The Journey Towards Having More FUN Surfing

In this last section in the series on paddling, we investigate the techniques used when knee paddling on a paddleboard.  While this is rarely used in the surfing world, by understanding how the mechanics work and why, we gain further insight into the mechanics of the previous situations we've already covered.  

How many of you have a hard time getting motivated to go work out, when the workout is so monotonous?  We'd so much rather just go surf, or skate, or do anything but work out.  

XSWIM Workouts mix up that monotony of a normal workout.  And just sometimes we need that extra motivation.  

We need that extra motivation to affect change.  And the only way to get your blood pumping with the competitive fire within yourself is to challenge yourself.  Put yourself in uncomfortable situations and do the best you can to overcome that feeling.  

It is only in the defeat of the things you are uncomfortable with do you grow.  Sometimes you overcome it right off the bat.  And sometimes it takes time.  But you can't grow without trying. 

Challenge Equals Change...

On to the last type of craft we're covering in this series on paddling.  Prone paddleboards.  

Prone paddleboards obviously have the highest design advantage, so it is even more critical we use that advantage when we paddle.  There are some subtle techniques used that differ from the other crafts we've covered so take a look...

This is one of the most innovative duck dive workouts I've seen.  After trying it a few times, it's really a lot of fun.  Go ahead, try it out!  

Like I said in the other Longboard post, there are distinct advantages that Longboards have naturally.  But one can hinder those advantages when paddling casually as well as when catching waves.  This video will outline the general guideline for paddling technique when catching a wave or sprinting.  Hope you enjoy!

During one of my Q&A sessions, I used a clip from Mark Healey paddling to point out some paddling techniques he uses and why or why not we might want to avoid those techniques.  

Longboards have a paddling advantage built in.  But there is still an efficient way to harness that advantage.  This video explains the general guidelines to paddling a longboard.  

Catching a Wave has slightly different paddling techniques than when you're paddling out to the lineup.  This videos breaks down those differences...

A lot of people ask me what type of stroke they should use when paddling on a surfboard.

I tell them there are two, not one, that we all use.  I suppose I should say, there are two that we all should use.

And the two surfing paddling stroke patterns we should use should also be used in certain scenarios.  This video outlines those two stroke patterns and when they should be used when you're out surfing...

Shortboards, longboards, and paddleboards are the three types of craft I’ve outlined and the two scenarios we have tried to define are paddling out (or cruising speed), and catching a wave (sprint speed), and for a paddleboard, prone versus knee paddling.

I’m going to feature each one of these scenarios in 6 different videos and at the end, I’ll provide a link so you can download this summary.

You can use this as a reference. Keep in mind this should only be used as a guide – general guidelines. In the Surfing Paddling Academy class (www.surfingpaddling.com), we focus on learning not only what the technique is and how you can do it also, but why it works, why it gets results. Again, if we know why something works, then we can adapt to any given scenario. Different boards, different surf spots, different conditions. We’ll have it covered.