Our Instructors

Chris Randles

  • PaddleFit CORE coach

  • Adult & Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED certified

  • B.A. American Indian Studies (UW - Eau Claire)

  • La Crosse Paddling Club Board Member

Growing up by a lake in Central Wisconsin, I’ve always had a passion for being around or in the water. I enlisted in the U.S. Navy right out of high school and continued to be on the water for the next 13 years.  In 2008, while on deployment, I came across stand up paddle boarding.  I bought my first board in 2011 with the encouragement of my future wife , who had some friends looking to thin out their quiver. After leaving the military, we moved to the Kansas City in 2012 where we received a lot of weird looks for having “surf boards” on the top of our vehicle. This is where the seed was planted to educate people about stand up paddle boarding.  In 2014, we moved to Holmen, WI, where I met Matt and Darin and continued to find new adventures with SUP.  The summer of 2016 really opened my eyes to what can be done on a SUP. According to local guides at Mr. Duck’s on the Kickapoo River, I was the first person they had seen on a SUP going down the river.  While it was not the most graceful display of river SUP, due to using a flatwater hard board on a low rocky river, it pushed me to educate myself on the proper gear and techniques to use on rivers.  Since then, I have continued to share my stoke for SUP and explore the waterways of the Driftless region as well as working toward various SUP certifications.

Matthew Isbell

  • B.S. Exercise and Sport Science (UW-La Crosse)

  • PaddleFit CORE Coach

  • Adult & Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED certified

  • ACA L2 Essentials of SUP Instructor (former)

  • ACA Adaptive Paddler Endorsed (former)

I paddled canoe with family and friends growing up (had a blast every time) but never really got the “paddle bug.” Tried SUP a couple times during Summer 2011 and loved it, but still no bug. That all changed in 2014. Darin called me up wanting to rent some kayaks. We went out and paddled around on the Mississippi backwaters. I was hooked. Immediately bought a 14’ touring kayak and gear. We became weekend paddlers. Chris started joining us and was on SUP. Each time we all paddled together I was more and more drawn to SUP. In 2016 my family and I moved from Wisconsin to NW Arkansas. Immediately bought a couple inflatable boards and started paddling around Beaver Lake. Decided to take a lesson to expedite the learning curve which worked out great so took a couple more lessons. Became friends with the instructor and started paddling more often (especially at the local kayak park). When I’m paddling SUP the worries and stress drift away. It’s my happy place.

Darin Topel

  • PaddleFit CORE Coach

  • Adult & Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED certified

The great outdoors have always called to me. I grew up next to the Mississippi River and later by the Atlantic Ocean. I joined the Navy and became a West Coast based rescue swimmer. You could say I’m right at home on/around water. I love to paddle canoe, kayak, and SUP (the latter being my current favorite). I love everything about SUP and want to help others explore this awesome water activity so I became an instructor.