SUP Consultancy
Steve West
Consultant to the Retail, Educational and SUP Community
Mobile UK 07859294188 | Mobile Int +447859294188 | SKYPE kanusteve001
7 Wittering Rd, Sandy Point, Hayling Island, Hants PO119SP
www.kanuculture.com - www.islanderpaddler.com
Contact Us to Discuss Your Requirements
Currently Working With:
Blue Chip London
Royal Canoe Club London
Starboard UK
BCU
AALA
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Disclaimer: our advice and guidance is independent of any importer or brand. Steve and Mandy West are not retailers or importers and without agenda in this regard. Regardless, advice is given independently. Steve and Mandy are sponsored by Kialoa (non-income related) and Team UK Race Leader for Starboard 12'6" Division (non-income related) as a consequence of their integrity, openness, athleticism and long term commitment to ocean sports in general. Steve has been a pioneering world class competitor, educator and mentor in both windsurfing and outrigger canoeing and now SUP as part of a lifelong commitment to ocean sports.
As a part of our networking arm, we have direct contact with the likes of Todd Bradley - Hawaii (co-founder of C4 and world class paddler and waterman), Jamie Mitchell - Australia (Surftech Rider, winner of Battle of the Paddle USA, big wave surfer and the worlds 'best ever' paddleboarder) and John Hibbard - UK (Starboard and one of the UKs and Europe's leading SUP riders. Through this level of networking, we can tap into some of the best minds behind the sport via open lines of communication in ensuring the growth and betterment of the sport.
Whether you're a retailer of SUP equipment, a provider of SUP taster sessions or SUP instruction, imagine the benefits of a personalised consultancy on the issues and questions you may have of this enervating new sport. Learn the importance of promoting Stand Up Paddleboarding as 'SKILLED' not necessarily 'easy' - a 'LIFESTYLE' not a 'workout' thereby ensuring the growth of this enervating new sport which has all of the potential which windsurfing presented and more besides! With improved knowledge and awareness of the many different facets of the sport, you and your staff will be better able to:
• answer your customers general and technical inquiries with greater confidence
• understand various nomenclatures (names given the sport) and their implications
• learn why it's fundamental to promote SUP as a paddle sport first and foremost
• improve you and your staffs confidence levels when selling / promoting the sport
• improve you level of contribution to the sports growth via accuracy of information
• recommend and sell the correct boards
• recommend and sell the correct paddles
• understand the importance of the paddle, not as an accessory; but as essential
• know how to select a paddle length for your customer and the science behind it
• better understand how a paddle actually works
• learn the latest information on paddling technique how to teach / demonstrate
• learn facts with sound reasons behind them to pass on to your customers
• build good-will on account of reliable information not guess work and bluff
• learn to sell what your customers need; not what they want
• build a reputation for being a knowledge based company, business or individual
• help validate SUP as a technical sport not just 'easy'
• understand the huge diversity which the sport offers
• learn how to promote SUP for everyone
• promote the specific SUP disciplines relevant to your geographical proximity
• nurture repeat business on account of the accuracy of your recommendations
• better understand the global growth and expansion of the sport
• understand issues surrounding the establishment of a SUP school or hire centre
• learn how to establish SUP communities in your area
• understand issue of good practice in regards to taster sessions or instruction
• have greater clarity on the issues surrounding coaching qualifications
• learn the value of sponsoring local individuals to create a win-win relationship
• learn how SUP cross-platforms between other paddle sports
• discover some of the myths surrounding the sport
• learn to promote the facts not the hype!
Contact Us to Discuss Your Requirements
Any number of these improvements and understandings will help contribute to your selling more product or services on account of you increased knowledge, which in turn will help nurture the growth and spread of the sport.
Why this Service?
In the absence of sound, experiential, authoritative information, offset by the overwhelming demand for information and prompting directly from the likes of the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA), the British Canoe Union (BCU), retailers and individuals, an independent service such as this has manifested.
How We Operate
We assume it's easier for us to visit you than the other way around. We have a one-off all inclusive flat fee for an entire day, which covers everything, regardless of how many staff members you would like us to work with. We try to work within your time needs and depending on your proximity we may need overnight accommodation which we can discuss at the time of booking. You may also come to us, in which case our fee is modified to suit. (Our disclaimer is that our advice and guidance is independent of any importer or brand as we are not retailers and without agenda in this regard. Regardless, our advice is given independently). Contact Us to Discuss Your Requirements
Guided Session
Where I will present to you from start to finish an overview of the sport, from origins to the present day, cover equipment fundamentals (boards, fins and their importance to performance), paddle dynamics and their importance to the paddler and how it relates to good technique. Paddling techniques; uncovering some of the myths, revealing the bio mechanical secretes to sound, injury free paddling technique, theory and facts allowing you to more fully appreciate and understand the sport from the perspective of a paddle sport and its relationship to surfing, racing, adventuring, down-winding and much more. Risk management and duty of care issues, can also be covered (Steve was commissioned by AALA to produce the UK's first SUP Good Practice Guide)
Free-Flow Session
Where you list the questions and where open discussion leads to greater clarity.
Steve West
Steve's knowledge of ocean paddle sports, has seen him work with the University of Hawaii and the University of the South Pacific in Fiji for over a decade and in October he addresses the National Geographic Society (Hong Kong) on the subject of Outrigger Canoeing. He is a two time World Outrigger Champion (Molokai to Oahu) and winner of many major events in both team and solo outrigger canoes.
He was National Coaching Director for Outrigger Canoeing in Australia and National Coaching Consultant to the South Pacific Games Fijian Squad for a period of over 12 years collectively and commissioned to produce the worlds first Outrigger Canoeing Coaching Course accredited by the Australian Sports Commission, Australian Canoeing and the NGB, AOCRA. He holds Level 1 and 2 Sports Principal Certificates and Sports Specific (Outrigger Canoeing) Certificates. He has written 10 books on the subject and considered a world authority.
Paddling SUBs since 2006, beginning in Australia, Steve now resides on Hayling Island on the South Coast of the UK and is using his knowledge to help promote SUP, drawing parallels between this melding of two traditional Hawaiian sports, Outrigger Canoeing and Surfing. As a UK pioneering Windsurfer beginning in 1979, Steve helped found the famous 'Round Hayling Race' and was a well respected professional sailor contributing to magazines worldwide. He was Team Leader for the Peter Stuyvesant Windsurfing Display Team for 2 years, performing at the London, Brighton and Southampton Boat Shows and was a member of the British Windsurfing Display Team.