SUP Short Paddle Stroke
Book Extract
The short paddle stroke is the result of a combination of your stance, body position on the board and inertia of your paddle – together this drives and helps steer the board in one smooth movement. Like many things it takes time to perfect.
To start, set your feet either side of the handle on your SUP a shoulder-width apart – keep your feet parallel and position them to trim your board so it sits flat on the water. Keep your head and eyes on the horizon, shoulders over the middle of your feet, soft knees and keep your torso upright.
Your paddle should have been adjusted on land so it’s roughly 6 inches (15cm) taller than you.
To start the stroke, place your hands on the paddle, shoulder-width apart, with your top arm gripping the handle with an overhand grip and with your blade hand gripping the shaft of the paddle tightly.
Keep your arms fairly straight and rotate slightly from the hips when you paddle. Now reach forward with the paddle and place the paddle parallel to the rail on one side of the board (Catch).
Place the tip of the paddle in the water and bend your knees: compress so the paddle is in the water up to its neck. Then, in one smooth movement, pull the water towards your body (Pull). Push with your top hand to drive the paddle. Try to keep the paddle vertical so it keeps the board moving in a straight line.
When used correctly, the paddle acts like a counter balance throughout the stroke and, while you are paddling, it provides extra stability like a third leg.
To release the paddle from the water, drop the top hand across the board (from 12 to 3 o’clock) while holding the paddle, the blade should exit the water in front of your feet. Once the paddle exits the water, swap hands – the top hand to bottom hand and start paddling on the opposite side.
Key points to remember:
- 3 strokes either side
- Keep the stroke short
- Keep your eyes on the horizon
- Try to keep the paddle vertical
- Exit the paddle from water in front of feet
© Not to be reproduced without written permission from Fernhurst Books Limited.
Stand Up Paddleboarding: A Beginner’s Guide is written by Simon Bassett. Simon started stand up paddleboarding in 2006 when there were less than 10 paddleboarders in the UK. In 2007 he set up the British Stand Up Paddle Association (BSUPA), starting to develop the BSUPA teaching scheme and national SUP contests the following year.