Surf Steps welcomes the first Polish squad to the ISA FWSUP Instructor Course

With the world in lockdown and COVID-19 pandemic accelerating the transition towards digital, organisations had to adjust their business models and start investing in digital-first strategies. From the world’s most iconic SUP races such as MOLOKAI TO OAHU becoming a global virtual event with a welcoming motto “Anyone. Anywhere. Anything Goes” to a Zoom-powered, SUP-specific training – The SUP industry went online too.

The International Surfing Association (ISA) also responded to these challenges by developing and introducing new guidelines for the online delivery of the ISA Education Courses for surf and SUP instructors, judges and enthusiasts around the globe.

These guidelines allowed for ISA Coaching and Instructing Courses to be delivered with a blended approach of both virtual instruction and an extended timeframe for the practical requirements for certification.

Following the successful delivery of the virtual ISA Surf Level 1 and ISA Flat Water SUP Courses in the UK and with significant interest from the international SUP community, Surf Steps ISA Course Presenter Andy Joyce, ran the ISA Flat Water SUP Instructor Course this past weekend for a group of Polish and English SUP riders where four participants were from Poland alone.

Andy said: “It’s been an extremely challenging year, I ran my 1^st Online virtual course with only 4 days’ notice! There was so much hard work developing online resources quickly with concern that it might have been a temporary measure. In the 8 months since we have adapted and overcame the obstacles in delivery and have found the demand for online ISA courses still incredibly strong. I feel so stoked that there are so many positives in this online delivery! We can reach a global audience more easily and cost effectively than before, while still providing a high-quality service. Lastly, the courses help connect the isolated community and a focal point for us all to meet new people. So important in these times!!”

“Attending the ISA Flat Water Instructor Course seems like a natural progression when you want to take people on the water and show them what a great sport stand-up paddleboarding is. For me the course is a step towards an essential and globally recognised qualification consolidating my SUP knowledge and skills,” said Gosia Szłapczyńska, Founder of a lifestyle SUP blog SUPerka. “Taking part in the course delivered by Andy Joyce has demonstrated new ways and techniques of conducting SUP lessons. I did not feel limited by the online format. Everything was clearly presented, explained and discussed in a lovely group of people who share the same passion for the sport.”

“My main focus is SUP racing. I really enjoy competing and I combine it with coaching and beginner SUP lessons. I would like to progress and develop my skills to do it professionally, in an informed, safe manner. I found all of that at the ISA SUP Instructor Course,” said Faustyna Andrzejak, Team Rider for JP Australia Poland. “My impressions? I was stunned that despite all my previous experience I have gained so much hands-on knowledge and new information about paddleboarding! I can’t thank enough the Coach, Andy Joyce and Anna Nadolna, Andy’s former student and now a certified SUP Flat Water Instructor, who supported us with some interpreting!

“In Poland, the sport of stand-up paddleboarding is just kicking off. I would like to show that it’s a real SPORT ACTIVITY, rather than just an alternative to kayaks, pedalos or pool inflatables. For me SUP is a lifestyle thing I want to share with others, so taking part in the ISA Flat Water Course was the next move for me,” said Dominka Głąb, Co-Founder of a sports and recreation brand, Banana. “Passion is an awesome mechanism that makes us constantly improve our skills and thanks to completing the theoretical part of the course I can move up a gear! The course provided me with a lot of valuable tips and practical information. I’m very happy and I know my future SUP students will be too!”

“I have learnt some new ways to motivate and inspire my future students,” said Paweł Mucha, Founder of a SUP lifestyle blog, SUPer Mucha. “I found the presenter super knowledgeable and approachable and had a great support from the group. I didn’t find the language barrier too difficult as the sessions were delivered in a clear and user-friendly way. Safety and environmental aspects I found at the course are the ones I truly relate to and it’s what motivates me in the sport of SUP.”

“These are unprecedented times, so we are exploring creative and innovative solutions to keep our community active and engaged,” said the ISA President Fernando Aguerre in the April 2020 announcement. Echoing his words and building on the experience of the Polish group, digital capabilities adapted for a training context not only strengthen the sense of a global SUP community but have the potential to further democratise the sport of stand-up paddleboarding.

From https://superwhale.co.uk/2020/11/25/andy-joyce-welcomes-polish-sup-squad-isa-paddleboarding-instructor-course/ (Edited by Surf steps).