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- July & August: 9am – 7pm or later!
- September: 10am – 5 or 6pm
- October to March: 10am – 5pm
- March to June: 10am – 6pm
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Our cancellation policy depends on which type of activity you have reserved. Please see our Terms & Conditions page for details.
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We get this one a lot. It’s the abbreviation for Stand Up Paddle that has become a very popular way to refer to the sport and the boards. So expect to hear lots of “I love SUP’ing!” “Can I rent a SUP?” “I want to try SUP Surfing”.
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No. Paddle boarding is a very user-friendly sport that can be fun for everyone, regardless of age, size or fitness level. It is much easier than surfing so is great for those who wanting to get out onto the water for a gentler experience. Whether you’re taking a lesson or renting a board from us, we will answer any questions you may have. We will help you feel at ease with all the equipment and give you will receive a full safety briefing from one of our patient and knowledgeable guides before heading out.
Check out our You Tube Channel for a short video on how to size your paddle.
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Yes. We have the largest variety of surf and standup paddle boards in Tofino which are suitable for all body sizes, skill levels and types of paddle boarding. We also have boogie boards and wetsuits in all sizes.
We pride ourselves on helping every customer achieve this goal and have the best possible paddle boarding experience whether you are simply renting equipment or taking a lesson with us. Every lesson, tour and rental includes a full safety briefing, we can give you tips, tell you how to transport the gear and where to go if you are leaving for a different beach!
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Yes, of course. Paddle boarding with Tofino Paddle Surf is a very safe way to spend the day on the water. The ability to swim usually helps people feel more comfortable but we do have life jackets available for those who want them and the wetsuits help you float a little as well. If you choose to join us on one of our tours or lessons, we can stay close to the shoreline and everyone is attached to their board by a leash. A guide is there to help coach you back onto your board if you fall in. Falling in and getting back on your board is a skill taught in every lesson.
With surf lesson, the instructors are by your side the whole time. Both with rentals and lessons you will receive a safety briefing and you will be surfing in about waist deep water where you can touch the sandy bottom the whole time. You are also attached to your board by a leash.
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Not at all! While we are known as the premier paddle board shop on the West Coast due to our huge and varied equipment selection, we also rent surfboards, body boards, kayaks, skim boards and wetsuits in every single size. We can also offer you tips, maps and directions to the best locations for you to visit to match your activity choice. We’ll even help you load your equipment! So, no matter what way you are looking to enjoy the ocean and surrounding outdoors in the area, we have all bases covered for you.
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Both options are awesome. Every renter gets a full safety briefing and tips covering all the basics on the beach before they head out onto the water. If you want to know more and are really interested in surfing or paddle boarding then we highly suggest you take any one of our instructional tours or lessons. On these paddleboard tours you’ll have access to a fully certified Paddle Canada instructor for two hours while you explore our coast and learn everything you need to know to paddle on your own anywhere you choose. With the surf lessons your instructor will transport the gear to the beach for you and stay by your side while you learn to stay safe and have fun riding waves in the shallows on our sandy beaches.
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A lesson is highly recommended for SUP surfing. While no previous paddling experience is required a solid flatwater paddling background or having completed a flatwater paddling lesson are very helpful prerequisites. Although the learning curve is higher than regular surfing, initially SUP surfing can be harder to get the hang of due to the bigger boards. One of our lessons will help you learn to keep yourself up, and others around you safe. You’ll come away with all the knowledge to keep practicing and improving your SUP surfing. With surfing and SUP surfing there is alway more to learn and we offer instruction at all levels. All lessons include all the gear and expert instruction.
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All of our lessons and tours include components of gear education, safety orientation, etiquette guidelines, beach instruction and warm up and practice on the water. We offer group and private tours for beginners to advanced paddlers. Our instructional tours are all about experiencing the fun and exciting sport of stand up paddle boarding. Ample time is provided for teaching, practicing and improving technique. For those with more experience, we have guided tours to help you explore all that the beautiful Clayoquot Sound wilderness has to offer and advanced instruction to help you improve your technique. Tofino Paddle Surf can take you to some of the best spots on Vancouver Island and around the world for stand up paddle boarding.
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Our MacKenzie Beach Tour and Botanical Garden Inlet Tour are perfect for both beginners. Both of these tours offer instruction to anyone who’s never paddled before. The only difference between the tours is the location, one on the west of our peninsula with the long sand beaches and the other on the eastern side, along forested headlands and amongst the mountains. Both tours are only offered in calm waters making them ideal for beginners to get to grips with all SUP basics.
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If you want to go out and splash around, enjoy the beach and calm waters while you are in Tofino you can rent equipment and you’ll have a great time. We will let you up with the most appropriate gear for you and your family, give you a full safety briefing and give you any tips you like!
For our full rental pricing link here. Our most popular SUP rental is the 2 hour rental for $25 for board and paddle. Wetsuits are an additional $20/2 hrs and include all accessories.
If you are planning on paddle boarding again, or would like to go elsewhere in the world and know what equipment to rent, stay safe and paddle properly, then a lesson is highly recommended. If you are planning on paddling often, buying your own gear, getting into SUP racing, touring or surfing, or going beyond our rental boundaries, then a lesson is for you! For a little extra over the cost of a suit and SUP rental, you have a guide that will give you 2 hours of instruction.
If you have done basic flatwater SUP instruction before there is always more to learn or consider one of our other awesome adventures such as SUP Surf, Advanced Flatwater SUP Lesson, Westcoast Adventure SUP Tour or a surf lesson!
The Inlet Tour is also great for those who have paddled before as the inlet tour gives you access to somewhere they don’t have access to without us – plus you get a 3 day pass to the amazing Tofino Botanical Gardens!
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When paddling and exploring the flat water zones around Tofino (rivers, lakes and inlets) we strongly recommend you take a guide or someone in your group who has 10+ years of navigational experience. Also please note that Transport Canada Regulations (enforced by local RCMP) for SUP’ing in the Flatwater zones requires that every paddler has a PFD and a whistle and the leader has a throwline. Always wearing a leash can save lives.
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We’re incredibly proud to be able to offer you a team of certified, passionate and caring surfers and paddlers. Our local Tofino guides have over 40 years of combined experience in ocean sports, teaching and guiding. To learn more about them, please visit our about page Our Team.
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Yes please! We appreciate tips for a job well done. Our credit card/debit machine does have a tipping option on it.
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Yes! We can give you a few ideas of where to do that day depending on winds, swell and tide. If you need straps for the car, we can loan you some, free of charge and show you how to use them as well! We often have everything from flat calm water to small fun waves right here at MacKenzie Beach in front of the shop. If you are looking for bigger waves, we will give you a map and some close by recommendations (the closest surf beach is only 2 minutes away!) If you are taking a SUP away to surf, please make sure to consider the relevant safety precautions.
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We do offer private beginner to advanced surf lessons for all ages! (no age is too young!)
Whether it’s your first time or you need some tips to break through to the next level, we can help.
Tofino Paddle Surf is dedicated to exclusively offering private lessons. Our lessons cater to individuals, families or groups looking for more attention and time on the water. From arriving at our shop (with loads of parking) until the end of the lesson, you will receive one on one attention from your instructor. The lesson is tailored to you and your surfing experience with no need for the generic instruction and chaos of big group lessons
Our instructors are passionate about surfing and experienced with teaching all levels and ages.
We recommend booking these lessons in advance. If you have more than 6 people in your group, please contact us directly as discounted rates apply.
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Almost never. 95% of the time MacKenzie Beach is like a lake, with a little wind chop sometimes or some slight ocean swell. If you head further out, it makes the perfect place to paddle! MacKenzie Beach is in a sheltered bay that only ever sees waves in the winter with the bigger swells and usually has some smaller fun waves for SUP or surfing at the far northern end of the bay. If you are looking for bigger waves, we will give you a map and some close by recommendations.
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Water temperatures range from 49 F – 57 F degrees (9 C – 14 C) during the spring and early summertime in Tofino. Wetsuits work really well and they do keep you warm in the water! We do have warmer wetsuits for surfing or paddling and some thinner ones for the warmer days too.
Check out our You Tube Channel for a quick video on how to put your wetsuit on.
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Wetsuits are included in the price for all the tours and lessons. Wetsuits are not included in the price for rentals.
We have suits in all sizes from the smallest to the biggest. Wetsuits are $25/24hrs and do include boots, gloves and hoods. If you rent a wetsuit for 2 days or longer the pricing is highly discounted.
Check out our You Tube Channel for a quick video on how to put your wetsuit on.
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We have suits in all sizes from the smallest to the biggest. Our smallest kids suit fits some 3 year olds and size XXXL is the biggest. Wetsuits are also very stretchy! Wetsuits are $25/24hrs and do include boots, gloves and hoods. If you rent a wetsuit for 2 days or longer the pricing is highly discounted.
Check out our You Tube Channel for a quick video on how to put your wetsuit on.
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This is entirely up to you. You may fall in and you will wade in waist deep before jumping on your board. We usually recommend it as the water temperature around Tofino is always cold (12 -15 degrees). On summer days a wetsuit still allows people to feel comfortable with falling or jumping in the water, which, in our opinion, is more fun. If you opt for no wetsuit, bring a towel and change of clothing down to the beach with you as you will want to warm up before heading back out again. All our lessons and tours include wetsuits, accessories and boards. The wetsuits work really well and they do keep you warm in the water any time of year!
Check out our You Tube Channel for a quick video on how to put your wetsuit on.
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Sunscreen, bathing suit, towel, straps for your glasses or sunglasses, a sun hat, a warmer hat if the weather is cool (wool or neoprene is great, but we do provide wetsuits hoods if needed), a windbreaker for cooler weather (can be worn over your wetsuit) and a gratuity for your guide.
If you wear glasses: Contact lenses are highly recommended for surfing/SUP surfing lessons or rentals. Surfers often wear contact lenses and keep their eyes shut when they are under the water or waves are splashing their faces. Glasses will be lost, broken or a potential hazard.
During Covid Restrictions, the regular changing rooms and cubbies to keep your clothing in are closed. Currently there are no public bathrooms onsite, but at within a 3 minute walk there is a public beach toilet and sink. Read your online booking confirmation emails carefully for more info.
- During Covid Restrictions, the shop does have not have the regular changing rooms and cubbies to keep your clothing in open. Currently there are no public bathrooms onsite, but at within a 3 minute walk there is a public beach toilet and sink. Read your online booking confirmation emails carefully for more info.
- During Covid Restrictions, the shop does have not have the regular changing rooms and cubbies to keep your clothing in open. Currently there are no public bathrooms onsite, but at within a 3 minute walk there is a public beach toilet and sink. Read your online booking confirmation emails carefully for more info.
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We will meet at our Surf Shop (located right at the beach!) at the Best Western Tin Wis Beach Resort on MacKenzie Beach in Tofino. Please click here to see more information about how to find us. Please arrive at least 15 minutes early to sign waivers and get into your wetsuit.
Once you have booked any of our activities you will receive a confirmation email with all the info about what to wear, what to bring, where to come and how early you should arrive.
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Yes, we have ample free parking available for you to use in the Tin Wis Best Western parking lot. There is space for RV’s as well.
The District of Tofino has implemented paid parking at the public beach parking lots and parking passes can be bought at the beach. They are very affordable. The National Park beaches also charge a parking fee and the passes can be bought at the Tofino Info Center or at the parking lots.
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We provide you with a wetsuit bag and clothing can be left in the bag on our deck at the shop if you are out for a little while. You can take this with you to the beach or to your car to leave your things in and return your wet gear in. Keep your snacks safe from the crows on the beach (they will open zippers).Please be aware that possessions are left at your own risk. Car keys and wallets can be left behind our desk.
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Currently there are no public bathrooms onsite, but at within a 3 minute walk there is a public beach toilet and sink. Read your online booking confirmation emails carefully for more info.
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We do have dry bags for sale and a few to lend out with rentals, as well as waterproof phone cases. On all our tours and lessons, the guide takes a dry bag with a communication device, first aid kit and a few other essentials and can take a water bottle, hat or phone for you in it.
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If you wear glasses or would like to wear sunglasses on the paddle board tours, we recommend you bring a strap for them. For surfing and SUP surfing we do not recommend wearing any kind of glasses. Contact lenses are best and keeping your eyes tightly shut when wiping out usually works for keeping them in.
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Yes! Please ask us about this. We live in a beautiful area with endless waterways and waves to explore. But, it is also the big, wild, Pacific Ocean with many things to consider such as currents, tides, wind, weather, wildlife, boating traffic, beginner and expert surfers in the lineups. When paddling and exploring the flat water zones (i.e lakes, rivers, inlets, channels, harbours etc.) without a guide we highly recommend 10+ years of navigational experience (including chart reading and a waterproof marine radio with a current operator’s licence) and 10+ years of local ocean knowledge. Transport Canada Regulations (enforced by local RCMP) for SUP’ing in the Flatwater zones require that every paddler has on him/herself a PFD and a WHISTLE.
If you have any doubts, please speak to us or take advantage of our excellent guided tours and surf lessons to help you explore all that the beautiful Clayoquot Sound wilderness has to offer and advanced instruction to help you improve your techniques. Tofino Paddle Surf can take you to some of the best spots on Vancouver Island and around the world for stand up paddle boarding.
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For the kayak and SUP rentals, we do not require any courses or certifications but do give everyone lifejackets and a full safety briefing before heading out. Our kayaks are not equipped for open ocean navigation, so we do have a very large, but strict and defined rental boundary that you must stay within. A 2 hour rental is usually a sufficient amount of time for exploring the area. Due to our cold waters, ever changing ocean environment and open ocean waterways (with many tides, currents and boating traffic) if you would like to go further on the kayaks we highly recommend doing a tour with Tofino Sea Kayaking. Our rentals include the kayak, paddle, life jacket and safety briefing.
Link Here to our You Tube Channel for the Kayak Safety Video.
