After a thorough risk assessment process we’re back offering our award winning taster sessions for groups, families and individuals and our members.
General Advice
We can all help control the virus if we all stay alert. This means you must:
- stay at home as much as possible
- work from home if you can
- limit contact with other people
- keep your distance if you go out (2 metres apart where possible)
- wash your hands regularly
SUP Bristol has now reopened for all activities following guidance issued by the Government applying to all sport and recreation businesses.
We have taken all necessary steps to reopen responsibly and safely, and have changed some of our processes to facilitate this. Please take some time to read on and see how things have changed:
How have we adapted?
New, much more rigorous procedures have been put in place so that we can all get back on the water safely:
Communication and booking
All bookings are in advance online or by phone only
Health declaration
We make it clear on booking that we won’t accept anyone with COVID symptoms in the last 14 days. We will ask you to complete a health declaration at the water too.
Sanitiser
We’re providing hand sanitiser at the start and end of the session and encourage you to bring your own in our joining instructions
Arriving prepared
We ask all customers to arrive kitted up and ready to go and have closed our changing rooms for the time being. This is under constant review. Wearing sportswear is great if the weather is fine. If not, we strongly recommend bringing your own jacket and/or wetsuit if you have one. (if not we can lend you one – check out the info on washing below)
Increased washing
Wetsuits are now soaked in Milton Sterilising Fluid after each use. Soaking has been increased to 15 minutes, followed by rinsing in fresh water. (1)
Staggering arrival times
We’ve introduced more sessions throughout the day and where possible we’re staggering arrivals to limit the number of people in one place and prevent breaking the social distancing rule.
Equipment cleaning
We’re scrubbing all paddles and paddleboards with soap and water between uses, with particular attention to the main touch points.
Social distancing
SUP is the perfect socially distant activity but we’ve made a few changes to help with keeping our distance. If you need a hand getting whilst out on a session we have plenty of tips and tricks to limit the risk of getting too close. We’ve now reopened for youth sessions but we ask that a responsible adult from your bubble accompany groups of young people. We’ll always make sure you’re paddling in safe conditions, and if you need a bit of help we’ll use a towline to pull you to a safe spot. With great demonstrations and explanations we don’t see the need to break the 2m rule.
Group sizes
We’re now operating on a maximum ration of 1:8 in line Government guidelines on large gatherings (2), following COVID-19 Secure Guidelines. We can take larger groups but please get in touch first to discuss social distancing. Social interactions within larger groups should be limited to 6 people from different households (if outdoors) at a time. This means if we stop for lunch etc we may have to break into two groups.
Access
Our toilets and storage unit are still closed to customers. We will meet you at the water where possible. We’re taking care to avoid contact between staff when loading and unloading equipment. We can still store your gear away securely.
Track and trace
We’ll ask you to sign in on arrival. We’ll need your email address and phone number in order to assist with government track and trace should we need to.
Please see our covid-19 risk assessment (Google Doc) and joining instructions (updated regularly as things change)
Guidance
(1) Milton is virucidal in 15 minutes NF T72-180. Effective on Rotavirus and Coronavirus. (dilution at 0.6% v/v). https://www.milton-tm.com/sites/default/files/pdf/MILTON%20STERILISING%20FLUID%20INSTRUCTIONS.pdf
(2). Guidance for providers of outdoor facilities on the phased return of sport and recreation in England, Updated 9 September 2020
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-phased-return-of-sport-and-recreation/guidance-for-providers-of-outdoor-facilities-on-the-phased-return-of-sport-and-recreation (Accessed 9 September 2020
“Large Gatherings: Businesses and venues following COVID-19 Secure guidelines can host larger groups. This is also the case for events in public outdoor spaces that are organised by businesses, charitable or political organisations, and public bodies, provided they take reasonable steps to mitigate the risk of transmission, in line with COVID-19 Secure guidance and including completion of a risk assessment. Any other gathering in an outdoor space must not be any larger than 30 people.“