South Padre Island, Texas is a great place for stand-up-paddle surfing. Around the Island are many sheltered flatwater locations for cruising and site seeing, as well as the most and best waves in the Gulf of Mexico, all just minutes apart from each other.
Learning to Stand-Up-Paddle surf is super fun and easy so anyone can do it, and the possibilities for improving and challenging yourself with new skills and higher performance riding are endless.
Here are some popular spots around South Padre Island to SUP
SPOTS
Ocean Beaches
The entire 30 mile coastline of South Padre Island is open to Stand-Up-Paddling. In general, SUPing in the waves is challenging, and for experienced paddlers, but on calm days the waters of the Gulf of Mexico are also fun for beginners. Dolphin, turtles, and fish of all kinds are likely to be seen on any given session, and the wave riding varies from small and fun to serious depending on the size of the swell. Small sheltered waves to learn on can generally be found next to the South Padre Island getty, in Isla Blanca Park on the Southern tip of the Island.
Canals
There are a few networks of canals on the Bay Side of the Island, perfect for having a site seeing session, practicing your skills, or learning for the first time. The canals are wind sheltered, and offer flat water. One great canal system is accessed at Air Padre Kiteboarding and Watersports boat ramp, next to the shop on Gulf Blvd.
Laguna Madre Bay
The Laguna Madre is the huge shallow water bay that separates South Padre Island from mainland Texas, and waters are great for Stand-Up-Paddle surfing on calm days. There is never much chop on the Bay, the water waist to chest deep, and generally offers a clear view of the seagrass bottom full of fish, rays, crabs, turtles, and other wildlife. There dozens of great places to access the Bay.
KOA
Located on the South end of South Padre Island, the KOA campground has a boat ramp and docks to access the water, as well as a great restaurant and pier. SUPers can explore around the peir, as well as the Queen Isabella Causeway, which is the bridge connecting South Padre to the mainland.
Convention Center
Just North of the South Padre Island Convention Center, located on the North end of the Island, is the Convention Center Beach. SUPers can drive right up to the waters edge on the hardpacked beach, and head into the water from there. The North side of the Convention Center Beach accesses a series of so far undeveleped canals which wind around islands and opening into lagoons and secret beaches that are great for exploring, while the South side of the Convention Center Beach is just a short paddle from the SPI Birding and Nature Center.
Lessons and Rentals
Lessons
Learning to SUP is fun and easy, and a professional instructor can show you the moves and paddling techniques to help you to master basic Stand-Up-Paddle surfing through advanced wave riding techniques. Hook up with great instructors at Air Padre Kiteboarding and Watersports,
Rentals
Stand-Up-Paddle surf boards come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes. Finding the right board for you is best done by trying a few, and talking with experts. Air Padre Kiteboarding has a wide range of rental boards to choose from for both surf and flatwater cruising.

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