" TEMPORARY PROCESS CHANGE "

Since the majority (if not all) of the First Aid / CPR training facilities are closed during the pandemic and will most likely need to change and restructure how and what is trained going forward, we did not want to delay any of your classes as a result of someone not being able to attend a class.

Until the dust settles, we will allow online First Aid / CPR classes to fulfill that requirement.

The Jamaica Bay is as much my home as is the Atlantic Ocean. Both are a stone’s throw from my apartment. Both are a mess because we humans need to be retrained.

What is to be done? We might as well just start cleaning up and encouraging our friends to help.

In my area several solid organizations host beach and bay clean-ups periodically. Surf Rider Foundation, REI, Jamaica Bay Conservancy and the National Parks Service. The Leave No Trace organization has worked with the National Parks service to access the trash problem in and on the shores of the Jamaica Bay.

On Black Friday, REI gave its employees the day off with pay and recommended that they spend some time cleaning up the environment. REI, Leave No Trace, The Jamaica Bay Conservancy, and the NPS hosted the Black Friday Clean up at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. This was personal – this is my paddling haven. We collected around 50 large bags of trash along the bay and on the sides of the highway adjacent to the bay. I lugged a 50-pound old school TV tube that was abandoned in the woods about a quarter mile to the collection point. We had fun. There was camaraderie. And we collected a good amount of trash.

Was this only symbolic? Maybe. But it felt good and as it becomes a way of life for more people we won’t feel as much like outliers.

Incorporating environmental issues into my daily life and into my business model is my goal. When I teach newbies how to SUP, a part of the lesson is beach clean-up. After the lesson, I ask the paddlers to join me in a short beach walk picking up trash. Next season every client will receive a free clean-up kit that I purchased from United By Blue (a UBU / REI collaboration.) Help me promote #WeCleanWhereWePaddle and I hope to see you in the water!



Thanks for setting a great example Hank!!

As we continue to refine, evolve and strive for consistency among the various instructors and geographies with the core principals of each of the specialty certifications, we will be adding a written test for the SUP Yoga YTT.

The test will be around 15 questions taken from a pool of 30-40 questions divided by categories.

Just like the FW1 test, all of the questions are multiple choice.

The primary categories the questions are being taken from, include:
*  Knots
*  Anchoring
*  Boards/Equipment
*  Safety

Here are a couple sample questions from the test:

Advantages of using a single tether line -vs  individual anchors for your class?

Why do many SUP Yoga poses require modifications?

What is a common modification used to perform tree pose

A few of you have already seen the YTT test, and I wanted to give thanks for the feedback I received from those who responded. If any of the other SUP Yogis have any additions/changes, please send them my way.

Prior to publishing this, I will send the final question/answers to the SUP Yoga ITs.

Cost?
Yes, just like the FW and Fundamentals test, the price is $14.25. 
I have heard and understand the concern from a couple of the ITs, who are not thrilled with asking their students to pay "yet another fee".

Just like the FW test, If you do not want to have your students go pay another charge, you can always just add this into your class fee and pay for them all in bulk.

Upcoming Courses

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New dates are added as they are announced. Click here for upcoming course dates

4 Year Renewal
If it's been 4 years and you need a re-certification course contact any Instructor Trainer to book.

Custom Courses
Note that many of our IT's are available for Custom scheduled 1-1 and group certification courses. Contact an IT in your region or one that you're willing to travel to discuss.

Current Certifications Include:
Yoga, Flat Water 1, River SUP, Camp Water Safety, Downwind and SUP Surfing.