4.9★ · 300+ Reviews · Since 2010 · All Levels Welcome
LA's Premier
Paddleboard School
& Ocean Tours
Paddle Method offers SUP lessons, guided ocean tours, board rentals, and sailing experiences across Santa Monica Bay — Marina del Rey, Venice Beach, Santa Monica, Malibu & Palos Verdes. All levels welcome. Turning people into paddlers since 2010.
Featured in LA Times, WBUR/NPR, Discover Los Angeles
What is Paddle Method?
Paddle Method is Los Angeles's longest-running paddleboard school, based in Marina del Rey. Founded in 2010 by certified SUP instructor Tim Sanford, it offers beginner to advanced lessons, guided coastal tours, whale watching paddles, sunset tours, group events, board rentals, and new sailing experiences across Santa Monica Bay.
Best For
Perfect for first-time paddlers wanting a safe, fun introduction to SUP in calm marina waters, visitors searching for unique things to do in Marina del Rey, couples looking for sunset experiences, and experienced paddlers seeking guided coastal adventures.
What we offer
Your Perfect Water Experience
From your very first stroke to advanced coastal exploration — every session is guided by LA's most experienced SUP instructors
Most Popular
Marina Paddle Lessons
Learn to paddleboard in the calm, protected waters of Marina del Rey. Our certified instructors teach balance, paddling technique, and ocean safety. Most students stand and paddle confidently within 20 minutes.
Fan Favorite
Sunset SUP Tour
Paddle into golden hour on Santa Monica Bay. This guided evening tour is the ultimate LA experience — calm water, stunning skies, and the city skyline glowing behind you. No experience needed.
Dec - Apr
Whale Watching Paddle Tour
Get eye-level with migrating gray whales on a guided SUP tour — one of the most thrilling wildlife experiences in Southern California. Small groups, expert-guided, unforgettable.
NEW · May 2026
SUP & Sail — Catamaran Experiences
Step aboard a Privilege 39 catamaran for Discover Sailing at Sunset (Wednesday evenings) or a half-day SUP & Sail adventure. USCG-licensed captain. No experience needed. Founding member pricing active.
Groups & Corporate
Team Building & Paddle Parties
Bond your team on the water with a custom paddleboard event. From sunrise to sunset, our group sessions include instruction, paddling, and memories that outlast any offsite. Photos included.
Hourly Rentals
SUP Board Rentals
Paddle in the protected waters of Marina del Rey. All rentals include top-quality, stable cruiser-style paddle boards, super-light carbon fiber paddles, a life vest or PFD belt, and a leash
Why Paddle Method
LA's Most Trusted SUP School
More than a lesson — a complete ocean experience from one of LA's most credentialed water sports instructors.
2010
founded
5000+
Paddlers coached
4.9★
average rating
5
la locations
PSUPA Certified Instruction
All instructors hold PSUPA certification — the gold standard for stand up paddleboard coaching — ensuring safe, effective, professionally delivered lessons.
All Levels, All Ages
From first-timers to ocean-ready intermediates. Group classes for 14+, private sessions from age 10. Every experience is tailored to where you are on the water.
5 Premier Locations
Marina del Rey, Venice Beach, Santa Monica, Malibu & Palos Verdes. Each location offers a distinct experience — calm marina, open coast, or dramatic cliffs.
Wildlife-Rich Waters
Santa Monica Bay hosts gray whales, dolphins, sea lions, and pelicans. Our experienced guides know where and when to find them — year-round encounters guaranteed.
SUP + Sailing Programs
The only LA paddle school offering combined SUP and sail experiences. Discover Sailing at Sunset and half-day catamaran adventures aboard a Privilege 39.
Race-Winning Pedigree
Founder Tim Sanford captained the overall-winning team in the 100-Mile Paddle Race and has served on the boards of major LA paddleboard race organizations.
New in 2026
From Paddle to Sail —
Experience the Ocean Differently
Step beyond the board. Paddle Method's new SUP & Sail program invites you aboard a chartered Privilege 39 catamaran for golden-hour sailing adventures on Santa Monica Bay.
- Discover Sailing at Sunset — Wednesday evenings
- Half-day SUP & Sail — paddle, then sail
Catalina overnight adventures (coming soon)
- Half-day SUP & Sail — paddle, then sail
No sailing experience required
Perfect for couples, groups & special occasions
Explore SUP & Sail →
Real Reviews
What Paddlers Say
Over 300 five-star reviews from students, tourists, and locals who found their connection to the ocean.
The #1 Thing to Do in Marina del Rey
There's a moment on almost every Discovery Paddle where the whole group goes quiet. You've rounded a corner into one of the marina's inner channels, and there they are — a dozen California sea lions, six feet away, at eye level, on your own paddleboard, in the middle of Los Angeles.
That's what makes this unlike anything else in the city. Not a boat tour. Not behind glass at an aquarium. You're on the water, on your own power, with an expert guiding every stroke.
90 minutes · All gear included · No experience needed · Ages 14+
Morning session 8:30am · Active session 10:30am
Book Your Discovery Paddle →
Questions & Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before your first paddle — or your hundredth.
Your Instructor & Guide
Tim Sanford — Founder, Paddle Method
Tim has been coaching stand up paddleboarding in Los Angeles since 2010 and is one of the most experienced water sports instructors in Southern California. A lifelong sailor and USCG Auxiliary member, he holds PSUPA certification, has completed the ARC Transatlantic Rally, and captained the overall-winning team in the 100-Mile Paddle Race. His mission: turn people into paddlers — and give every student a lifelong connection to the ocean.