Dive into South Bay’s Standup Paddle Boarding Scene
Where to Rent + Local SUP Events making a splash in the South Bay this summer!
With the longer days and warming afternoons, South Bay is begging to be explored by land and by sea! If you're ready to let South Bay be your aquatic playground, we recommend Stand-Up Paddleboarding, or “SUP” as the cool kids call it (and obviously, we are cool kids). Whether you're a seasoned pro or a curious beginner, we've navigated the waves to find the best and only places to get a SUP rental in the South Bay for your solo ride, family outing, or spontaneous expedition with friends. Hint: They’re all located in Redondo Beach! And of course, we’ve included our favorite local SUP events where the South Bay's vibrant paddleboarding community comes together for thrilling competitions and unforgettable experiences.
So grab your sunnies and flex those biceps, cuz we’re diving straight in!
Paddle House
If you’ve SUPPED before but are feeling a little shaky, Paddle House has a great option with their free lesson offered on the dock ahead of every rental. During the lesson, you'll be refreshed on safety, proper paddling techniques, and how to feel comfortable on the high seas so you can maximize your fun and paddle with confidence. Paddle House is right on the pier, so no need to worry about hauling the giant boards around - they launch them from outside their store, so you are ready to ride at a moment’s notice. Additionally, if you are really taken by SUPPING after your session, you can become a Paddle House member and enjoy unlimited SUPs 24 hours a day, as well as access to the on-site sauna. Yes please!
LED Night Tours
Ready for a twist? The Paddle house also offers an LED Night Tour - the only one in South Bay!
This is a great way to experience the SUP lifestyle in an entirely different way – with your board magically illuminating beneath you, you'll discover a world like no other as little fish are drawn to your incandescent glow! This session is all about exploring the mesmerizing ocean and less about pushing your fitness limits, so a great option for a more relaxed crew. You also have the option to use their sauna afterwards in case things get a little chilly on the water.
Snag a SUP: $35/2 hours | LED Night Tour: $50 per person, minimum of six.
Reservations: https://www.paddlehouserb.com/
Dive N' Surf
If the wide open ocean feels intimidating while you’re sharpening your paddling skills, a launch from the King Harbor Marina in Redondo will be more your speed! Dive N’Surf offers valet delivery to the marina so you can show up and push out without any hassle. Plus, if you're more of a visual learner, they offer instructional videos that'll give you the lowdown on all the basics before you hop on your board. They've also got great deals for rentals like 3-day packages and student discounts. These guys know what's (s)UP, and their staff is just as rad as their water gear.
Snag a SUP: $15/2 hours + $10.00 for valet
Reservations: http://rockypointfun.com/index.html
Olympus Board Shop
Olympus Board Shop has been a premier board shop since 1998, offering a wide selection of boards and paddles. Hailing from a skateboarding and snowboarding foundation, this store has developed to incorporate gear for surfing, stand up paddle boarding, and foil boarding. You can reserve your boards via text, and they’ll deliver them to the Redondo Pier at no extra cost!
Olympus offers short-term and long-term rentals, along with several summer tours around Palos Verdes where you can explore the coves, kelp forests, and tide pools during your open water paddle.
Snag a SUP: $28.50/2 hours | +$75 for a guide/photographer
Reservations: Text 424-262-1699 | https://www.olympusboardshop.net/
Annual SUP Events in the South Bay
If you're looking for a fun way to get involved in the South Bay SUP community, test your skills, and make some new friends, then check out these local events and start making epic waves:
Ocean Prone Paddleboard Race - El Segundo to Marina Del Rey Oceans Cafe & Grill, 2 mile race and 7 mile race options (Saturdays May 13 & June 24 2023)
The Hermosa Pier Paddle Race Series - runs from April to October and consists of nine races throughout the summer (kick off June 3rd)
R10 Paddleboard Race - a very fun South Bay Boardriders Club event with a 2 mile short course, and an 8 mile long course (July 8th)
Rock2Rock Paddleboard Race - a 22 mile Catalina Channel crossing, with options for relay teams. This one is also a Catalina Classic qualifier (July 16th)
‘Round the R10’ Annual Paddleboard Race (August 5th)
Velzy/Stevens Paddleboard Race - a 1.6mile course, family friendly and fun for all ages and skill levels (August 6th)
Catalina Classic Paddleboard Race - running since 1966, this is the oldest and longest running paddleboard race IN THE WORLD (August 27th 2023)
Catalina Cup - a two mile course and family friendly event for those who would rather not paddle for 32 miles (August 27th 2023)
Now that you know everything there is to know about local SUP Rentals and Events, it’s time to text the group chat, get out onto the water, and soak in South Bay from the seaside!
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