How to Paddle a Surfboard like a Pro
Paddling effectively is a crucial skill for surfing. Mastering it not only saves your energy but also helps you catch waves more efficiently. Here’s a guide to help you paddle correctly:
1. Chest Up and Look Forward
Keep your chest slightly lifted and look ahead. This helps with balance and ensures you’re aware of where you’re heading.
2. Feet Together
Position your feet together on the board. This distributes your weight evenly, keeping the board stable. Avoid letting your feet drag in the water, as it slows you down.
3. Optimal Positioning on the Board
Lie as far forward on the board as possible without causing the nose to dip (pearling). This is the optimal position for catching waves, and also paddling out to the line up when you need to pass through whitewater.
When you are lying on the board in the optimal position, and not paddling, the nose will go under the water. If the nose of the board is above the water, you are lying too far back and will find it much harder to catch waves and navigate through breaking waves. Paddling the board will raise the nose out of the water. Raising your head by arching your back, and paddling the board are the 2 things you must control to ensure the board does not pearl.
Take a look at this video, which is a helpful guide to find right position to be on the surfboard, and demonstrates hydronamic lift. In most cases where the board pearls it is because the surfer was not paddling fast enough, and/or moved their weight forward at the wrong time.
4. Perfect Your Stroke Technique
Start your stroke by letting your fingertips enter the water before your hand. This helps reduce splashing, ensuring smoother, more efficient strokes that conserve energy and minimize drag.
Keep Your Elbows High
Maintain high elbows throughout your paddle stroke. This technique maximizes your reach, enabling you to catch more water with each stroke. With your elbows elevated, extend your arms fully and ensure the stroke drives deep under the board. This optimizes power and forward momentum.
Efficient Release
As your arm reaches its maximum extension behind you, release it cleanly from the water. Avoid pulling past your natural range, which could waste energy and disrupt your rhythm. A clean release ensures a fluid transition to your next stroke.
Why High Elbows Matter
Keeping your elbows high provides a physiological advantage by engaging larger muscle groups on your lower back, reducing strain on smaller muscles such as the shoulders. This not only improves paddling efficiency but also helps you sustain effort for longer periods, giving you an edge in catching waves.
5. Feel the Water
Engage with the water in each stroke. This tactile feedback can help you adjust your paddling to be more powerful and effective. Focus on the resistance and flow of the water as you pull. The more connected you are to the water, the smoother and more efficient your paddling will become.
6. Save Your Energy
Avoid exhausting yourself by paddling hard all the time. Use slow, controlled strokes when possible, such as when current is moving in your direction, and conserve your energy for moments that require intense effort, like catching waves, paddling against currents or paddling back out.
7. Master Your Breathing
Efficient breathing is essential for conserving energy while paddling. Focus on taking slow, deep breaths rather than shallow, rapid ones, which can tire you out quickly. Synchronize your breathing with your strokes—inhale during a long glide or smooth stroke and exhale fully before initiating the next. If you’re paddling hard, like when catching a wave, prepare by taking a few controlled breaths beforehand to oxygenate your body. Remember to stay calm, especially in challenging conditions, as this helps regulate your breathing and keeps you focused.
8. Avoid Common Mistakes
Learning to paddle efficiently also means understanding what not to do. Here are some common mistakes to watch out for and how to fix them:
Paddling too far back on the board causes the nose to lift, creating drag and slowing you down. Adjust your position so the board lies flat on the water, with the nose just above the surface when you are paddling.
Letting your feet dangle or drag creates resistance and destabilizes the board. Keep your legs together and your feet lifted slightly off the tail of the board.
Over-reaching with strokes can lead to inefficient paddling and shoulder strain. Focus on smooth, controlled strokes with proper hand entry and elbow alignment.
Taking short, rapid strokes wastes energy and creates turbulence. Aim for longer, deeper strokes to maximize efficiency and propulsion.
Paddling isn’t just about your arms. Failing to engage your core can make you unstable and inefficient. Keep your body balanced, and use your core to stabilize yourself on the board.
Forgetting to control your breathing can lead to exhaustion, especially during long paddle-outs. Take calm, deep breaths and exhale fully to maintain a steady rhythm.
Paddling without paying attention to the incoming sets can result in being caught off guard or expending unnecessary energy. Always keep an eye on the waves and adjust your paddling pace accordingly.
By incorporating these tips into your routine, you’ll paddle with greater efficiency and confidence. Remember, practice is key—get out there and refine your technique!
If you’re a beginner or intermediate surfer, and you’re looking to take your skills to the next level, we invite you to join our surf school at Uluwatu’s top surf camp where we will teach you how to stand on the board correctly, and how to steer and turn the surfboard.
If you are an advanced surfer then we offer barrel riding coaching and other skills such as pumping the board for to make fast sections of the wave.