Safe Stand Up Paddling with Cameron - Location Safety

Posted: 14 February 2022

Understanding your location is the most important part of stand up paddling. Before going paddling, you should check weather and water conditions, and potential hazards before making the decision whether it is safe to paddle. Each time you paddle, the conditions will be different and must be assessed each and every time.

Weekly Video SUP location safety checks with Cameron

Meet Cameron Douglas, an experienced paddler, instructor and SUP School owner of Derwent Valley Stand Up Paddle. Follow this weekly video and his assessment of the conditions on the day, the sorts of hazards he encounters, the checks he has to make before paddling, and also the changing seasons and the different issues each brings.

About the Location

Derwent Valley Stand Up Paddle is an ASI Accredited SUP School, based in the New Norfolk, Tasmania Australia. Inland, about 70 kms from the coast and 35 kms directly upriver from Hobart.
Predominate wind is westerly.
Summer temperatures of 25 to 30C. Water temperature 20C.
Winter temperatures 0 to 10C with snow often falling in the nearby hills. Water temperature 7C.
Summer is December to February. Winter is June to August.
Tidal range of about 1 metre.
The Derwent River runs from Lake St Claire (Middle of Tasmania) 170 kms to Hobart on the coast.
There is a hydro-dam about 30km upstream from New Norfolk, which regulates water flow. So there is a need to be aware of water releases. Dam release does counter the tide, 99% of the time the river runs down stream and the SUP school is only 4km from the ‘end of tide’ on the river.

Derwent Valley Stand Up Paddle

Meet Cameron Douglas