SUP paddle tips for better straight paddling

Tips for better straight paddling

The best carbon paddle and the highest quality boards are only half the fun if you don’t master the technique and can’t manage to paddle straight ahead with your SUP….
We think good equipment and accessories are a cornerstone to have fun on the water in the long run. However, it is at least as important to master the right paddling technique.

Because with the right technique it is not only easier and more fun to glide away, but we also protect our body. Especially the shoulder and elbow joints can hurt if they are loaded incorrectly and can spoil our fun on the water.
That’s why we’ve brought you a few technique tips for paddling straight today:

  • Make sure you are standing properly on the board. Depending on the load, approximately in the middle of the board, which is usually at the height of the carrying handle. You should have about a hip-width stance. Increase the stance if you have a tippy feeling or want to put more pressure on the outside edges of the board.
  • Grip the paddle far enough apart with your hands. This corresponds to about an arm’s length. Your arms should now form an isosceles triangle with the paddle. When changing sides of the paddle, make sure that you grab the paddle in the same place as your lower hand. In any case, when reaching around the sides, the distance between your hands should not decrease.
An arm's length distance between the hands.
  • Fully immerse the paddle blade. This is one of the most common mistakes. Make sure that the blade is completely submerged and no surface of the paddle blade is sticking out of the water.
  • Now pull the paddle as close as possible to the board rail, parallel to your body. Imagine you are tracing the outside of the board with the paddle. Of course you should not touch the side wall (rail), but the closer you are to the board, the better.
  • The paddle stroke in stand up paddling should be in front of the body as much as possible. Where you are standing, pull the paddle blade out of the water again. This is only a guideline. The faster you want to go, or conditions such as head current or head wind, you can save valuable power with this technique by taking the paddle out of the water at body level.

·      Of course, The shape of the Board also influences the straight line when paddling. A round allrounder shape is more flexible when changing direction, as is necessary when surfing with a wing or sail. Therefore the straight running is rather limited. We recommend a touring board with a very straight outer line and a board tip for a clean straight run. The length of the board can also be crucial. Choose a board here that is about twice as long as you are tall.

At the level of the feet take the paddle out of the water again.
Allrounder vs. Touring Shape

Extra Tip:

The bigger the fin, the better the board’s straight-line stability.

We definitely recommend a technique course at a SUP school you trust.

SUP paddle tips for better straight paddling

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