ASI – Academy of Surfing Instructors

SUP Fitness Instructor

SUP Fitness Instructor

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Lead SUP fitness sessions with confidence and creativity.  This course gives fitness professionals the skills to design and deliver safe, effective SUP workouts. 

You’ll blend fitness expertise with dynamic, on water training that challenges balance, core strength, endurance, and coordination. Learn to integrate resistance bands, dynamic circuits, and progressive routines to provide a range of fitness options for your clients.

With internationally recognised certification, you can expand your career and tap into the fast growing demand for water based fitness. Special fees apply for ASI Level 1 SUP Instructors.
 

What This Course Qualifies You To do

TYou’ll be able to teach : fitness exercises on a SUP board 

In the following conditions:
  • inland waters or coastal locations 
  • flat water, no swell/non breaking waves or breaking waves
  • in standing depth water only (less than 4ft)
  • no more than 50 metres from shore
  • the SUP fitness activity area must be under 50 metres paddling distance.
After completing the course, you can:
  • Run safe, structured SUP fitness exercises and programs
  • Manage groups in the water 
  • Assess SUP fitness technique, to help your clients enjoy the session
Note: 
If you plan to paddle more than 50 metres or run sessions in deep water, it is recommended, for safety reasons, that you hold ASI Level 1 SUP Instructor certification, which can be completed later.

Where Can You Work?

With your ASI qualification, you can work as a SUP Fitness Instructor: 
  • At SUP schools around the world
  • At wellness retreats and holiday resorts 
  • For fitness centres & gyms
  • For local government (or similar) health programs and activities
  • As a freelance SUP Fitness instructor 
  • At your own SUP fitness school.  Apply to become an ASI Accredited SUP School, allowing you to operate your own professional SUP fitness school business under ASI’s global standards.
ASI qualifications are internationally recognised, giving you the freedom to work and travel.

What You'll Learn

This course covers essential skills for teaching SUP fitness sessions, including:

Laws & regulations:  that apply to conducting SUP fitness sessions 

Risk management & safety:  ASI guidelines, identify and assess risks, strategies to minimise risk, conducting location and dynamic risk assessments, emergency response 

Environment:  social & natural environmental impacts and minimisation strategies

Logistics planning:  locations, equipment (SUP fitness boards, anchoring systems, accessories), back up, student types

Session planning:  structuring SUP fitness sessions, creating session plans, ASI SUP fitness session plans and sequences set up and ready to use in own classes.

Group management:  communication, positioning and client supervision 

Delivering sessions:  a library of fitness exercises modified for SUP.  
Level 1  basic/beginners sessions, covering cardio, core, strength, toning, balancing
Level 2  intermediate-advanced sessions covering cardio giving an aerobic workshop.  High end SUP fitness workouts including: SUP circuits, SUP tums bums, resistance training, Interval training SUP Abs

Client assessment:  common mistakes, feedback, correcting technique

Professional standards: duty of care, codes of conduct, evaluating your own performance as a SUP Fitness Instructor, industry expectations

SUP technical skills: for the SUP Fitness instructor– an introduction to basic stand up paddle techniques and rescue skills

Entry Requirements

To enrol, you must meet:

Minimum age: 18 years

Stand up paddling experience: 20+ hours of paddling.  Able to paddle a board with confidence.

SUP fitness experience:  10+ hours (in class or self-guided)

Fitness instructing experience:  
Hold a Personal Trainer /  Fitness Instructor qualification or similar.
As minimum this is where you are certified to train clients in a group, in an unsupervised setting, including outdoor sessions. 
eg.  UK-Reps Level 2.  Australia-Certificate 3 in Fitness. Other countries-equivalent. 

Course Requirements

Before you can be certified, you’ll need to complete the below:

See the Study Option section below to confirm the specific requirements that apply to you.

(1) Personal SUP fitness ability:   
Demonstrate ability to perform a range of SUP fitness exercises with safety.

(2) Knowledge:  Online Tests:
Complete multi-choice online test for:  SUP Fitness Instructor / SUP Rescue / SUP Wise Intensiv (basic SUP paddling).

Note: you do not complete the SUP Rescue and SUP Wise Intensiv online tests if you hold an ASI Level 1 SUP instructor certificate.

(3) Skills: 
Prepare class:  demonstrate ability to prepare the class - enter the water, anchoring, organise group ready to start the session.
Conduct class:  demonstrate ability to conduct SUP fitness class with correct sequencing, techniques and safety.

(4) Practical: Hours Experience:
Complete 10 hours practical work experience, assisting in the delivery of SUP fitness sessions, at an ASI accredited SUP school or other approved SUP school.  Submit logbook of hours/experience.

Note: Alternative practical hours experience can be conducted if no ASI school nearby to you. Recognition of previous SUP fitness instructor experience can be accepted. Contact ASI for more information.

(5) Submit Required Certificates:  Time to Complete:  12 months

Study Options

Workshop: Ideal for people who like to complete most of the course requirements at the workshop and interact with the trainer.
  • Face to face (in-person) training. 
  • Duration: 2 days 
Course Requirements: 
  • SUP fitness exercises (your own) – completed at workshop
  • Prepare a class – completed at workshop
  • Conduct a class – completed at workshop
  • Online tests – completed after workshop
  • Practical hours experience:  complete 8 hours (10 hours less 2 hours signed off in workshop)
  • Submit current first aid certificate 
  • Personal Trainer /Level 3 Fitness Instructor Certificate or equivalent

What is Included

At the workshop, you receive a paper copy of: 
  • SUP Fitness Instructor manual 
  • Instructor logbook (for practical hours)
  • SUP Water Safety Rescue manual
In addition, receive online access to:
  • SUP Water Safety Rescue manual
  • SUP Wise Intensiv (SUP skills) manual
Plus:  ASI membership for 12 months.

ASI’s E-learning Platform 
Provides access to training manuals, videos, reference materials and assessments, includes built-in language translation.

What Equipment You Will Use

The following equipment and clothing is required to complete the training:
  • SUP Fitness board or flat water SUP board, paddle, coiled leash
  • SUP clothing suitable for SUP Fitness
In addition:   
  • Computer or device to access ASI e-learning platform  

Certificate Issued

ASI Stand Up Paddle Fitness Instructor certificate

Valid for 12 months

Renewal

Each year, ASI Instructors renew their ASI SUP Fitness Instructor certificate.   
More about renewal requirements

Progression Pathways

You can continue your SUP coaching development with:

Why Choose ASI?

  • Globally recognised SUP teaching and coaching qualifications
  • Industry leading safety and coaching standards
  • Flexible online and in person training
  • Clear career progression
  • Trusted by SUP schools, gyms, wellness centres, resorts worldwide

READ: 10 Reasons to Become an ASI Instructor

FAQs

More FAQ’s: click here