How to Paddle on a Surfboard for Beginner Surfers

As a surf coach and owner of Breakthrough Surf School, I’ve seen countless beginners struggle with the paddling technique. As they say, surfing is 90% paddling and 10% standing up on the surfboard, so, proper paddling is the foundation of surfing, and mastering it can make all the difference in your surfing progression. In this guide, we’ll explore essential tips and techniques to help you improve your paddling on a surfboard.

The Importance of Proper Paddling when Surfing

Efficient paddling is crucial for catching more waves, conserving energy, and maintaining control in the water. A good paddling technique will help you:

1. Catch more waves
2. Reduce fatigue
3. Improve your overall surfing experience

Positioning on the Surfboard

Before we dive into paddling techniques, let’s start with the correct positioning on your surfboard.

1. Find Your Sweet Spot on the Surfboard

Lie as far forward on the board as possible without causing the nose of the surfboard to dip underwater. This optimal position allows for efficient paddling and makes it easier to catch more waves. When you’re in the right spot, the nose of your board should be slightly above water level while paddling.

2. Chest Up, Look Forward

Arch your back: Keep your chest slightly lifted and look ahead. This helps with balance and ensures you’re aware of your surroundings, including incoming waves and other surfers, and it will also help you prepare for quick transition to standing up on your board.

3. Keep your Feet Together

Position your feet together on the board. This distributes your weight evenly, keeping the board stable and reducing drag. Avoid letting your feet drag in the water, as it slows you down and disrupts your flow.

The Perfect Paddle Stroke Technique

Now that you’re positioned correctly, let’s focus on the paddle stroke itself.

1. One Arm at a Time: Paddle with one arm at a time in a rhythm that keeps the surfboard gliding smoothly on the water. This technique maintains a constant speed and flow, which is crucial for efficient paddling. Paddling with both arms simultaneously causes the surfboard to bounce, making it lose speed and flow. It also creates an inconsistent paddling speed, which is detrimental to your overall performance.
2. Relaxed, controlled paddle strokes: Contrary to swimming techniques, where full arm extension and overextension are encouraged due to body rotation in the water, surfboard paddling requires a different approach. When paddling on a surfboard, keep your arms relaxed as you bring them forward. This is because your body isn’t in direct contact with the water; instead, it’s the surfboard that needs to glide smoothly. Relaxed, controlled strokes help maintain a smooth glide and reduce board bouncing, allowing for better flow and less resistance in the water. This technique minimizes unnecessary movement and helps keep your surfboard stable and efficient as it moves through the water. So, in sum, do not overextend your arms when paddling on a surfboard as it will make the surfboard bounce causing it to lose speed and flow.
3. Dive your arm to the elbow: Maximize your paddle power by engaging more than just your hands. As you stroke, submerge your arm up to your elbow in the water. This technique significantly increases the surface area pushing against the water, resulting in more powerful and efficient paddling. By using a larger portion of your arm, you’ll generate greater propulsion with each stroke, helping you move through the water more effectively and catch waves with less effort.
4. Scoop your arm slightly under the surfboard: To maximize your paddle power and efficiency, incorporate a slight scooping motion with your arm under the surfboard during each stroke, as this increases water engagement for greater propulsion, utilizes the board’s curved underside for added power, and promotes a smoother, more fluid stroke to reduce energy waste.
5. Clean release: As your arm reaches its extension behind you, release it cleanly from the water. Avoid pulling past your natural range to maintain your rhythm and conserve energy and also to avoid making the surfboard bounce causing it to lose speed and flow.
6. Keep the board flat: Your surfboard should lie flat in the water with the nose slightly out.
7. Feel the resistance: If you’re paddling correctly, you should feel resistance on your hand and forearm underwater.

View our video “How to Paddle on a Surfboard for Beginner Surfers”

Maintain a Compact Body Position

Keeping your body loose while paddling can cause the surfboard to bounce, so, keep your body compact to prevent the board from bouncing, which decreases flow and glide on the water. A stable, streamlined position reduces drag and improves overall efficiency. If you keep your body loose it will make the board bounce more.

Practice Drills

1. The Fist Drill: Paddle with your hands in fists to focus on pulling water with your forearm.
2. Balance Check: Lift both hands out of the water before paddling to ensure you’re centered on the board.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Splashing water: Aim for a smooth, quiet entry with your fingertips.
2. Cupping your hands: Keep your hands straight and relaxed underwater.
3. Paddling too wide: Keep your arms close to the surfboard’s rails.
4. Resting your head on the board: Always keep your head up, pretending there’s a football ball under your chin.

How to Save Energy When Paddling on a Surfboard

1. Identify and use rip currents: These can help you paddle out past the breakers with less effort.
2. Walk out as far as possible: Before starting to paddle, walk your board out into the ocean as far as you can.
3. Maintain a steady rhythm: Avoid sprint-paddling (unless you are in the last phase of trying to catch a wave), which can quickly burn you out.

Conclusion

Mastering the art of paddling is essential for any surfer, from beginners to advanced riders. By focusing on proper positioning, efficient stroke technique, and energy conservation, you’ll be able to catch more waves and enjoy longer surf sessions. Remember, practice makes perfect, so get out there and start paddling!

At Breakthrough Surf School in Costa da Caparica, we’re dedicated to helping you improve your surfing skills, including the paddling technique. Join us for a surf lesson, and we’ll work together to refine your paddling and overall surfing abilities.

Also, During our 5-day surf camp in Costa da Caparica we will be teaching you this and many other skills, so don’t miss the chance and book your spot now!

See you at the beach!