Travel Story Get SUP this summer

If there’s a sport that’s taken off during the past few years in Perth, it’s stand-up paddleboarding.

For Caroline Bradley, owner of Elemental — which offers stand-up paddleboard hire and lessons at the calm waters of Point Walter and Bicton Baths — a paddle on the Swan River offers an escape and time to connect with nature.

“It’s about being with nature, disconnecting from the land and from the daily grind,” she says. “For me it doesn’t matter how bad your day is, SUP erases it or a morning paddle sets you up for the day.”

During seven years, Ms Bradley has seen her business grow, often with regulars returning most weekends to hire a board. A one-hour hire costs $30, two hours $50 and a two-hour introductory lesson and paddle up the river for one person is $80.

Elemental has also been running SUP yoga for the past five years.

At Pelican Point in Crawley, Stand Up Paddle Sports has a school and hire centre providing lessons, hire and the opportunity to test-drive its range of boards to find the perfect fit. 

Sunset Stand Up Paddle offers lessons at the weekend from Shelley Beach, and hires paddleboards for periods of one to seven days ($45-$130).

SoulKite also offers lessons and board hire ($25 for one hour and $40 for two).

Picture: A stand-up paddleboard lesson by Elemental Kite Surf SUP.