PADDLING

Ah, paddling...

A skill that next to no one focuses on, yet a skill nonetheless that has a HUGE impact on your surfing in an indirect kind of way.

I know, I know, you didn't come to us to learn how to paddle, you came to learn how to surf better, right?

Well, here's the truth.

Being a really good paddler - and knowing how to do it the right way - can impact your surfing more ways than you can probably think.

And that's why we're going to be covering it in detail so that you too can reap the rewards of being able to paddle like a pro!

WHY IS PADDLING IMPORTANT

I know, I built it up quite a bit above , but I stand by it, and you'll see why below.

Being a great paddler will:

Help you to catch more waves more often: The more waves you catch, the more opportunities you have to improve.
Put you in the right place at the right time: A good paddler will be able to position themselves more effectively, more often.
Be able to compete: As a good paddler you'll be able to compete for waves rather than just sitting on the sidelines as a casual observer.
Get onto waves earlier: Being on the wave early will help you to avoid late take-offs, increasing your average make rate in the process.
Help you to conserve energy: A good paddler will minimise drag and friction, preserving more strength and energy to be able to surf for longer.
Get out the back quicker and avoid getting smashed: Being a strong paddler will help to minimise your time in the impact zone, conserving energy, and your dignity, lol.

80/20 PADDLE VS SURF

It's incredible how much time you actually spend paddling each time you surf.

Oftentimes you'll spend the majority of your surf paddling (80%), and only a small amount of your time actually surfing (20%).

So, without banging on about it too much it's safe to say that becoming a strong paddler is damn important!

THE FUNDAMENTALS OF PADDLING - THE RIGHT WAY

There are two key things that make up a strong paddler:

1. MAXIMUM PROPULSION

2. MIMIMUM RESISTANCE

It's not rocket science.

The aim is simply to maximise the amount of propulsion generated with each paddle, whilst minimising resistance at the same time.

Easy in theory, difficult in practice.

WRAPPING IT UP

Alright, so you should now have a good idea as to why paddling is just so damn important.

We just touched the surface here, but over the next few lessons we'll be going deep into paddle technique, the how to's, the common mistakes and the things to avoid.

Catch you in the next lesson.

IT’S MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOU THINK…

YOU MUST BE LOGGED IN TO ACCESS THIS COURSE

BEGINNER

THE START OF SOMETHING NEW...

GOTTA HAVE POP!

SPEED

TURNING

THE SUBTLE ART OF NEGOTIATING WAVES

PADDLING

BOARD DISMOUNT

BOARD MANAGEMENT

CATCHING WHITEWATER WAVES

NEXT STEPS...