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Stand up Paddle Board 101
"Picking a SUP" Ask yourself how you are going to use it. Flatwater (Harbors, Lakes etc. ), Rough water ( Open Ocean, Windy conditions), Ride waves or Workout? What is the distance you desire to paddle? Will you carry gear or a dog? Will you fish? What is your skill level in the way you want to use it? Here are some basic principles to making a SUP choice. Length: The longer the length the more glide and less resistance to move it forward. Shorter length will be more maneuverable but not paddle as well in a straight line. The wider it is the more stable it will be. Narrower shapes are faster but the stability factor is reduced. Rocker (the banana shape from nose to tail): nose & tail shape and width, as well as the rail shapes come in play as well. For example, a reduced entry rocker and wide nose provide glide and allow for easy and early wave entry and increased stability. Thickness of a board can increase or decrease its volume or ability to float your weight. These are all factors that a competent shaper has to consider for each intended purpose. Surftech's Randy French Universal series make the decision easy. Randy designed these to accommodate all of the many facets of SUP well. I tell people they were specifically designed to not be specific in any one use but to do it all well. These are the best choice for anyone venturing into this great new sport and wanting to experience it all with confidence. Sport Chalet carries the 10'6 x 32" for those under 200 lbs or those wanting a little more maneuverable board or the 11'6 x 32" for those over 200 lbs. or anyone wanting a board that will be a little easier if paddling distance. For the person wanting the next step up in a SUP for cruising and surfing should check out the 11'6 Robert August "WIP" or as this famous shaper calls it the " What I Paddle" because this is the shape he rides. It is built in tuflite to be lighter and more responsive but it will still handle up to 240 lbs and will allow you to surf your favorite long board wave in style and grace.
Where to start: Start your paddling experience in calm flat water of a harbor, protected bay or lake. This makes practicing paddle skills and balance a lot easier. You will develop better skills to prepare you for rougher conditions quicker this way as well. Always wear a leash (even if not surfing) because the wind can keep a board moving faster than some of us swim if you were to fall. A PFD (aka life vest) is also recommended and may be a requirement in your area. ) Don't start in the surf even if you have surfed all your life. As I said before..practice in flat calm water with no wind and enjoy!
Tips to standing on your SUP: Get your stance and balance figured out here, away from any docks or anything that you could fall on. Always lean forward if you are unstable as falling forward is far better than backward. Start on your knees with hands remaining in contact with the board while putting your feet on the board with toes facing forward in a ski stance (Not a surf stance). Place them on opposite sides of the center handle as this is the most neutral position on the board. Keep knees bent with a slight forward upper body cantor. Relax! Don't balance with your upper body. Let your legs be the shock absorbers to bend and allow the board to move, after all you are on water! Here is a good tip: Pretend you are a marionette doll and your head and upper body are hanging on a string from above and when the board moves your legs bend at the knees but your upper body just floats and stays perpendicular over the centerline of the board.
Tips on Paddling For learning and all-around paddling make sure your paddle length is within 1-2 " of your wrist when you stand on flat ground and raise your arm up straight above your head. Longer lengths of this range are good for distance or casual paddling and the shorter lengths of this range are good for surfing or if you have shoulder pains or issues. The blade should be angled forward. Your grip should be with one hand on top of the T-Grip. The other should be the distance from one elbow to the other if you raise your arms parallel to the ground. Keep your Arms almost straight with little to no bend at the elbow. You should be forming a V with a hand at each end of the V and your chest being the common or center point of the V. Try to get the top hand to right over in vertical alignment over the lower hand ( this is perpendicular to the water) This is commonly referred to as "stacking your hands." Now take a forward stroke by a slight core rotation while pulling on the lower hand and pushing forward and down on the upper hand and T-Grip. The stroke should make your upper body and arms all one solid unit moving and rotating together. Try ending the stroke at your feet. Any further behind you is just wasting energy. Swap hand positions to switch your stroke to the other side. There is no general rule as to how many strokes on one side before you swap, but 5 -10 strokes is common. Keep in mind, ultimately if you have a good stroke you should be able to go in a straight line without swapping sides at all. That my young grasshopper is the test! You will always need to switch sides to keep your muscle groups working evenly and to be able to have endurance and have a complete and even core workout. I suggest you pick up a video on SUP paddling technique or watch for good technique at any of the many races that take place almost every weekend.
Enjoy SUP, it's one of the best things you can do for yourself! By: Mark Olson Surftech
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