Have you ever tried stand-up paddleboarding? I am more of a kayak person myself, but I was intrigued by stand-up paddleboards (also known as SUP) and have tried them on several vacations over the last few years. It is fun, except for the one time I was paddleboarding on Lake Winnipesaukee and couldn’t get back to the dock because the current was too strong, but I digress. It is a worthwhile adventure!
Connecticut is a great place to try stand-up paddleboarding because we have many quiet lakes and Long Island Sound is relatively calm. While kayak rentals have been relatively easy to find in Fairfield County for many years, we are lucky to have many options to rent stand-up paddleboards in our area. Check out one of these options.
Longshore Sailing School {Westport}
Longshore is a favorite place to kayak and stand-up paddleboard because it is relatively calm, quiet, and great for beginners. SUP rentals are available, and reservations are recommended. They are open to the public; no need to be a Westport resident. Seasonal passes are also available so you can go all summer long!
Sea Kayak Connecticut {Westport}
Sea Kayak offers rentals, tours, and lessons out of their Westport location. They even offer an introduction to stand-up paddleboarding so you can learn from a pro!
Norwalk Sailing School, Calf Pasture Beach {Norwalk}
This Norwalk beach rents kayaks, SUPs, and other equipment at the sailing school in the corner of the parking lot behind the softball fields. Reservations are recommended. Beach parking passes are required. Go early before boat traffic creates more wakes than you plan for.
Tod’s Point Sailing School {Greenwich}
Tod’s Point is a beautiful spot! The beach, the walk/running/biking path, and water rentals make it a great place to spend the day. Rentals need a valid park pass, and for non-residents, they can be found on the Greenwich town page. Reservations are recommended.
Scoot and Paddle {Stratford}
Scoot and Paddle has several locations in Connecticut; the Fairfield County location is at the Surfside Hotel and Little Pub in Stratford. They offer rentals and even do group paddle sessions!
Eastern Mountain Sports in Fairfield also rents SUP boards!
About 6 years ago my husband and I were out on our boat and we saw a guy doing this. We had no idea what he was doing. We thought he was nuts. He told us he was from California and that this is something they’ve been doing out there for years. Him and his wife have become good friends of ours over the years. They live in Norwalk now. You can thank him for bringing the sport of SUP to Fairfield. Stef Serafin his name.