Disclosure of Risk

SUP Guides Ltd has legal & regulatory obligations to provide a duty-of-care to all that participate in any of our outdoor activities. As you would expect we take all reasonable steps to provide the level of care & assurances of safety that are appropriate to each of the activities. You should though be aware that there will always be certain risks that are inherent to outdoor activities. It is not possible to eliminate these risks without destroying the character & experience of each activity.

Accidents can happen without any contributory negligence from the staff. The company can accept no responsibility for loss or damage to personal property or for personal injury not arising as a result of its own act or default. 

The company can accept no responsibility for loss or damage to personal property or for personal injury not arising as a result of its own act or default. 

● Participants are strongly advised to arrange their own insurance cover. The company is unable to offer any form of insurance cover (other than public liability).

The level of real, as opposed to perceived risk associated with the activities is very low. However, the types of risk may be something with which you are not ordinarily familiar. For avoidance of uncertainty, environments & situations that you may encounter include:

● Rough / rugged terrain: this may cause you to experience greater than usual strain on joints & muscles

● Physical effort: our activities may involve you in a greater level of exertion than in your usual day-to-day environment.

● Height & water: whilst appropriate safety precautions are taken, some people can find situations at height or on water to be stressful.

● Machinery: the addition of machinery, such as Vehicles and trailers, in combination with the environment used for the activities, plus human error, does present additional opportunity for accidents. 

● Natural environment: most likely to be a rapid & significant change in the weather/sea state, or unstable/slippery conditions underfoot, but can also include rock falls, lightning etc.

● Slips & trips: the most common cause of accident throughout society, the opportunity for slips, trips & falls is likely to be greater than that which you usually experience.

● Loss or damage: the environments and activities that you choose to experience may increase the potential for loss of or damage to your personal clothing or equipment. 

● Stand Up Paddleboarding, Coasteering and Canoeing/Kayaking are potentially dangerous activities.

As well as SUP Guides part in ensuring as safe an environment as possible for each activity, participants also have a responsibility for safety. Your responsibilities are as follows: 

● Medical: please make us aware of medical condition(s) or injuries, past or present. We can then agree with you whether or not you should participate. This can be done through our booking form. 

● Disabilities: Disabled persons are welcome to participate in courses. Please send details of your specific needs to the company at the time of booking.

● Fears & phobias: before commencing any activity, please ensure that we are aware if you have any major concerns, fears or phobias about the situation(s) in which you are choosing to place yourself. We will work with you to help ease your feelings of discomfort/apprehension/fear, & ensure that you are as comfortable as possible.

● Drugs & alcohol: it is potentially highly dangerous to participate in any activity whilst under the influence of drugs or alcohol. SUP Guides reserves the right to prevent any person participating in any activity, should we suspect that they may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 

● Instruction: you must accept & act upon all direction & instruction from our instructors. 

● Water Activities: All participants must be water confident and able to get themselves to the side aided by a buoyancy aid.

● Spectacles: may be worn at the discretion of the Course Director. It is recommended that spectacles are impact resistant with plastic lenses and frames. The wearer must accept that injury may still occur if any form of spectacles are worn and accept full responsibility for any such injury

● Contact lenses: may be worn by participants at their own risk.

SUP Guides Ltd may require any participant to leave the course if that person acts in any such manner as to endanger him/herself or any other participant. The Course Director may require any participant to leave the course if that person is not of a suitable standard to be on that particular course.

EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING

● Participants on Coaching Courses must provide some of their own equipment and clothing; all equipment must be suitable for the conditions of the day and activity booked onto and will be checked by the Course Director.

● Equipment may be available from SUP Guides Ltd. Some course may include the use of this equipment whereas others may require a hire fee. 

● Damage or loss to centre equipment caused by negligence, malicious acts or carelessness must be paid for at the time at current replacement value.