Where is the perfect paddling position for you on the board?
How to paddle efficiently
- Arch your back. The best posture for paddling is with your back arched and your head up, looking forward, as opposed to lying flat.
- Keep your legs in the air and intertwined on the stringer (above the middle line of the board).
- Keep your elbows high above the water when bringing them forward.
How can I improve my paddling?
TECHNIQUE
- Check to make sure you are in your ‘sweet spot’ before you start paddling out!
- Keeping your head up helps you paddle faster!
- Big or small, stretching helps everyone before you head out into the water!
- Strength and cardio training will also help your paddling speed!
Do you kick while paddling for a wave?
Don’t paddle; simply kick your feet. If you do it correctly, coordinating feet with your head (still), elbows (high), shoulders, and arms/hands, you’ll get that extra speed you need.
Why can’t I pop up on a shortboard?
The main reason is because your feet do not touch the tail of the surfboard when you are lying down on your chest and paddling into a wave. Therefore, you must bring your back foot up onto the surfboard’s tail, using the “chicken wing” technique.
How do you surf paddle effectively?
The best way to keep your energy and to surf for many hours is to paddle one arm at a time, keeping a good rhythm. Don’t paddle wide. You should bend your arms when paddling. Your arms should be close to the surfboard’s rails, not going wide on each side.
How fast do you have to paddle to catch a wave?
Waves coming in to shore from the open ocean have speeds that can vary from 8 to 10 miles per hour for smaller waves to up to 35 miles per hour for a tow-in-sized wave. In order to catch the wave, you must paddle in front of it with sufficient speed that the wave does not pass right under you.