Just got back from Chicago stand up paddle boarding and honestly had a really fun time. I went to the diversity harbor location as most of the beaches continue to be closed due to COVID. The view and paddle boarding towards the city is quite scenic and it is cool to be able to merge the thundering city with being on the water. It is right next to a public park so there are many people walking, biking, and having picnics which is also a nice sight, however, on the other side of the park is a highway so that takes away from some of the scenery. There are not great parking instructions on the website but we managed to find a spot hero nearby which was pretty easy. Booking a same-day reservation was not a hassle and you simply fill out a liability waiver on the phone once you get there. I was not super sure about how clean the rented equipment was which could be a concern for some people right now, otherwise the rental process was easy. Some other concerns I had were that they give you a box to store your belongings in, but the box is just sitting out in the back of a trailer and I am not sure how well guarded they were. There is also a very low bridge that I had to lay down to go under, and while I thought it was a fun little challenge others may think of it as a nuisance. Overall, good way to paddle board near the city. read more

Chicago SUP paddle boarding is a FANTASTIC way to enjoy the lake and amazing view of the skyline. The staff was super friendly and very accommodating since we were a little late to our scheduled time. We'll definitely be back next season! Thanks read more

I took advantage of the awesome weather this past weekend to try paddle boarding out on Lake Michigan. Gotta love that view of city while you're out on the lake! The Good: We scored a Groupon for two hours for two people for $60 bucks. Plus the 20% off Groupon special and that put us right at $48 for two! Not bad and comparable to rates that I'm use to paying back in California. AND.. spectacular view of the city! The Bad: If it's your first time paddle boarding the conditions will have you loving it or hating it. Lake Michigan is comparable to trying to paddle around in an open ocean. Currents can pull you easily one way or another, and you can get some gnarly wakes coming off passing by boats/jet skis. If it's your first time, I'd recommend staying closer to shore until you feel comfortable maneuvering around before adventuring out. Other than that, aside from the choppy conditions, we had an excellent time. The shop is located on North Ave Beach. Look for the Jet Ski and boat rental signs. 'Til next time, cheers! read more

I had a blast regardless of how chilly it was :) the staff was absolutely great and very informative/helpful! We opted out of a lesson (it was both, my husband and I, first times. ) I found it to be pretty easy once getting the hang of the waves, wind and cool water. This was definitely a great workout for the whole body. I will be going back once the open again.. I am addicted :) read more

I have been paddleboarding before - but my husband hasn't. I was browsing through Groupon one day and found a couples lesson package for $85. I figured this would be as good a time as any to get out there on the water. The package expired on 8/31, and it's already mid-August, so we had to kind of plan our day off. The rental shack is located at North Beach - try not to park at the beach (19.00 for an hour!!). There is a large paddleboard with their name on it - right next to the kayak rental. Initially I wasn't super impressed. The directions on the Groupon were minimal to none. We didn't bring anything we were supposed to. For example: I had printed out the voucher, we left both our phones in the car, and obviously left our IDs and credit cards in there too. It turns out they couldn't scan the physical voucher, she had to do it from my phone. Also there is an online waiver you have to fill out from your phone. She also needed our IDs to hold onto for the rental equipment. So one trip back to the car to gather all of these things. Fortunately, there are lockers available (thank Baby Jesus or I would have been pissed). The actual instructions/lessons are down by the beach (which wasn't really communicated very well, so we ended up just sitting in the "locker area/shack" for the better part of 10 minutes until someone noticed us). We had Eli as our instructor. He really made the activity worth it! Super funny, kind and knowledgable. It is an insanely good workout if you do it right. I would recommend making sure if you go without a lesson you ask what the boundaries are. For someone like me who had never been to this part of the lake before, the bouys all look the same. There were a lot of boats and jet skis in the water. All in all, great experience and we definitely will make plans to go again before the summer is over! read more

I've been interested in trying SUP for awhile and had one morning in Chicago so decided to give it a try. This business was very difficult to get ahold of -- I struggled with trying to make a reservation on their website, my email bounced back as undeliverable, I left one message on their voicemail that was never returned, and then encountered full mailbox and was unable to leave any further messages. Finally I decided to take a chance and just show up on the beach and hope for the best. Once we got to the beach, Chicago SUP was easy to find and getting started was a breeze - even though we didn't have a reservation, they got us set up right away. Josh was a great teacher - he got us in the water quickly, covered all the important skills to get us started, made sure we were comfortable, and we were on our way. I had feared that SUP would be difficult, but they made it fun and easy. I look forward to getting out on the water again. read more

I rented a stand up paddleboard on my day off this week spent at the beach. $25 for an hour rental. A great way to be active at the beach, where normally I'm sunbathing, drinking & eating, and maybe spending some time in the water splashing around. Good deal, although I thought the check in process was a little disorganized. They directed us to drop our stuff off in the back room, but then we didn't get too much direction from there. We picked up on what others (who checked in after us) were doing and got the life jackets and then after watching some more, headed over toward the tent by the beach where the SUPs are actually stored. (WIN: we didn't have to drag them all the way across the beach!) Once at the waterfront, we were given an overview of how to actually stand up paddle board (this was my first time) and then were sent on our way! It was fun and definitely not as hard as I imagined it would be! SUP is incredibly peaceful in a crazy part of Chicago, and it was fun to see the North Ave Beach from a completely different perspective. Dropping off the SUP & paying was much more painless than the check in process, although I do have to say they never actually explained what the one hour time was. I am hoping/assuming it was based on when we took the board out, but I don't know how anyone knows how long we were out there. We took about an hour & half from check-in to check-out, but I think most of that delay was on the "what do we do" in getting our life jackets & going out to the beach. read more

UP FOR SUP? Then head on down to North Ave beach for one of the fastest growing water sports around. Stand up paddle boarding (or SUP for the uninitiated) involves standing on a large, wide surfboard (usually at least 10 feet long) and paddling. You can surf, get in a vigorous core workout, or just cruise around. I haven't been paddling since I got back from Hawaii and I was really excited to get out on the water (especially since the lake was a nice 75 degrees). I was initially worried that they'd have crappy rental boards, but was thrilled to find that they carry top notch Laird, Surftech, and C4 boards. Purchasing a quality board and paddle can easily run you in excess of $2000 so at $25/hr it's a fair deal. I took out a group of first-timers and the staff was very helpful with tips. All in all, everyone picked it up relatively well and had a great time. See you on the water! read more

This was an AMAZING time! We used our student IDs for a discount and were able to go paddle boarding for $20 an hour/person. It was our first experience and we decided to just get right on the water, no lessons. You can put your personal belongings in the back and can get a locker for $3 - nice! We got our life vests on and Ethan (or Ian?) greeted us on the beach. He gave us a brief run-down on how to paddle, turn, get on your knees, and stand up on the board, which was super informative. We finally got in the water and it was bliss. The water was warm and calm, and it was SO EASY to figure out how to paddle board! I was immediately standing up and paddling away. You get to an incredible visual on the Chicago skyline and North avenue beach, the music is popping, and it's honestly so serene to be in Lake Michigan. It was easily THE BEST experience I've had. I loved it so much I wanted to get my own paddle boards. I would definitely recommend this to a friend. In fact, I'll probably be bringing some friends back to Chicago SUP soon! read more

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I had a great hour+ for $27 on a Chicago SUP paddleboard on a fine August morning. The sun was shinin' and the breeze was ablowin'. What a great way to spend time on the water at North Ave beach. Note to the wary: Paddleboarding is NOT difficult. I am not athletically-inclined and have paddleboarded in Mexico, a small lake in central Illinois and now Lake Michigan. I have never fallen off. So, try it, you'll like it. Malia was very helpful and brought my board to the shore for me. I saw young and old on the boards and even a lady with her little dog. I can't wait to do this again. read more

Thanks for a great paddle Ian and Josh. Great to be the first on the water this season. Get on the water with these folks! read more

Chicago SUP - Paddleboarding Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I loved paddle boarding. It was so fun and I truly fell in love with the sport. My low rating comes from my bad experience with the girls working the desk. Just rude and not very helpful at all. Also, a word to the wise: bring a waterproof watch or designate someone to constantly be checking the time. An hour goes by fast when you're having fun... and 3 goes by even faster it seems and they'll charge you for all of it without warning you of how long you've been out there. read more

Today was my first time trying SUP and I loved it. Here are the things I loved: the staff was friendly enough, the location is great, and it's just a really fun experience. Also the online registration process is relatively easy! The one thing I didnt love: I decided to take the "lesson" but I didn't really feel like the instructor stayed with us for that long. In fact as soon as everyone was up on their board he left us! I definitely felt like paying for the lesson should warrant the instructor being available for majority of the session. If he had just stayed with us a little longer this would have been a 5 star review. But if you are new to SUP and have no clue what you are doing. You could seriously watch a "how to" youtube video and just do the equipment rental! lol. read more

Chicago SUP is a great place to learn a new sport! I went with a friend to take a paddleboard lesson, and we are both hooked on it now, we immediately went out and bought our own boards after our lesson! The day started off a bit shaky because the weather wasn't great, and when we arrived at North Ave Beach, the shop was closed for the day and we had no notification of our lesson being cancelled (granted, we booked our lessons late the night before). After calling them, they apologized up and down for the miscommunication and sent out an instructor (Will) within 20 minutes to give us our lesson. I was extremely satisfied with the way they handled the situation - the owner, Ian, called me back right away and was very helpful! Once we started the lesson, we had a fantastic time. The weather still wasn't perfect, and the water was pretty choppy, but I think that actually helped us improve our balance on the boards because it wasn't completely flat. Will was a great instructor, and he gave us tips throughout the hour rental after the lesson portion had ended. Overall, we had a great experience with Chicago SUP. While it was a bit of a rocky start in the morning, we ended up having a fantastic time and we now have a new sport to practice! Would definitely recommend them to anyone looking to learn a new and interesting water sport! read more

Chicago SUP is where to go if you want to paddleboard on North Ave beach. It's a great activity to do if you are tourist visiting Chicago or a local. You can get out on the lake and take in a view of beautiful Chicago skyline. You can paddle all the way to almost Fullerton and back for some serious excerise or you can just chill near North Ave beach lay on the board and Zen out. Weather and water conditions make everytime out different so no two times on water are exactly the same. If you've never done it, don't worry the guys who work here are really nice and will explain everything you need to get started. Bring one drivers license and credit card for everyone's rental, and don't need too much else. You can leave your stuff in a cube or a locker in the back. Bring sunscreen and towel. read more

This review is going to be fresh seeing as i just left...... After "supping" before and loving it ....I realized today when I went supping, at north ave. with great lakes boarding, that it is a new life passion. I thought I knew everything there was about supping, but today I learned so many new things from the instructer, who also happened to be the owner.. he was really helpful and really nice.....I really liked him and his whole staff, I stayed and talked for awhile with them after I was done...what a great team. I had the best experience today!!! thank you Ian! I will be back....!! read more

I had an awesome experience with Chicago SUP. My first time paddling out, my instructor Greg, was really helpful and answered all of my questions, plus some. There were a few waves that made it a little challenging but he offered great tips and in no time, I had it down. I loved it so much, I went back out again recently and once again, received a warm welcoming from Greg. This time around, the water was perfectly still and I had the most peaceful morning. Definitely a great start to my day. There's nothing better than being out in the water, sun shining down on you, and looking up at that beautiful Chicago skyline. I highly recommend getting a lesson from Greg and starting your day off right at this lovely spot at North Ave, with Chicago SUP. read more

Came here on their very last day of the season while visiting Chicago. The employees were all super friendly and helpful. The guys at the launch area even gave me a refresher course since it had been years since I've SUP. They also did a great job explaining where to go and where not to go. The check in staff understood that going a few minutes over time should not mean that they charge for a second hour (it takes time to get in the water and everything after all) - this was much appreciated. SUP on Lake Michigan isn't easy. It's windy and there's a lot of wake from boats and jet skis. Be prepared to fall in. But with the heat and humidity it's totally refreshing. I had a great time and wouldn't hesitate to come back or recommend this spot! read more

We finally went stand up paddleboarding and it was an incredible experience! Will, Pat and Toni were the staff and they were super helpful for first timers. This is one of the best things I've done in Chicago. We've already recommended our friends! read more

This is a class act establishment! I went paddle boarding for the first time over Memorial Day weekend and everyone on staff was incredibly friendly, helpful, and fun! I had a great time and it was a good deal. The pictures are the best deal! They have a professional camera man out in the water to snap some shots of you and are the most reasonably priced pictures I've ever encountered for such things. Only $15 for access to ALL of the ones they take. Totally worth it. Also worth it to upgrade from the life vest to belt for $5 if you are a good swimmer. It's too bad I'm not from Chicago because I would go all the time and will now look for a place where I live. read more

Best location in the city right on North Ave. beach with skyline as your backdrop! Ian is a good friend of mine, but he also has a really good business going with good people working with him. Chicago SUP puts in the effort to make sure their equipment is in good working order and if you are new to the world of SUP, they offer private lessons to help you find your footing. Great product, great location, friendly and knowledgeable staff! read more

Me and my buddies had an awesome time today at SUP Chicago. My second time paddle boarding and my buddies 1st time. Gregory and Dave was really helpful and great instuctors. Water was a little wavy today, but falling in was the fun part. Lol Will come back for sure! Especially now that Gregory told us Monday and Fridays are $20 /hr. With 1 free beer! read more

This past December I learned to surf in Costa Rica and it was the epitome of bliss. Sunshine, soothing waves, tons of fun, and not a worry in the world--when I rented a paddle board with Chicago SUP, I felt like I was able to experience a little bit of Costa Rica in the big city I call home. The staff is exceptionally friendly and knowledgeable, and the entire experience had a laid back and carefree feel which was so refreshing. The company will not nickel and dime you if you bring your board back a little late and won't even make fun of you when your paddle goes floating away from you while you're busy checking out the neighboring paddle boarders. Paddle boarding itself is what you make of it--you can have an intense workout and paddle all over if you wish or you can lie on your board and work on your tan while gossiping with friends and enjoying the calming waves and stunning views of the city. Or like me, you can perfect your headstand skills by seeing if you can hold it on an unsteady platform. Either way, I could not have more positive things to say about Chicago SUP and definitely plan to drop by again soon! Also, plan to hit up one of their yoga classes in the near future! read more

I had a great experience with Chicago Sup. They were professional and were amazing to deal with. They were helpful and nice and didn't just want to turn rentals like some others. You could tell that they cared. I would definitely recommend going out with them. Thank you Anna read more

Decided to gift myself a SUP lesson for my birthday. Did the 9am session with Greg as our instructor. He is very personable and teaches great technique. You are up and paddling within minutes! This was such a great experience right off North Ave Beach with the skyline in the background. I highly recommend it if you want to experience something akin to being at the ocean, but with a city in the background :) Also wanted to mention: when it comes to the lesson it specifically states that the first half hour is the lesson and the rest of the time is free/open paddling. Someone else mentioned that the instructor left, this is true. But it states that that is exactly what you get for the 1.5 hour lesson. He gives more than enough info in that first half hour. No one in our group was struggling at all during the free/open paddle. read more

Best place to rent a SUP, hands down! Ian and his cronies are a good group of peeps that want to get you out on the water for a good time. If you're new to the sport, Will is a great instructor. If you're a veteran, they have a wide range of Surftech, Starboards, SUPloves, and Lairds to choose from. This place single handedly started my obsession with SUP and I ended up buying 2 boards from Ian this offseason. They offer storage at a great rate as well if you end up going in the same direction and buy yourself a board. Best spot for a good summers day. read more

Had a lesson with Eli today, a great time. Highly recommend this business. Easy going, informative and fun! read more

Chicago SUP - Paddleboarding Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This experience was honestly amazing!!!! I am a total scaredy cat, but Eli our instructor was so helpful and so kind. I felt completely comfortable and excited to be able to stand on the board. It took me a while, but with Eli's guidance I got it before our session ended. I had so so much fun, and it felt so freeing. I wasn't a pro by the end, but I was proud to say I did it and got a fun little exercise out of it. I 10/10 recommend coming and having lessons here!! You'll have loads of fun on this lake adventure :)))) read more

Chicago SUP, formerly GLBC, is probably the coolest thing to experience in Chicago summers!!! Staff is super friendly and knowledgeable. Always there to provide help and the occasional laugh. You can tell everyone loves what they do there. I stopped in the retail location last week to see how much a board and storage would cost and the owner Ian told me they are doubling their fleet for the summer so there won't be a wait time on weekends. He might have lost a sale on that because that was the main reason I was looking to purchase a board. I'm probably going to go with the $500 unlimited pass this summer and test out all the new styles of boards they get in this year before deciding what I like to ride best. I'll be around their hut all summer....can't wait!!!!! read more

The actual paddle boarding was fun and enjoyable but the "lesson" was not worth it. Then instructor barely got in the water with us and left us to our own devices anyway. I would do it again, but definitely would not pay for a lesson. read more

I'm not what you call "outdoorsy", but I expected help on becoming more so. Instead I was not helped at anything, and I guess I was early enough that I had to help myself with picking out my paddle and board as well as bringing them shoreside in order to start my journey. The instruction was done poorly, even finding out on my own that I held the paddle backward for the majority of my fun excursion. I believe the owners of this company should not be allowed to continue for the next year based purely on the skunk smell evacuating the back of their employee room. Guys and fake dumb woman, if I wanted a contact high, I wouldn't have wanted it at north ave beach. Thanks guys, you truly strangled the progress of your sport along Chicago shores. Put the pipes down and help people get on the water. read more

Fantastic experience. The staff is so nice and friendly. We were running a few mins late due to traffic and they accommodated us. Gregory, our instructor was fantastic. He showed us some good tips and tricks to paddle board nicely, and we were all beginners, but felt very comfortable in a few mins. read more

These guys are just the best. We are fortunate enough to SUP with this group in a partnership with our gym, Crosstown Fitness. They always show us a good, safe time! This is the first and only group I've used out on the Chicago side of the lake, and they have not disappointed! If you've never done SUP before - give these guys a try. You'll be back! read more

I bought a google offer for this and was so excited to try! However after my initial excitement it was nothing but a let down. First I tried to call the number on the website and could not get a hold of anyone, finally when someone did answer it was a cell phone and they seemed confused about why I was calling, though they definitely worked for the company. Finally after them telling me it was best to come in early afternoon I took a day off work only to go and have the girl tell us that since there was a 2 hour wait and it might be windy later I couldn't do it today. It makes no sense! There were still 7hrs until their closing time. I'm sure it could be fun if we could ever get a board but I'm not wasting another day trying. read more

I'm a fan!! Loved my experience going kayaking! Found out through a Groupon and got great service and a short but simple lesson. you get such a GREAT view of the city skyline and all the benefits of being on the Lake. I'm glad i was able to do this because for all the times I've been in Hawaii I never went paddleboarding!! Finally got to go here! read more

This is so much fun! I strongly recommend getting the lesson package deal even if you've done stand up paddleboarding before. I've done it a few times before in Maui however I still found the lesson to be a helpful refresher. Knowing and using the correct techniques to hold the paddle as well as where to stand on the board will make your experience so much better! Ian was extremely friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. I took my friend with me who was visiting Chicago from out of town and she had a blast as well. read more

I got to do stand up paddling last year and my instructor was Greg. He was awesome and my group of friends had a great time! I returned again this this year and got to paddle once again and it was just as fun as last year (and the weather was perfect). Thanks SUP! read more

We were excited to try something new and SUP is a little bit of everything. Great workout in the water. Will was a great instructor and was very patient with our beginner status. We will be back for sure! read more

Super nice and accommodating. I called an hour before they closed, wanting to just go out for a few minutes on a beautiful, end-of-summer Saturday that is mostly wasted staying indoors. They normally stop letting people go out an hour before closing but the guy said he didn't mind setting me up if I came right over. He ended up letting me stay out while he did his closing routine--half an hour past closing time. And when he saw me struggling to stand up, he paddled over and gave me some quick pointers that helped a lot. Great organization. Can't recommend strongly enough. read more

BEST VIEW OF CHICAGO FROM A PADDLE BOARD!!!! The Stand-Up Paddle Boarding at North Avenue beach is by far the best in Chicago. The North Avenue beach location offers an uncomparably breathtaking view of the city. It's truly stunning. Locals and tourists, beginning to advanced paddlers, will all love this hot Chicago attraction. The staff is extremely knowleable and friendly. read more