Stand-up paddle boarding, or SUP, has become all the rage in the last couple of years. A quick look on the web showed that, generally, the prices for stand-up paddle boarding lessons in Perth varied from $45 for a one hour lesson to $65 and up for two hour lessons. This is a significant cost when you don't know whether your child will enjoy the activity or be sufficiently interested to pay attention for two hours. Fortunately for us, we stumbled onto Funcats Watersports.
Funcats kiosk with Sir James Mitchell Park in the background
Funcats Watersports operates from the Coode Street Jetty in South Perth (next to Sir James Mitchell Park). For $20, you receive a few pointers to help you get started and the use of a stand-up paddle board for one hour. We hired two; one for me and one for my eleven year old. My son started off paddling on his knees, but by the end of the hour he was paddling standing up. Without the pressure of a formal lesson, we were able to spend some of the time just sitting on the paddle boards with our feet dangling in the water, admiring the view of the city and watching the boats sail by. The water was beautiful; not bitingly cold like the ocean can be.
View of Perth from Sir James Mitchell Park
The location was convenient and, even though it was Saturday, we had no trouble finding parking. There were toilets nearby and Sir James Mitchell Park is a perfect spot for picnics. While it isn't necessary to book beforehand, it is still worth calling ahead to make sure paddle boards are available. You can also hire catamarans and kayaks from Funcats Watersports. For details, visit their website at
www.funcats.com.au.
Not too shabby for the first time on a paddle board
Now that my son has 'had a go' at stand-up paddle boarding, if he wants a formal lesson, I would be more than happy to pay the $65 for a two hour session.
