How to paddle on a surfboard for beginners: 9 quick steps for success​

Surfing for beginners' guide

Lesson 15

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Introduction

Wondering how to paddle on a surfboard as a beginner? Here’s a quick guide: Enter your hand into the water. Keep your hand relaxed and straight, with a slight gap between your fingers. Keep your arm bent in a 45-degree angle. Then focus on deep, smooth paddle strokes and maximize each movement by extending the stroke. Maintain a bent elbow throughout your paddle stroke.

A proper paddling technique minimizes drag and maximizes propulsion which is the power that drives your surfboard forward through the water. With these basics, you’ll catch more waves and stay ahead of the surf. 

Now, let’s get into the details of each of these steps of how to paddle on a surfboard!

Learning how to paddle on a surfboard effectively helps you minimize drag and maximize propulsion

Minimizing drag - what is drag?

When you’re out on the water, drag is the resistance encountered as your surfboard moves through the waves. It’s like the invisible hand that tries to slow you down. Think of it as the force pushing against your forward motion. And when it comes to paddling on a surfboard, minimizing drag is key. How you paddle directly affects drag. Smooth, efficient strokes help reduce the resistance you face, allowing you to glide through the water with less effort. Proper body positioning and technique play a big role here. By staying streamlined and focused, you can cut through the waves with minimal resistance, making paddling easier and more effective. Learn how to paddle on a surfboard correctly to minimize drag.

Maximizing propulsion - what is propulsion?

Propulsion is the power that drives your surfboard forward through the water. It’s what gives you that satisfying surge of speed as you catch a wave. When you paddle, you’re essentially propelling yourself forward, using the force generated by your strokes to move through the water. How you paddle directly affects propulsion. By using strong, efficient strokes, you can maximize the power you generate and propel yourself forward with greater speed and efficiency. Learn how to paddle on a surfboard correctly to maximize propulsion.

How to paddle on a surfboard: 9 quick steps

Position yourself correctly on the surfboard

1. Stay centered on the surfboard

The process of “how to paddle on a surfboard” starts with staying centered on the surfboard (both vertically and horizontally) to minimize drag and maintain balance. For more detailed insights into how to position yourself on a surfboard, check out my article on the topic here.

Enter your hand into the water

2. Relax your hand

Keep your hand relaxed and slightly loose, yet straight, with a slight gap between your fingers.

3. Reach forward

Reach your hand forward. Stretch it in front of your shoulder to enable a complete pulling motion.

4. Bend your arm

Keep your arm bent in a 45-degree angle. Hold your elbow higher than your hand and forearm, as if you’re digging for a beach ball. Picture a beach ball beneath your arm. Reach over and in front of it, using your entire arm to pull it backward.

5. Enter your fingertips first

Now you’re ready to enter your hand into the water. When entering your hand into the water, start by sliding your fingertips into the water first. 

6. Extend your arm underwater

Continue to enter your hand into the water until your arm is also in the water. Extend your arm underwater. Keep your forearm and hand in a vertically straight line, elbow still slightly bent.

Perform an effective paddle stroke

7. Keep your body straight

Keep your body straight to maintain balance and stability on the surfboard. Avoid any side-to-side movement and wobbling during paddling.

8. Perform a smooth and deep stroke

Now perform the paddle stroke. Continue to keep your hand and forearm vertically aligned throughout the stroke to pull water backwards effectively. Focus on smooth, deep paddle strokes rather than fast paddle strokes that slap the water and splash. Maximize each movement by extending the stroke. Maintain a bent elbow throughout your paddle stroke.

9. Pull your arm out of the water

Continue the paddle stroke until your hand reaches your hip, then lift your arm out smoothly for the next stroke. Keep your elbow higher than your hand and forearm as you raise your arm out of the water.

Repeat the steps with your other arm and continue to alternate arms

Repeat the above steps with your other arm and continue to alternate arms. Use one hand over the next as you’re paddling. Now, you should know how to paddle on a surfboard effectively! If you also want to see video instructions, I recommend this video from Degree33 Surfboards.

How to paddle on a surfboard

Lesson quiz: test your knowledge

1. 
What is drag in surfing?

2. 
How should you position your hand when entering it into the water for paddling?

3. 
During paddling, what should you focus on to maximize propulsion?

Comments

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