Customer Reviews
What You'll Get
Paddleboarding combines three things that make most people happy: sunshine, time on the water, and carrying a big stick. Enjoy Teddy Roosevelt–approved recreation with this Groupon.
Choose Between Two Options
- $25 for a one-hour introductory standup paddleboarding lesson for one person (a $50 value)
- $40 for a one-hour introductory standup paddleboarding lesson for two people (an $80 value)<p>
Paddleboarding situates riders atop boards that are longer and wider than surfboards, affording more stability and greater vision into the water. During semiprivate lessons, which include equipment rental, students get a full-body workout from maneuvering an elongated paddle, wrestling friendly manatees and other wildlife, and maintaining balance.<p>
The Fine Print
Promotional value expires Sep 12, 2012. Amount paid never expires. Limit 1 per person, may buy 1 additional as a gift. Limit 1 per visit. Valid only for option purchased. Must be 10 or older. Subject to weather. Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services.
About Barefoot Paddler
A flipper juts out of the water and clasps the paddleboard belonging to one of Denise Palmer's students. Another flipper emerges and hugs the opposite site. At the front of the board, a manatee's head appears, nibbling on the mysterious vessel. After learning the paddleboard isn't food, the manatee remains curious, so it hangs on for the ride.
These moments of connecting with nature make Palmer feel "like nothing else matters." Growing up on the water, she learned to sail from her mom while manning a boat built by her grandfather and adjusting sails sewn by her grandmother. Her passion for the water carried her through to a master's degree in oceanography, and after a layoff at a corporate job, led her back to the sea to launch Barefoot Paddler. Today, she leads lessons and eco-tours in the waterways around St. Pete Beach and downtown St. Petersburg, bringing people up close to wildlife such as dolphins, horseshoe crabs, and sea turtles. For more experienced riders, Palmer also offers paddleboard rentals.