Introducing ASI SUP Instructor, Stephen O'Hara

An advanced, enjoyable, and innovative way of delivering holistic education through SUP; Stephen O’Hara, Director of Co-Curricular Activities at Collège Beau Soleil in the Swiss alps, discusses the many strengths of bringing SUP sessions to physical education.

Beau Soleil is proudly an ASI accredited SUP School, with a particular focus on outdoor education using the mountain, lakes, and expansive surroundings as a classroom. SUP not only keeps the students engaged, but also is beneficial in teaching confidence, teamwork, resilience, and a number of other highly valuable life lessons.

Tell us a bit about College Alpin Beau Soleil

It is a mixed full boarding international school caring for just under 300 students from ages 11 to 18. Our focus is to deliver the world’s best holistic education. We have students from around 54 nationalities which brings us an incredible variety of cultures. One of our main strengths is in outdoor education and using the mountain, lakes and local surrounding as our class room. We want our students to be as successful as possible both in and out of the classroom hence why we also deliver paddleboarding as part of the curriculum.

Why did you introduce SUP to your curriculum?

We use paddle boarding as a skill to develop confidence, risk taking, team work, resilience and many more attributes. Students learn about the health and safety involved to ensure they can then go on to paddle with their friends and family in a safe but fun manner.

We offer the Level 1 SUP Instructor course online, enabling students to gain a recognized qualification before finishing school. This qualification can be utilized for employment opportunities if they choose. Similarly, our winter sports program includes ski instructing, equipping students with practical skills they can apply immediately. This provides them with valuable, tangible skills they can use right away. Not only does this encourage accountability, but it also fosters life skills that enhance their ability to engage with clients effectively.

Why did you become an ASI accredited school?

The structure is excellent, it gives clear and strong operating procedures, help and assistance if ever needed, training and further development and generally helps us to work and deliver lessons as a world class facility.

What do your students enjoy most about SUP?

Usually they love water games, we bring a lot of what we do in normal PE lessons into SUP sessions i.e competition, analysis, team work etc, which results in a lot of fun on the water.

We do several SUP expeditions where the students have to plan, pack and then complete a two day and one night expedition on the lakes here in Switzerland. They must carry their tents, cooking equipment and food too in their deck bags!

They love the challenge and novelty of doing a journey on a SUP. We even rafted a few together in May on Lake Gruyere and set up a sailing rig with paddles tied together!

Tell us about an interesting situation that has happened during a SUP session?

Probably the trip which I mentioned above, 2 days and one night on Lake Gruyere. Visiting castles, jumping off bridges, cooking, camping, cleaning, swimming all in an incredible location.

About ASI

ASI is an international professional membership and training organisation and governing body for instructors, coaches and schools and clubs in the outdoor recreation industry for surfing, stand up paddle and bodyboarding.
ASI Accredited Schools abide by the high international standards for operations, training and safety.
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