Hi all,

I'm looking for somewhere close to the beach where I can pay a small fee to store my board. I love paddle boarding and really want to get into the habbit of going for a paddle before work, but by the time I get the board on the car at home, then off again at the beach and back on the car once I'm done I've lost a fair bit of time... not to mention I'm exhausted!

Does anyone know of anywhere I can store my board beach front along the Gold Coast, preferably between Burleigh and Southport?

Also, I'm keen to meet and join other paddle boarders on the gold coast, whether it be an actual club or just a few people hanging out.

Thanks :-)

Hi Mrs Pickle, not sure about storage, but there are paddle training groups at Currumbin, Talle, Budds Beach and the Broadwater that I know of - most in the early mornings but some in the late arvo too. There is also Go Vertical SUP hire that I think has groups of more social paddlers most days - check them out on FB

Someone correct me if i am wrong but if you become a member of a surf life saving club you can then arrange to store the board in there sheds/garages under club houses etched can you not?? It's what all the clubies do with their prone boards and surf skis etc isn't it??

Sorry MrsPickle, I can't help with storage either, but as Ricey1 said, there's a lot of different paddling groups around the coast, catering for paddlers with different aims and abilities, so if you get in touch with a few, I'm sure you'll find a group that works for you. Here's some info on a couple of groups I enjoy training with to get you started looking around.

Quantum SUP Training @ Currumbin
If you're keen for a morning workout along with technique coaching from one of the best in the business, Pete Dorries, the 'Quantum stand up paddle training group' train out of the 'Pirate Park' at Currumbin on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings, meet at 5am, on the water at 5:15am for 1-1.5hrs.
The group caters for all levels of paddlers, with a good mix of guys and girls and regular paddlers ranging from 9-10 year old kids, adults (young and old) wanting to get/keep fit, those just getting into racing right through to multiple State Champions, Aussie Champions & winners of Elite level races around the globe. It's a good fun social group (but not a walk in the park) so if you want to challenge yourself and don't mind getting out of breath or working up a sweat then its a great group to join. The sessions are mixed between flat water and the ocean depending on conditions.
On the other weekday mornings (Monday, Wednesday & Friday) we usually go SUP surfing - most on short/surf SUP's, but also some on race boards too if that's all you've got - its good recovery from the harder days, will improve your surf skills, and mostly just lots of fun. These days are pretty flexible, so if the surfs no good, sometimes we'll do an all-round fitness session in the creek (on and off the board), sometimes a downwinder and sometimes a rest day.
For more info, find the group on facebook or lookup petedorries on this forum and send him a message.

Budds Beach SUP @ (you guessed it) Budds Beach
If 5am sound's a bit early, or you can't get down to Currumbin, the 'Budds Beach SUP' group (also on Facebook) trains at Budds Beach at 5pm on Monday and Wednesday evenings, it's also not a walk in the park, and everyone there is keen push themselves - all sessions are in flatwater and you could say the group is a bit more oriented towards paddling for fitness, rather than race training (although both groups do overlap on these aspects). This group also has some very good paddlers in the mix, but has more newer paddlers (and lots of other girls) just starting to get stoked on sup training. Andrew, who runs the group, has a background in coaching surf-lifesaving, and Pete regularly (every few weeks) heads up to do some technique training with the group too.

They're not the only groups out there, but they're both good fun & you'd be welcome to join either or both.

might see you on the water...

Goldcoastsup runs a training group every Monday Tues Wednesday Thursday Saturday morning 5am meet at shop, 8 Thrower Drive Currumbin.
Also an afternoon training group Tuesdsy and Thursday at 5pm start.
All training is free and u can hire a race board for $10 per session if needed.
The likes of the best in australia and the world aswell as average paddlers all just keeping fit and having fun.
Professional training program fully structured for the whole year.
Contact Goldcoastsup shop on 55 257 003.

Thanks everyone... sounds like I may just have to bulk up and suck it up and carry the board around with me! It's a cruiser 10'10" and I got such a large one as I take my dog (+25kg) on the board sometimes and needed to get something to support him as well. It doesn't help that i need to get it on top of a 4WD! I'll definitely look into the group training sessions, most likely Budds as that's just a bit closer to home. Thanks everyone!

Hey Mrs Pickle, a little while ago there was a thread about putting a SUP on cars.

Do a search for it it might be of help to you.

Cheers.

ET.

Hi Mrs Pickle,

A way to speed up the loading and unloading of the board could be to add a Thule Sup Taxi board carry and tie down system onto your roof racks. This is an adjustable cradle with built in ties that easily tie down without having to thread buckles and loop straps etc.

A further addition could be the Rack 'n' Roll. It's a removable addition that fits onto any roof rack and makes loading a kayak or SUP childs play, even heavy boards and high roofs.

This should seriously speed and make easier your loading and unloading.

DM