Jo was a great instructor. Very patient and very knowledgeable.

Very friendly staff. We had SUP private lessons from coach Isabella who was very patient. Ballena Bay was beautiful & the water was calm. I plan to take more private lessons there.

If you are looking for a one stop shopping and knowledge hub about paddle boards, paddle: Mike’s Paddle is the place to be! Mike and his team are extremely helpful and knowledgeable! It was a great experience buying my SIC RS 14 x 16 board from Mike’s paddle. Levi was extremely helpful in packing my board and shipped it ship to my house without any damages. Thanks again guys !!!

Mike’s Paddle is the perfect environment for one who wants to perfect the art of paddle boarding. For beginners, novice paddlers (like me) or experts, there is something for everyone here. Mike is incredibly friendly and a wonderful teacher! The staff creates a warm and positive atmosphere. You definitely feel like you’re at home when you step into Mike’s Paddle :)

I had a blast! I recently took the Estuary tour and the weather was not only fantastic that day but the guides were all super nice and very conversational. Also very informative as I had questions about paddle technique and the boards we used. Will definitely be going back soon for paddling and another tour too!

Super friendly owner and staff. Everyone is very knowledgeable, skilled and helpful. Great equipment. Really fun and safe paddle board classes and SUP yoga.

Mikes Paddle is the legit destination for paddle boarding training and bay recreational water guidance. I took the paddle boarding one class and it was a lot of fun and very educational. I just signed up for two and three, looking forward to doing more on the water.

My first SUP experience in the Bay Area was in 2018 with Mike’s Paddle. I’ve rented elsewhere since, with confidence, after obtaining training from the staff here. In 2019 I obtained my certificate as a SUP instructor & also SUP Yoga Instructor; with more amazing training from Mike & Malia. The certification program & casually teaching here & there at Mike’s Paddle led me to eventually working the shop. Now I’m managing rentals, retail & some program scheduling for Private Lessons & Yoga. My coworkers and volunteer staff are some of the best I’ve EVER worked with. I’m blessed to have a steady job, a safe place to paddle/ work & an ongoing introduction to new friends in this sport. This is, hands down, the BEST SUP shop in the Bay Area for lessons, beautiful weather & amazing views! See you soon! :)

Mike’s Paddle is a nice, clean and airy shop, with a large selection of boards for rent. I really like that they are right on the water with a nice dock, so you can get on and off your board without getting wet. The staff are very knowledgeable,!friendly and helpful. I took my first lesson there and keep going back!

Ive only gone out twice, level 1 and level 2 lesson. Instructors are very knowledgeable and helpful, theres no pressure if youre not comfortable doing certain moves but theyre very encouraging to have you improve.

Great service, great people and an awesome location for paddle boarding. We got the three month summer board rental pass and it was dreamy to have the option to get out on the water whenever we wanted without the hassle of loading up a board. Can’t recommend Mike’s highly enough!

My son was invited by a friend and got so excited when he saw the boards. My husband and I came to watch and now we want to come back too! Its a great little shop on a really amazing part of Alameda. The wonderful way to spend a day out on the water. The instructor was so patient and thorough and he liked working with the kids.

Helpful and knowledgeable staff. Always a great experience at Mike’s Paddle!

Mike is a patient and thorough instructor. He made sure we knew all the important skills before taking us on the boards and again before taking us out of the protected areas. He took great care of my family, especially my 15 yo daughter whose board kept getting blown off course. I highly recommend SUP lessons from Mike. And if you’re in the market for your own board, he’s knowledgeable! We’ll be sure to check in with him when we’re ready!

Mike’s Paddle is the best and super dog-friendly!!! My 4 month old puppy went out for the first time and one of the employees went out of his way to make sure my puppy was safe and comfortable (which made all of the difference). My pup ended up staying out on the board with me for an entire hour and we only fell in 3x!!! : ) We will absolutely be back. Thank you Mike’s Paddle for a gorgeous day!

I’ve had two lessons here and both were amazing! Welcoming environment for all experience levels. The instructors do a great job of demonstrating and explaining how to maneuver the board. They also helped me get more comfortable moving on the board and showed me how to increase the power generated from each stroke. Can’t recommend Mike’s highly enough!

Mikes Paddle provides a great way to learn to paddle board right in Alameda, and their membership makes it easy and affordable to paddle on an ongoing basis. They are friendly and supportive and provide or sell all the needed equipment. I recently moved away from the Bay Area and paddle boarding at Mikes is the only thing I miss.

Mikes the best! Ballena Bay is such a nice place for water activities because the water isnt too cold.

Mike was just awesome! He was incredibly helpful and knowledgeable, and he really wanted to make sure that we were informed and happy with our purchase. He took the time to explain all details about the equipment. He was extremely polite and I never felt pressured as a customer. Highly recommended!!

I had a great private lesson where Ryan demonstrated all the basics to SUP. He was patient and had me practice all the important skills several times. I felt like it was a very thorough intro. Staff were professional and friendly. I will be back!

Im pretty new to SUPing and Mikes Paddles has made it super easy for me to get on a board whenever Id like! Id highly recommend the monthly/season pass. Everyone is incredibly nice, encouraging and makes it easy to rent from there. Highly recommended!

Mikes Paddle - I will definitely be back!Pros: Friendly & helpful staff, great gear, burned like 400+ calories/hour, perfect location to learn & rent, fun, affordable.Cons: Im pretty sore from working my core (Im a lil out of shape ok)This was my FIRST TIME ever on a paddle board - Im 511 male 220lbs and out of shape. This was such a great experience that Ill be going back for more lessons and rentals and would love to join a tour.On 9/15/18, I joined Mikes crew for a 3 hour L1 class to learn SUP/Paddle Boarding. It started at 9:30am..the staff warmly greeted me by name when I arrived, fitted me in my life vest, wet suit, paddle, and showed me where to put my belongings. We met at the dock and spent about 30 minutes going over tips, basic training such as standing up/getting on the board, and orientation. There was six of us taking the class this time with two instructors...not too crowded that you cant enjoy it, I would say it was just right. Then we got on the boards and away we went through the marina. Then we learned various paddle techniques and strokes, recovering our paddle, turning, falling off/getting on, stopping, and more. Then we headed out to the Bay and got some experience on a little more choppy water with some wind. I fell in once...intentionally because they want you to learn how to get back on. The instructors were patient, supportive, and had plenty of experience to share.Overall, my experience with Mikes Paddle and the Level 1 class was POSITIVE! Mike you have a first class operation there! I feel that after my first class I could rent a board (or buy one...Im already looking online) and get out on the water myself with confidence. The great thing is they have some more advanced classes (L2+) and its fun to go in a group. If youre looking to get some relaxing (but good strong workout) time on the water, this is a fun sport and great place to do it. If anyone has any questions about the Mikes Paddle though, leave a comment to my review and Ill get back to you. I will be enrolling in the other classes.

My family and I just took SUP lessons today and we all had a blast. Mike taught us everything we needed to know to have a safe and enjoyable time on an SUP. After our lessons on land and water, Mike tested our knowledge and skills in the harbor and the bay. This was an awesome opportunity to spend with the family outdoors and away from technology! Thanks Mike!

One of the best experience in my life!The store staff professional and courteous, my paddle instructor Ryan AMAZING! As Ryan Thoroughly explained the front paddle, reverse paddle, and the rainbow paddle so well that I felt safe going out in the open water and I no longer felt like I was going to drown and die like when I first walked in.

Great shop! Super informative. Very happy with my board and gear.

Great location and customer service. Staff is friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. Can’t speak highly enough about this business. A real Alameda gem!

Great shop, staff and lessons. Lucky to have this in Alameda!

It was an amazing experience. I am terrified of water but a buddy convinced me to tackle paddle boarding. So we went to Mikes Paddles and I had the most patient teacher ever. She taught me how to fall AND stand up. I learned a lot and the water is now my friend. Will definitely be back!

My husband and I tried our first SUP outing today. We had a great time and didn’t fall in as newbies! Took us a little while to get our sea legs and by the end we were solid. Great friendly staff - definitely going again.

The staff at Mikes is amazing. Whether youre looking for a class, rental, or buying SUP equipment, this is your spot. Mike and his team have adapted to pandemic and smoke with their usual calm flexibility, with a focus on keeping everyone safe while still getting out on the Bay.

I recently had a paddle boarding lesson with Mike at Mike’s paddle. I love paddleboarding and I wanted to explore using it in waves on the ocean. Mike is extremely knowledgeable and helpful and it was a great experience! I would recommend Mike’s paddle to anybody, beginner or experienced, who is interested in learning more about Paddleboarding and finding a local community of paddleboarders. Thank you Mike!!

Outstanding service, they are super knowledgeable and totally set my somewhat nerdy son up to paddle board. He did amazingly well for the first time, and I just loved the experience as well. Great equipment also !

Mikes Paddle is a great local business. My husband and I had a miscommunication about the price of our used paddle board, and they kindly honored the initial (lower) price we thought wed been quoted. They instantly made repeat customers out of us!

Excellent location. Kind and knowledgeable staff! Local harbor seal is not affiliated with the shop, but is always cool.

Must do! Since moving to the bay Mike’s has been my go to! Great employees & even better experiences! All the thumbs up!

These guys are so friendly and helpful. Rental boards are very nicely maintained, the staff is very knowledgeable and their dock is perfect.

Great customer service, both on-line and over the phone with Levi. I cannot wait to get my new board and cruise the shoreline of Lake Michigan. Many thanks!!

Welcoming, friendly, knowledgeable, helpful, experienced, technically proficient, organized,, professional, supportive, enthusiastic. A great experience every time.

I absolutely love this place. The staff are knowledgeable about the boards and it’s a chill vibe in the shop.

Great workers and I had lots fun. 10/10 would recommend

I love everything about this place! Super warm and knowledgeable staff.

Really nice instructors and staff got me geared up and in the water for my first stand up paddle board lesson. All of the other first timers in the class seemed to enjoy themselves, too, as the instructors gave time and energy to each of us based on our comfort levels and how quickly we were catching on. If you want to get your feet wet in the world of SUP, this is a great place to start.

Great staff! Awesome time! Mikes paddle is the best!

Loved it! Wonderful exercise while communing with nature. Skillful instruction given. I feel confident to go out on my own. I will sign up for the Level 2 Skill Class on Saturday. I also enjoyed the Yoga Retreat with Nicolette (yummy lunch) & plan to enjoy the SUP yoga class on Fridays with Sari. Love the community you are building Mike & crew. Thanks!

I was lucky enough to attend a SUP yoga class at Mikes Paddle this summer and... wow! What an experience! Mike was so nice and made me feel welcome from the minute I arrived. He taught us some fantastic paddle tips (Ive been paddling for a few years, but didnt realize how much there is to learn!) Amy, the yoga teacher, was amazing and the class was out of this world. And dont get me started on the location! Everything about this place it perfect... its almost too good to believe.

I am so thankful to have found Mikes Paddle it has definitely changed my life! Mike is an awesome business owner and human being. He is phenomenal coach knowing when to push you and honor anything you are working with. He will help you try new things and feel comfortable and have fun while doing it! Pricing is more than fair so dont wait come out and join us on the water!! :)

Best Paddleboard Company in the Bay Area! Mike and his staff will treat you right and take care of you. With such a great selection of programs and boards to buy, Mikes Paddle has everything you could need! Not to mention the best paddling spot in town! WOW!! What a great company. Definitely will be back!

Nice shop with great selection and courteous staff!

My son and I just took Intro to SUP with Mike and a group of scouts and parents and everyone had an amazing time! The instruction was terrific. The gear was top notch. The scouts even met all of the requirements to earn a special SUP patch. And now that Ive completed the intro class I can rent by the hour anytime. I will definitely be paddling again soon!

I took the SUP class with a friend this past weekend. I have no experience with paddle boarding and my friend also had no experience. We both had a great time, the instructors were awesome, informative and extremely patient. Especially with both my friend and myself who seemed to lag behind a bit, I was the least coordinated in the group! It was lots of fun, the only thing you need is a positive attitude and sunblock! And you get to see beautiful views of the bay and Pelicans up close! I recommend you try paddling at Mikes Paddle! Ill be back!

Very friendly resource for all things SUP. Great classes, way more in depth and complete than anywhere else Ive been. Way more than just a shop, rental location, or class provider, its a hub of community. Good friendly people sharing their joy of paddle and encouraging others to do so too.

The folks at Mikes are friendly & approachable and their enthusiasm for SUP is infectious. They serve experienced paddlers right alongside brand-new-to-SUP participants--no shame, no privileging, no exclusion. They ensure everyones safety while also tending to the heart and spirit of one of the shop goals--to get folks out on the bay, enjoying nature, and wanting to protect it. Ive taken workshops, classes, and done individual rentals and every experience has been fabulous.

Great location and wonderful customer service. Thank you!

I am a SUP Yoga teacher at Mikes Paddle and Ive also taken many classes with Mike including Intro to SUP and a Moonlight paddle. I highly recommend Mike as a teacher and person - he is just great to be around and I think thats why everyone feels at home at his shop. Mike has also donated SUP Yoga trips to Oakland High School students, bringing youth on the water who would normally not have this opportunity. SUP and SUP Yoga is a great way to get in nature and get a good workout or yoga session. He also has the chops to refine you as a SUPer and offers great SUP trips around the bay and internationally.

Definitely recommend you take up paddling at Mikes.Took an intro course this weekend. Long lesson, with multiple instructors and a manageable group size. Covered everything wed need to know and set us up to work on our own success. Good rates and excellent training!

Mike was an amazing instructor! So fun and also relaxing. Cant wait to go back.

Great staff, equipment, location..............and workout!

Nice staff, well run, fast in & out!

Great gear, great folks. Stand up paddle board as a family (with kids 7+ who are swimmers) is a great workout and so much fun.

Very knowledgeable, helpful and friendly !

Mike is a great instructor. Had a lot of fun in the Intro to SUP class!

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