Salmon Bay Paddle

I had a bit of time in Seattle and signed up for the 1 ½ hour «SUP sampler» introduction to paddleboarding, having never been before. I was able to set my own time with Rob, the owner, for what turned out to be a one-​on-​one lesson (Salmon Bay appears to be a pretty small operation). In short, Rob is an excellent teacher. He was extraordinarily thorough and responsible about going over all the basics about skills and safety before we ever got out on the water. I’ll admit there was a point 20 minutes in when I was tempted to look at my watch and ask if we were ever going to get the boards off the shore, but once we got out, I really appreciated everything he’d taught me. If you just want to tool around on a paddleboard for awhile, no questions asked, don’t go here, straight-​up rentals aren’t really their thing. But if you want to learn something, definitely go here. (For rentals, go to Moss Bay, they’re great for that.)

I have taken several classes from Rob and all I can say is Rob is the absolute best SUP instructor you are going to find. Not only is he an expert in SUP but he knows his environment — tides, winds, weather, and where to go. On top of that safety is his number one priority.
Rob will get you standing and paddling if you are a beginner or take your skills to the next level. Don’t pass up your chance to work with him!

SUP Surf class is a total blast. if you’re thinking about taking it – do it!
I’m 41, grew up in Hawaii, and I never learned to surf until I took a class with Salmon Bay. Now, it’s a mild addiction and I can’t wait for the next trip out to the coast. Rob hooked me up with a great lesson and there’s no way I would have been that successful and safe on the water without his help.
If you’re an experienced paddler and want to bump up your skill base, or just starting out, I highly recommend taking a class/​es from Salmon Bay. I’ve been paddling for over 2 years and decided it was time to try surfing – I’m so glad I did. I took a basics class from Rob last year which really improved my understanding of the sport, and then a few weeks ago I took the SUP Surfing class which not only got me surfing (which is the most fun ever!), but it gave me a new set of skills that keeps developing every time I get back in the water.

Fantastic day out on Lake Union! I called the night before and was able to get a booking for the next day. Rob has great knowledge and will go over everything very clearly. He was very patient and made sure that safety was always considered. Lake Union is a really nice spot. You pass big ships, houseboats, the skyline, and go under a bridge. The small group size (I was the only one) made it feel like there was no pressure, and I could go at my own pace. Thanks Rob!

I was really – and I emphasize really – looking forward to my first SUP experience, especially after reading the stellar reviews for Salmon Bay on here. With my sister in town for two days on a college swing, we figured it was time to take the proverbial plunge and make it happen, and got in contact with Rob about a private lesson for two.
Initially, it went well. He not only offered up a time on Thursday evening – excellent – but even offered to come up and meet us in Edmonds, which was brilliant. I told him that I’d have to confirm our availability, to which the response was that the «date was still off,» and assured him that I’d get back with a reply on the following Monday.
Monday came around, and – having cracked open our plans on Thursday to suit the proposed meeting time – I sent off the promised e-​mail. And waited.
And waited.
And waited.
Finally, after waiting four days, I sent a follow-​up. This one was responded to promptly, and made absolutely no mention of the previous appointment offer. Instead, Rob let us know that we could meet him on Monday or Tuesday, in the afternoon, followed up by a helpfully abrupt «gotta go, have a lesson.» No reference to the correspondence that we’d shared before. No concern for the fact that we’d effectively shellacked our entire Thursday evening to make good on what had been a magnanimous offer. Just a flat-​rate, no-​frills, totally bunko «take these dates or don’t”-type response, out of the blue.
To be fair, I don’t doubt that this has to be an insane time of year for the SUP outfits in Ballard and the surrounding areas, and confusion or miscommunication is likely: however, that doesn’t get us our time back, nor does it motivate us to do anything but book with the next touring company over. It sounds like Rob’s on-​the-​water technique is remarkable, and it just would have been nice if his customer service had followed suit.

I wish I could give more stars. If you want to learn to SUP, you HAVE to come here. Rob is exactly who you want to learn from. He is an expert, but more than that, he cares deeply for the sport and about people. First and foremost, he is concerned about safety. He gives you very practical and useful information before going, and then in the water, he takes it one step at a time. You proceed to the next skill as ready. He is kind and patient and talks you through each step. Seriously, this guy was made to be a teacher. As you are going, he teaches about the rules of the water, boating vs paddling right of ways’, tides, currents, wind issues and how to spot any potential problems. On top of that, he gives great instruction on your paddle stroke so that you can go further without as much effort or pain later on.
He is a little more expensive, (not much) than some other shops, especially the one that is always on living social, but it is more than worth the money. With Rob, you get a wet suit, booties, gloves, hat if you want it, and life vest. You get two hours in the water of really personalized, expert instruction and you leave with the basics, the right way, pretty much down.
I went on an overcast, slightly drizzling, mildly windy day. It was perfect. Boat traffic was low and I was plenty warm in the wet suit. So, you don’t have to wait for the perfect day. We live in such an awesome area and it was encouraging to find out that I can play in the water no matter what the weather!
People like Rob really deserve to be a success, I hope more people give this a try!

Rob is an expert in SUP and offers even more relevant training and helpful information because of his background in kayaking. His skill, knowledge and expertise exceeded my expectations. He presented the information and training in a very clear and concise manner; adding many various tips throughout his instruction. He is obviously an expert and great enthusiast for SUP — no one could have such a great arsenal of information as he does unless they are enthusiastic about the matter.
In his instruction, Rob is encouraging, patient and practical — all very important traits when teaching a subject. He was nothing less than professional and proficient. He was prepared, on time and came with all the gear promised as well as plenty of back up options. He was also prepared for all weather and conditions. He was very responsive and engaging with all my questions.
The course more than met my needs — I learned a lot and as a beginner — I have a lot to learn. Rob’s course gave me extensive information on the tools, resources and tips for getting started in SUP. I will continue to turn to him as my ‘go to’ resource in all matters SUP. Even the weather cooperated and turned out to be a perfect, sunny, PNW day. I’m extremely glad I chose Salmon Bay Paddle and Rob for my first professional training in SUP. I felt safe and confident with him the whole time.

I wanted to learn the basics of SUPing in a more individual type environment and Rob really delivered on my expectations. I had read about SUPing for a year now and wanted to try it out to see if it was as fun as it looked. I had thought about just going out and renting or picking up a board, but decided a better way would be to get a good lesson and at least learn a thing or two before getting into it further.
Rob was a fantastic, even before I met him. His communication via email was quick and responsive. His questionnaire was really helpful for the both of us and when I showed up he had a good idea of the level of experience I had on the water. We spent about 15 – 20 minutes going over the sport, the water way where we would be going, and the equipment etc. I really liked that he was interactive and engaged. Sometimes you get an instructor that talks down or is bored as they’ve done the same thing over and over; but that was truly not the case with Rob.
When we got on the water, he was right there talking me through things and showing me what I needed to be doing. I was amazed that he was able to see what I was doing wrong, offer a piece of advice and once I put it into effect, issues like balance, turning the board, or keeping everything moving in a straight line really became much easier.
At one point I was concerned that Rob was paddling in front of me and I was wondering how he was able to monitor how I was doing if I was behind him. However I realized that he was able to keep an eye on me without any problem but more importantly, he was keeping aware of what was going on around us in regards to sail and powerboats. I liked the fact that he was able to coach, correct, and ensure we were staying safe out there.
I know Rob does more advanced instruction and I’m going to book another lesson with him in the future, but for anyone looking to get into SUPing, or wanting to at least get the basics down, I’d recommend taking a lesson with the crew at Salmon Bay. I was really satisfied with the lesson and feel like I got my monies worth.

My wife and I did a multi-​hour, private lesson with Rob that was really one of the best and most satisfying learning experiences I have ever had. We had asked for a real overview and intro to sea kayaking– and we really got it. Starting with a detailed discussion of basics, gear, different schools of thought, the whole nine yards — then on to in-​the-​water instruction on self-​rescues, etc. Rob went out of his way to make this work for us, including lining up wet suits and gear. He is a clear and direct teacher, patient, and clearly truly knows his stuff. We will return for more come spring!

Rob’s personalized instruction greatly improved my skills and gave me the confidence to become fully immersed in stand up paddling. There are plenty of SUP classes out there, most with very large groups and not a lot of one-​on-​one time. Rob’s classes are small and customized to suit your specific needs and perfect for those who really want to learn the in’s and out’s of the Pacific NW’s perfect sport.
Besides the instruction, Rob also gave me lots of great info on where to buy a board, suggestions for equipment, etc. Definitely money well spent! Thanks Rob!