Special trial offer available exclusively to knowitall.ch readers!
Have you ever looked out onto Lake Geneva and wondered how much it resembles the open sea? When the wind gets up, particularly in the afternoon, it is often possible to see small waves breaking the surface of the water. While they may not be as big as the huge breakers hitting the coast of California, it is still possible to have lots of fun surfing these waves, and get fit at the same time!
In 2013, the Montreux SUP’n Surf club was created to develop a new sport in the region called Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP), a form of surfing that comes from Hawaii and which can be practiced in many different forms: on lakes, rivers and oceans. It is practised standing on a long board, using a paddle to help you move and glide along the water.
Founder, Enzo Porcelli, explained more about it to knowitall.ch,”SUP is very easy to start with and is lots of fun for all ability levels. However, it is also an all-round sport and has many different facets, including paddling and racing techniques, as well as numerous security rules. Whether your aim is to cruise leisurely around the lake, paddle for a couple of kilometers or pick up some wind waves, SUP will meet all of your expectations!”
Asked why he decided to set up a center in Montreux, Enzo explained, “It is quite difficult to surf in Switzerland, so 6 to 7 years ago, when Stand Up Paddleboarding was starting to become popular, a group of us thought it would be a nice way to stay connected with the water and to be in good shape for our surf trips to the ocean. But to our surprise we also found out that it was possible to surf the tiny waves that we sometimes have on Lake Léman! This is because of the buoyancy of the SUP board and of the power and speed that the paddle can give you. We then started looking for spots around the lake and have identified different breaking waves that work with different winds.”
Recognizing the huge growth potential for SUP in the Lake Geneva region, Enzo got together with a group of SUP enthusiasts and headed to Spain 3 years ago so that he could receive formal training and certification in the sport. Now fully qualified to teach others, he has developed a range of classes at the Montreux SUP’n Surf Club, targeted at different levels of interest and ability. The club has now teamed up with Paddlefit™ to propose SUP fitness classes and Functional Paddling so that clients can learn race paddling techniques and follow a dedicated training program.
The club also has a wide range of equipment for hire, including all-round, racing, kids, and inflatable boards as well as ultra-light carbon paddles. Life jackets and wetsuits are also available. Lessons are provided for both adults and children, including initiation, Paddlefit/SUP fitness, and Functional Paddling/race paddling. It is also possible to book a guided tour or simply rent the equipment without any instruction.
One client, Laurent Gonthier, told knowitall.ch, “I can only highly recommend the Montreux SUP’n Surf Club and their activities. Their crew is super friendly and very skilled and they have top notch material. Their background is in fitness instruction and they are trained SUP instructors and also SUP racers. When I joined the club I already had my own SUP since 1 year and I thought paddling was just about standing on the board and paddling! That is true, SUP is really easy, but if you want to do it right it is very technical. So I attended regularly the lessons and it opened up a new dimension for me, feeling the glide on flat water and, when the wind picked up, I could even surf some waves on Lake Léman!”
Membership of the SUP’n Surf club offers many benefits to clients including significant discounts off equipment rental and lesson prices, as well as a free beginners lesson providing instruction on basic paddling techniques and safety measures. Click here to find out more about the membership benefits and prices, and here to identify the course that suits you! Although most of the club’s activities comprise individual lessons and courses for the general public, the Montreux SUP’n Surf Club also organizes group activities for schools, and birthday parties, as well as team building events for corporate clients! What a great way to motivate your employees!
To encourage new clients to try out the sport, Enzo is kindly offering knowitall.ch readers an exclusive opportunity to sign up for any of the following lessons for just Fr. 30.- including equipment rental (instead of the standard price of Fr. 45.- for non-members): SUP Initiation, SUP Race/Functional Paddling or Paddlefit. To take advantage of this special trial offer, available once only for each customer throughout the 2014 Summer season, just mention this article when you make your booking!
Montreux SUP’n SURF Club Association
Av. Mayor Vauthier 13
1815 Clarens
Enzo Porcelli
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
079 394 94 00
www.montreuxsup.ch
