How To Improve your Stand Up Paddleboard Technique | SUPBoardguide.com

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One of the more common questions that we receive from beginners and advanced paddlers alike is: 'How do I go faster on my paddleboard?'. Whether you're training for a race, paddling for fitness, or just want to keep up with your friends, there's loads of reasons to improve your stroke.

In this video, we'll break down some sure fire ways to improve your stroke and get you moving fast and more efficiently on your board. Bill, valued SUPBoardGuide contributor and SUP veteran, has spent the last 15 years as a paddling coach, with students ranging from first timers to fierce SUP racers. He notes that while there's no one, true, right way to paddle, all paddlers can improve their stroke by working on their catch.

So, what makes a great catch, and how do you improve yours?

The first thing to understand is how exactly your paddle works for you. It's a common misconception that you place the blade of your paddle in the water, and pull it back through to propel yourself forward. In actuality, when the paddle is working properly the blade is actually not moving at all. It's gripping the water as you pull the board up to meet it. It's as if you were standing on a skateboard and using a stationary fencepost to sling yourself forward.

To improve your catch, and increase the grip of your blade, you'll want to fully submerge the blade of your paddle up by the nose of the board, as instantly as possible, while creating very little splash. Think of it like you're spearing a fish right next to your SUP.

A great drill to practice this is to take each stroke one at a time, spaced out by a few seconds, so that you have time to just focus on getting a clean catch each time. Bill calls this method 'unchaining the stroke', and explains that it's a fantastic way to gain an understanding of what a great catch feels like. In doing this, you'll also be training your body to implant a great catch into your muscle memory.

One important note from Bill: In the video footage of the catch drill, you'll see that he is looking down during the catch. This is a vital part of the drill, because you need to see what is happening. However, this is different to normal paddling, when your head should be up, or at least focusing on a point ahead of the board. This improves balance and allows the chest to be more open for easier breathing. So, once you have got to grips with this unchaining the stroke drill, then try doing it without looking down, and just concentrating on the feel and sound of the catch. Maybe just look down every few strokes, to check your progress.

This drill is JUST about the catch. Don't worry about applying power to the paddle, just let it follow through, as is happening in the video. Likewise, don't worry about the fact that the paddle is coming back past the body at the end of each stroke (although simply keeping it by your feet is fine, if you are really worried about developing bad habits.) The important thing is simply not to let the paddle drift forward while you are pulling yourself fully upright. The benefits of using this training technique to develop an excellent catch vastly outweigh any slight risk of developing any minor bad habits, which are soon corrected anyway.

For a more detailed explanation and demonstration, stay with us through Bill's instructional video, and don't hesitate to reach out with any questions in the comments below.

0:00 How to Improve your Paddle Technique
1:49 How to Improve Your Paddle Stroke
9:19 Exercises to Improve Your Catch
18:16 Conclusion

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