbor for a 1.5 hour lesson. The equipment is top notch and they were patient with us. It was our first time and Steve taught us for about 10 minutes on land, and then we got on our boards. No messing around! We got the hang of it pretty well and by the end we were ready to learn some advanced techniques, however, we just wanted some extra time to practice alone and it was not a problem. A perfect balance of professionalism and laid-back-ness! read more

We had a GREAT experience in our first SUP lesson with Jodie! We have a motley crew of myself, my 2 cousins, and my 10 yr old son. All shapes, sizes and athletic abilities. Jodie had us up and going in 15 minutes, paddling and gaining confidence. I was concerned mostly for my son who tends to get discouraged easily but he truly loved his SUP time, claiming it was the best day of the summer! We paddled in the canals of Long Beach enjoying the weekend activity and Jodie was wonderful in spending time with each of us, giving us tips and showing us new techniques even though we were pretty spread out. Jodie got all of us paddling in minutes regardless of body type, athletic ability and giving us a new and fun sport to love. I can't speak for everyone in my group but my son and I want to SUP again when we go to the Big Island next month and my cousin wants to learn to SUP in open water now. read more

The SUP Spot - Long Beach - Trainers Near Me

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My wife and I had a great time learning what SUP is all about. Jodie and Steve was absolutely encouraging while we learn how to get our bearing straight on the board. Initially, I was concerned about possibly falling into the cold water in Newport Harbor. Jodie assured my wife that it is very unlikely that we'd take a plunge and ruin the Valentine's Day outing. The paddle session was quite relaxing got to go around Beacon Bay and get more familiar with the sport of SUP. Jodie had arrange a special pit stop for the group on Valentine's Day. Very thoughtful and unexpected. We enjoyed the time spent in the water. Definitely helps when the weather in SoCal is so great even in February! read more

My husband and I signed up for the Valentine's Day class as a fun fitness date. We cruised around Newport Harbor and it was a lot of fun! Jodie and Steve are great instructors, very patient and informative of different paddle techniques. They even surprised us with champagne and chocolates half way during the class to help us celebrate V-Day. SUP is pretty easy to learn, the board itself is a 12 foot board that is easy to balance on. The equipment was new and top of the line. No one out of our beginner class of 6 fell in the water! The paddling was a good workout. The weather was a beautiful sunny 80 degrees and it was definitely one of the best ways to enjoy a date with your significant other. read more

Today was my first time on a SUP board, and I didn't fall. I called late in the afternoon because I needed to do something outside of normal for me to celebrate 20 pounds of weight loss that showed up on the scale at today's weigh-in. It was just what I needed to celebrate making it 21% of the way to my goal of 95 pounds less. Jodie totally gets the urgency of my request--it has to be today--and agrees to meet up for a lesson without hesitation, even though she is working on a fundraiser event for tomorrow, the Addler Paddler race in Belmont Shore starting at 9 sharp, for the John Ritter Foundation. Now, her event is way more important than my weight loss, but you wouldn't guess it by the reaction and support I got from Jodie for losing twenty pounds. Jodie went through a thorough lesson on the sand, then did a quick demo on her board on the water, before she patiently coached me into my place on my rented board that was included with the cost of my lesson. I will definitely be doing SUP again with Jodie. I didn't fall off my board. I posted a picture, too. read more

The SUP Spot - My first time! Great teacher! Thanks, Jodie. - Trainers Near Me

I read a review about Jodie on Yelp last week and asked her to teach my 3 young granddaughters today. (ages 7, 9 and 11) We met at Balboa Island in a protected area and Jodie spent the 90 mins. incredibly well. She gave them an overview on land and then helped each girl get acclimated to the water. It was a definite highlight of their summer visit. Jodie also let our 4 yr old grandson ride on her board and he talked about it non-stop afterward. I wholeheartedly recommend Jodie to anyone wanting to give this fun sport a try. She is very safety conscious, a great communicator, very patient and professional. The kids were proficient and confident on their boards - and can't wait to try it again next summer! read more

AWESOME experience with "The SUP Spot"! Even though it was 8am in the morning Jodie was wide awake and full of energy. My three kids had a fabulous time learning from Jodie (ex pro surfer and a SUP enthusiast) - she gave helpful instruction and was full of encouragement while the kids were hopping onto their SUP boards for the very first time. I was especially grateful that Jodie spent extra time helping one of my kids who was a bit more timid than the other two - she stayed behind and was extremely patient and encouraging. They had all the equipment ready to go and it didn't feel cheap or worn out from repeated use from lessons and what not. Jodie took us into a beautiful harbor area which was GREAT for learning the basics. By the end of the lesson, my kids were zipping across the harbor with ease and having a blast racing each other (and trying to tip each other over! kids...) Definitely recommend spending time with Jodie and the SUP Spot team! read more

GREAT EXPERIENCE!! I had been interested in trying out the sport of SUP for a while but I didn't know where to start. I knew I wanted to purchase a board but didn't know what board would be perfect for me. I contacted Jodie through email and she responded right away. She sounded very knowledgeable about boards and welcomed me right away to meet with her so that she could educate me more on the types of boards and paddles. I met with Jodie at the Huntington Harbor location and she gave me lots of information on the different types and lengths of boards. She recommended different ones that I would like and had me try a variety of them. All the equipment was in great condition and well taken care of. I had two of my kids with me and she had them try some of the boards too. She had her son show my kids the basics and take them out while she continued to explain and show me the pros and cons of different types of boards and paddles. This truly showed me that this was a family friendly business run by a family of SUPers. I met with Jodie again a couple of weeks later to pick up the board she helped me buy and I also rented some for my kids. She met with us again in Huntington Harbor and she brought along shirts and stickers to give to us. Jodie truly is great at what she does. The love Jodie has for the sport and her business is evident in that she is more than happy to instruct, encourage, and give tips on how to improve. I have nothing but positive comments to say about "The SUP Spot." Jodie helped me decide on a board and paddle that was best suited for me and did stay within my budget. I have taken my board out a few times already and will return to get lessons on how to surf using a SUP! read more

We had great fun with Jodie. As other reviewers mentioned, it was a very informal and relaxed atmosphere. Of note is that Jodie met us on Easter after her family plans to take us out. We were just calling to see if they were open, but Jodie was very cool and flexible with meeting up with us and definitely bent over backwards to take us out on a holiday. We did the Huntington Harbor which was really laid back and quiet. Less people to watch me fall in numerous times. I'm going to blame the dips on my height (6'5") and not on my overall lack of coordination. My wife and Jodie seemed to have a good time watching me fall so I was glad to be a source of entertainment. Jodie is definitely a great teacher, and I am definitely a bad student. My wife looked like a pro, and I, not so much. I had a blast though, and whenever I got too warm, I just decided to take a dip... I really enjoyed hanging out with Jodie and would definitely recommend that anyone who is remotely curious about SUPing give them a try. We were just in for the weekend from SF, and it was definitely awesome. It's a pretty fun day, and Jodie is good company. We will definitely be going "SUPing" again with Jodie and crew next time we're down in the OC. In the interim, I will practice. Plus, Jodie is a SUP celebrity and has been on Ellen as my wife informed me per Google. Give The SUP Spot a go! read more

The SUP Spot (and Billy specifically) are awesome! My three boys and I (16/14/12) found the SUP Spot on Yelp....and tried it out. We met up with Billy in Balboa on Saturday morning....and immediately hopped in the water, received some great instruction and away we went. His interaction and instruction with the boys was awesome! We coasted around and they were doing headstands on the boards in no time (literally). After having such a great time, the boys asked if we could SUP again on Sunday morning (not the original plan) but the answer was an easy HECK YA! We met up with Billy up in Huntington Harbor and tooled around the Harbor and just had a blast. The purchase of some boards is in our immediate future. ANYONE looking for great instruction and a great new friend should call Billy and the SUP Spot! read more

I had my lesson in Huntington Harbor with Taylor. I felt good on my board and really enjoyed seeing the sights around the Harbor With about 5 minutes left in my lesson I did manage to zone out and fall off my board, but I suspect most students don't do that. Getting back on and standing up took less than a minute. Taylor is a local waterman with interesting stories so if you take a lesson with him, enjoy! read more

Jodie really knows her stuff! My wife and I were up and going in no time. It was our first lesson and it was so much fun. Jodie was super patient and went out of her way to take care of our special needs. We paddled all around the back bay in Newport Beach. I highly recommend the SUP Spot! Thanks Jodie! read more

This was a great experience for me since it was my birthday and I wanted to try something new and exciting. For me being a novice swimmer, the instructor had me comfortable enough to actaully paddle out in the Newport pier. I will definately try this again. You will not regret it. read more

My first ever paddleboarding experience was a great success. The water is perfect here, not too choppy or fast moving. I was able to paddle around and get where I wanted to go without to much trouble. read more

Jodie Nelson with the SUP Spot has been a huge resource to me in the stand-up paddling world. I bought my first board from her. A 10-6 all around Riviera. She hooked me up with a like new used one and gave me a great deal. Even after she let me demo the board and another two boards (404 and Ron House) a few times prior to purchasing. The 10-6 did exactly what I wanted in a new board...it was stable and a good paddler, and surprisingly fun and nimble in the surf. I am looking for a second board right now and looked to Jodie for her insight again. She is very knowledgable, friendly and provides a really great service. Anyone who helps you try out a few paddleboards before you invest in one is an awesome person to know. Anything stand-up paddling, beginner to intermediate to advance, I would recommend them to Jodie. She knows her stuff, is friendly and reliable. Can't ask for anything more. read more

These guys were great. I wanted to take my daughters to learn SUP and it turned out to be a perfect thing to do. Met Billy at the Huntington Harbor location which is ideal for beginners. Bottom line: would not hesitate to recommend these days read more