Lesson Library

Beginners often look at paddling and assume the most important aspect is your shoulder and back strength. While this can be a factor in at certain moments of surfing, it’s hardly the difference maker and it’s the reason why children and dainty little surfer ladies can still be excellent and fast paddlers. Yes, your stroke is a physical task, but perhaps more so a mental one. Like the steps you take on the way to a mountain peak, you must be willing to do one more forever. Endurance, and the ability to hold good form are more important characteristics than strength. Think of your strokes as the breath of your surfing. You can do it laboriously and controlled by whatever state-of-mind you’re in, or calmly, long, slow and drawn out, with intention on maintaining a consistent and balanced rhythm.

The second element to having a great paddling technique is your form, as in, how you lay in good position. Legs spread, or head down low are two frequent flaws seen in poor form. However, when you pair an engaged and well postured form with good position on your board, you’re well on your way to becoming an excellent paddler that costs you little effort.

In the first video of this series, we’re discussing the most important element of good paddling technique–your board position. Even with the most supreme body form and powerful strokes, your “glide” factor and efficiency of energy will be greatly reduced if not eliminated. On the contrary, when you have good board position, powerful strokes becomes much less important and your ability to glide across the water with minimal effort will be more readily discovered.