Paddle Boarding Club Near Me | SUP Tours UK

Meet Our Female Founder, Caroline Dawson aka SUP Lass

SUP Lass Paddle Adventures was founded by paddle board enthusiast and adventure foodie, Caroline Dawson aka Caz. Caz is an accomplished stand up paddle board (SUP) Coach and Adventure Guide, with a passion for all things outdoors.

Located on the edge of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB, SUP Lass Paddle Adventures has doorstep access to a range of breath-taking paddle locations, including the majestic River Dee, the world-famous Llangollen Canal, plus an array of Welsh lakes and coastlines.

Caz has successfully completed a number of challenges and races including, the 100km GB SUP Series Great Glen Challenge, along with the Trent 100, the Conwy Ascent, the Loch Awe Challenge, the Paris Nautic Paddle and the notorious 'Swellies Challenge'.

Qualified and Experienced

Caz holds the following qualifications and industry accreditations:

~ WSA Water Safety and Rescue
~ WSA Coastal Navigation
~ WSA Adventure Guide
~ WSA Adventure SUP-er Trainer
~ WSA Safety and Rescue Trainer
~ WSA SUP Instructor Trainer
~ Leave No Trace Trainer
~ WiSe Accredited Adventure Operator
~ WRT Pro Rescue 3 Technician
~ RYA Marine Radio VHF Short Range Certificate
~ REC Level 4 Expedition First Aid
~ BC White Water Safety and Rescue
~ BC Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning
~ BC White Water SUP Coach
~ BC SUP Sheltered Water Award
~ BC Mentoring in Water Sports
~ Level Three Food Hygiene Certificate
~ BSc (Hons) Environmental Science
~ PGc in Leadership
~ WCF Rural Leadership Award

She has also been a regular face on the River Wye, guiding multi days trips for Gutsy Girls, plus has led her own expedition to the Sankt Anna Archipelago on the east coast of Sweden. For 2023 Caz has joined the SUP Norway crew as a guide, plus has headed back to the west coast of Sweden to guide further trips for WSA.

SUP Lass Paddle Adventures were awarded the Prince's Countryside Fund Rural Business Start Up Award in 2023.

Caz is a Trustee and Director of the Welsh Dee Trust, a volunteer Water Safety Advisor for the RNLI and proud Mustang Survival crew member.

Our Accreditations

SUP Lass Paddle Adventures are a fully accredited Water Skills Academy SUP Provider and British Canoeing (Canoe Wales) Delivery Partner, this means the tuition we offer is professional and delivered to a high standard. We are also verified by Visit Wales and Wales Adventure Tourism Organisation, as a safe and high-quality adventure activity provider.

Caz is also a professional member and trainer of Water Skills Academy and British Canoeing (Canoe Wales) and continually strives to develop her skills and industry knowledge through ongoing CPD.

Adventure Cooking

In a previous life, Caz ran an award winning outdoor kitchen 'Fodder in the Field', where local and seasonal ingredients were cooked up in a range of wild locations, including mountain tops and forests. Caz has recently launched a series of SUP + Cook experiences.

On most paddle sessions you'll find her carrying her trusty Kelly Kettle, where she'll treat clients to a warming brew or mug of hearty soup.

One thing that people don't know about Caz, is that she is a longstanding judge for the Great Taste Awards and champion for local and seasonal produce. When she is not leading paddle sessions she is a freelance Agri-Food Consultant and runs a second business 'Fodder Lass Consulting'.

Our Commitment to the Environment

SUP Lass Paddle Adventures is an accredited WiSe operator and as part of the accreditation we are committed to abide by the national and local laws of wildlife disturbance and conservation.

We are genuine outdoorsy types and are committed to protecting our paddling environments for generations to come through ongoing education and promoting Leave No Trace principles. Caz is a qualified Leave No Trace Trainer and on all of her paddle sessions she loves to share her knowledge and expertise.

SUP Lass Paddle Adventures regularly works in partnership the Welsh Dee Trust to support the delivery of SUP river cleans as part of their award winning #itshouldntbeinthedee campaign.

Our Chosen Charity - NEWSAR

SUP Lass Paddle Adventures support local charity NEWSAR, who provide valuable search and resuce services across north east Wales.

In 2022 we donated over £700 towards the new NEWSAR incident support vehicle. This total was made up of board hire fees and rescue strap sales from SUP Club sessions.

Technical Support from AcwaTerra

SUP Lass Paddle Adventures are pleased to work with Dave Brown from AcwaTerra, an adventure training consultancy that specializes in providing technical advice to range of outdoor activities, including SUP. Dave has over 30 years of on the water adventure experience and regularly supports Caz in the professional and safe delivery of her sessions and guided adventures.