Stand Up Paddleboard Program Recent Changes

The following items have been updated in the Paddle Canada Stand Up Paddleboard Program.

Version 9.00 (January 2026)

No major changes to the program this year.

Version 8.00 (February 2025)

Updated: Grammatical and editorial changes to clarify and to improve readability.
Updated the common policies section of the manual to match the other disciplines.
Changed the name of “Basic” to “Flatwater 1”, and the name of “Advanced Flatwater” to “Flatwater 2”, for the relevant skills, instructor, and instructor trainer programs.
Changed the term “IT Apprentice” to “IT Candidate” for clarity and to align with the other Paddle Canada programs.
Updated: Added Flatwater 2 Instructor Trainers to the list of certifications needed to mentor a Flatwater 2 Instructor Trainer Candidate.
Updated: Adjusted the course locations for Touring 1 and Touring 2 skills courses to allow for flexibility within the applicable water classes.

The reasoning behind changing the names from Basic and Advanced Flatwater SUP to Flatwater 1 and 2, is so that it aligns with the language for the rest of the courses.

Adding Flatwater 2 (previously Advanced Flatwater SUP) Instructor Trainers to the list of certifications to mentor a Flatwater 2 Instructor Trainer Candidate, will create more mentors for candidates seeking Instructor Trainer status.

Version 7.00 (February 2024)

Updated: Removed “or equivalent skills and knowledge” from all prerequisites for instructor courses at all levels.
Updated: Refreshed the Surf program, adjusted requirements at some levels, and made grammatical and editorial changes to clarify and to improve readability.
New: Included the common Paddle Canada header document and removed similar information that was previously located elsewhere within the program manual.

Version 6.00 (July 13, 2022)

Added in information about certification maintenance clinics.

Older Changes

Version 5.02 (June 2018)

Updated: Temporarily changed the instructor prerequisite for the Touring 2 instructor program from “Touring 1 SUP Instructor” to “Advanced Flatwater SUP Instructor”. This is a test, being conducted during 2018 and 2019 only, to determine its effectiveness.

Version 5.01 (April 2018)

Updated: Grammatical and editorial changes to clarify and to improve readability.

Version 5.0 (March 2018)

New: Removed intentional camping content from the Touring stream to complement Paddle Canada’s new vessel-independent Camping program.
New: Reviewed and updated the remaining sections of the Touring stream.
Updated: Aligned Touring 1 and Touring 2 with Basic and Advanced Flatwater stream.
Updated: Revised the program chart to reflect the above revisions.
Updated: Altered the prerequisites for becoming an Instructor Trainer.
New: New/changed Paddle Canada policies are reflected where relevant.
New: Water Classifications for Lakes and Oceans were added and are referenced to describe acceptable course conditions.
Updated: Grammatical and editorial changes to clarify and to improve readability.

Version 4.4 (May 2017)

New: Program Information and Policies were added for clarity and information.
Updated: Significant portions of the IT section were removed as it repeats material in the new IT manual, available in the members section of paddlecanada.com.
Updated: Grammatical and editorial changes to clarify and to improve readability.

Version 4.3 (January 2016)

New: Program Information and Policies were added for clarity and information.
New: Details regarding Certification Maintenance clinics were added.
New: SUP Clinics information was added for clarity.
New: Minimum participant numbers were added to instructor courses to ensure instructor candidates receive appropriate group dynamics training and practice.

Version 4.2 (August 2015)

New: The “3-participant rule” was added to ensure instructor trainer apprentices receive appropriate group dynamics training before being certified.

Version 4.1 (January 2015)

Updated: Significant editing was undertaken for clarity and as part of the Paddle Canada design standard for program manuals.
Updated: Clarified the prerequisites for higher-level instructor courses
New: Added explanatory paragraphs for all program items in the Surf and Touring streams.

Version 4.0 (January 2014)

Updated: Changed the name of the Introduction to SUP Skills course to Basic SUP Skills. Changed the name of the Introduction to SUP instructor course to Basic SUP instructor. Created Basic SUP Instructor Trainer level.
New: Split the former Coastal stream into separate Surf and Touring streams, each of which includes 2 skill levels, 2 instructor levels and 2 instructor trainer levels.
Updated: Reformatted River instructor and instructor trainer to include 2 levels each.
New: Revised the program chart to reflect the above revisions.
New: Added a module clarifying conditional passes.
Updated: Replaced all references to PFD with lifejacket.
New: Added assistant instructors and apprentice instructors, and related standards.
Updated: Changed the instructor:participant ratio for Surf courses to 1:4.
New: Added information regarding changes to Transport Canada’s Small Vessel Regulations regarding guided excursions.
Updated: Information in each instructor level regarding the first aid requirements when operating in wilderness.
Updated: Revised prerequisites for Flatwater Instructor courses to include “or equivalent skills and knowledge.”
Updated: Grammatical and structural changes to clarify and to improve readability.

Version 3.1 (May 2013)

New: Added the new Paddle Canada first aid policy, coming into effect in 2014.

Version 3.0 (March 2013)

New: Added this manual change log to track changes between manual versions.
New: Added the entry-level Introduction to SUP instructor certification valid to teach Introduction to SUP Skills only.
New: Renamed Flatwater instructor to Advanced Flatwater instructor and modified the program appropriately to accommodate the new Introduction to SUP instructor program.
New: Revised the program chart to reflect the above revisions.
New: Increased minimum age for instructor certifications to 18, except the Introduction to SUP instructor, which remains at 16 years of age.
New: Added general information regarding first aid certification considerations.
New: Changed the first aid recommendations for instructors to prerequisites.
Updated: Described minimum instructor course length in both hours and days for clarification.
New: Added additional safety skills to all instructor courses in the program.
Updated: Grammatical and editorial changes to clarify and to improve readability.

Version 2.2 (July 2011)

Updated: Grammatical and editorial changes to clarify and to improve readability.

Version 2.1 (May 2011)

Updated: Added a note regarding leashes in the safety equipment section.
Updated: Reformatted to improve readability.
Updated: Grammatical and editorial changes to clarify and to improve readability.

Version 2.0 (April 2011)

Updated: Amended the program diagram and overview of skills courses to reflect changes to the Coastal program.
New: Added the Coastal program (Coastal Surf skills course, Coastal Journeying skills course, Coastal Instructor course, and Coastal instructor trainer mentorship program).
New: Added the River program (River 1 skills course, River 2 skills course, River Instructor course, and River instructor trainer mentorship program).
Updated: Grammatical and editorial changes to clarify and to improve readability.