Tim Sanford — Founder & Lead Instructor
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. He founded Paddle Method with a simple mission: turn people into paddlers — and give every student a lifelong connection to the ocean.
Tim's approach is built on patience over performance. Whether he's teaching a complete beginner their first stroke or hosting a sunset sail aboard a 39-foot catamaran, the goal is the same: meet people exactly where they are on the water, and let the ocean do the rest of the work.
Credentials
- PSUPA Certified — the gold-standard credential for stand-up paddleboard coaching
- US Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 12-4
- ARC Transatlantic Rally — completed the 2,700-mile offshore crossing from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean
- ASA certified across sloop, cutter, catamaran, and trimaran platforms (ASA
101/103/104/114) - Captain of the overall-winning team, 100-Mile Paddle Race
- Has served on the boards of major LA paddleboard race organizations
- Coaching stand-up paddleboarding in Los Angeles since 2010 — 5,000+ paddlers
taught
In the Press
- Featured in the LA Times, WBUR/NPR, and Discover Los Angeles
On the Water
Tim leads Paddle Method's full range of experiences — beginner and private lessons, guided coastal tours, whale watching paddles, the Marina Discovery Paddle, and the new SUP & Sail program aboard the Privilege 39 catamaran Meant to Be. He's based at Mother's Beach in Marina del Rey, where Paddle Method has operated since 2010.
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