Basic License SUP

Due to the growing number of Stand Up Paddling enthusiasts, it is now time to convert the safety card into a real SUP license. The VDWS SUP license is not only a great way to complete a course, but also helps to promote safety on the water and prevent bans due to inappropriate behavior.

The SUP license also serves as a proof of experience when renting stand up paddleboards and documents previous experience when it comes to participating in excursions and the like.

SUP Training

The training for the VDWS SUP basic license includes - depending on previous knowledge - about 2 - 4 lessons in theory and practice. After the basic training, which focuses on basic skills as well as safety-relevant topics, there is also the possibility to document the further course of your SUP career. The SUP license is therefore not only a certificate of competence, but also a kind of roadmap to becoming a professional stand up paddler.

Exam

In order to obtain the respective levels of the SUP basic license, the VDWS instructor has to check the current riding skills and theoretical knowledge.

Practical exam
Most SUP schools do not give a practical exam and it is not necessary if the instructor has been supervising the students since the beginning of the course. The student's riding ability is therefore known and does not need to be proven by a special test. The situation is different for basic license candidates who have not attended a course at the same school before. In this case the VDWS instructor will check the candidate's skills in a 15-minute practical test and record the results on the license.

Theoretical exam
Material knowledge, general legal knowledge, safety on the water as well as the protection of nature and the environment are the topics of the multiple-choice exam that every basic license candidate has to pass. The VDWS SUP Workbook is a good help for the preparation.