Rad SUP in Malibu

Stand-up paddleboarding and Malibu go together like sun and surf, like sugary sand and beach blankets, like Gidget and Moondoggie, like … well, you get the idea. Whether you’re new to stand-up or an experienced SUPer, Radfish Malibu will outfit and guide you at one of Malibu’s loveliest and quietest strands, Escondido Beach.

Owner Tony Radfish, something of a local legend, will provide the gear and meet you at the beach (near famous Geoffrey’s Malibu restaurant) for your crash course in staying upright. Tony preaches five simple rules: bend your knees and keep your weight forward…hand on the cap of the paddle…keep the blade in the water…point your eyes ahead…and keep your body loose. Easy!

After the quick lesson, it’s time to brave the break. Weather and wind permitting, you and fellow SUPers can paddle up and down Malibu’s beautiful coast, ogle the showcase homes, glide by Paradise Cove, and get a view of Point Dume that landlubbers can only envy. Don’t be surprised to see seals pop their cheerful heads out of the waves, or to be flanked by a friendly school of dolphins.

Of course, the distance you cover depends on the conditions of the day and how quickly you get the knack, but Tony is there every stroke of the way to help you master your new skill. By the end of your session, you’ll want to ride the waves back in to shore. You know—like Gidget and Moondoggie would!

Radfish Malibu is at 29575 Pacific Coast Hwy., opposite Zuma Beach, 1.1 miles west of Kanan Dume Rd. Escondido Beach is on PCH 2.2 miles east of Kanan Dume Rd. $100 for a two-hour session, including rental and lesson.