Beginer's Guide To Surfing Step 2 - The Art Of Paddling

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Beginer's Guide To Surfing Step 2 - The Art Of Paddling

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The art of paddling

By now you should have chosen a board that suited the outline of the first article, big and stable.

You want a larger board because it will not sink down and create resistance or drag in the water.

Whether your surfboard is big or small, you now have to get a feel for it, before tackling the moving waters of the surf.

Getting practice in a calm section of water, like a sheltered bay will help you get your position right on your board, so when you head out through the surf you don't have to shift your weight around so much, because your comfortable with your position before hand.

When you feel your comfortable to head out in the smaller swells. Walk your surfboard out to about knee to waist height. Then lie on the surfboard so your weight is central, keep your chest just above the middle, then when your ready, and the board feels stable, level out your surfboard by leaning forward and start paddling.

Do not lay to far back on the board, because the tail will drag in the water and slow you down.

As you reach choppier water, you can lean back a bit and lift up the nose some more, keep your chest up so you don't get swamped, you don't want the nose going under the little waves or swells, because it will slow you down.

Paddle with cupped hands, and deep strokes for maximum speed. The more resistance you feel the faster you will go, however you will also use more energy.

Your deep strokes may use more energy in the short term, but by getting out quicker, and dealing with less waves, you will end up using much less overall, and still have energy to catch a wave.

By now you should have a feel for your board, so your ready to head out through the breakers, check out the next lesson on Duckdiving and rolling your board.
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