What makes us different
We Believe
At Portside Paddle Co. we believe that if you play in the ocean, you will love the ocean.
And if you love the ocean, you will protect it.
We started Portside Paddle Co. to share our passion and create many new stewards of the ocean through stand up paddling.
At Portside Paddle Co.
we take a few things seriously.
Fun.
Paddling is fun. Serious fun. We take that fun seriously. No, seriously.
Sustainability.
Sustainability and preserving the oceans is at the root of what we do. That’s why we teach you about the wildlife and ecology of Monterey Bay as you paddle along.
We also practice what we preach. The boards and paddles we use are some of the leading eco-friendly SUP equipment on the market. We lead bi-weekly morning harbor trash pick up paddles through Project Green Team to stop pollution at its source. And, PPC proudly donates 5% of PPC net profits to a different marine non-profit each month. *
Your experience.
Let’s be honest, anyone can rent you a SUP board and send you on your way. But at Portside Paddle, we want you to have a fantastic experience. That’s why we set everyone (even beginners) up with high-performance gear carefully selected with safety, performance and sustainable practices in mind. We also provide you with American Canoe Association certified and Ph.D. marine science instructors to ensure you have a great experience.
Local Conservation
Through our Project Green Team we host regular trash clean up paddles in the harbor, including coffee and snacks, free to all attendees.
Education
During every paddle, you will get an overview of the oceanography, wildlife biology and environmental health of the Monterey Bay Sanctuary, courtesy of our resident Ph.D. marine biologist.
Eco-friendly Gear
We use Starboard SUP boards and paddles in our business and for our own personal use.
Starboard is a leader with respect to sustainable practices within the industry.
They design performance boards using the most eco-friendly materials, reduce packaging waste and donate a portion of every purchase to environmental programs.
Top Notch Gear & Instruction
Experienced Instructors
We are committed to your safety.
PPC offers professional guided ecology and instruction Stand Up Paddling tours by in the Santa Cruz Harbor and throughout California.
Our instructors have:
- decades of combined open water surf, rescue, prone and SUP experience
- American Canoe Association Level I & II SUP Instructor certification
- DiveMaster and Scientific SCUBA certification
- First Aid and CPR certification by the American Red Cross and carry a marine radio, first aid kit and rescue gear at all times
- intimate knowledge of weather and traffic conditions in the harbor and surrounding area – all of which facilitates a worry-free and fun adventure
High-performance gear
No one likes using low-end “beater” boards or heavy paddles. PPC has invested heavily in its equipment to provide you with a high-end, rewarding experience.
Our tour boards are extremely stable, high-end boards carefully selected from Starboard – a company with a demonstrated commitment to performance and sustainable practices.
For distance training, PPC uses boards from Starboard, SIC, SurfTech and F-One.
We use paddles from Starboard, Quickblade and ZRE; PFD/lifejackets exclusively from NRS (traditional and inflatable pending skill assessment); and O’Neill spring wetsuits.
From ecology and instruction tours to distance training, PPC has you covered.