This tutorial argues that paddling is an entire body skill and is just as important as standing and riding a wave. It breaks down the perfect paddling technique, emphasizing the proper posture (“the erect banana”) to protect the spine and paddle with maximum power and endurance.
Key Takeaways & Tips
Paddling is a Full Body Skill
Paddling is an entire body skill that involves the arms, but also the core, back, and glute muscles too. Your progression from beginner to advanced is as much attributed to paddling as it is to your skill standing up on a wave.
The Paddle Motion
The arms are used cyclically, with long reaches forward into the water and a subsequent pulling motion. The hands should be slightly cupped to create a nice vortex between the fingers that displaces water and propels you forward. Some surfers also include a slight “S” motion to increase forward propulsion.
Depth of Stroke
Putt your arms into the water to about tricep depth, allowing for a solid lever-type action to occur from the shoulder. Paddling without putting your arms in deep enough will result in an ineffective technique and wasted effort.
The Erect Banana (Posture)
The ideal body shape should match that of an erect banana. This position enables a better, more sustainable paddling technique, and protects the upper thoracic spine by activating the core and mid-back muscles.
Position on the Board
Your body should align the middle of your chest with the stringer of the board. Lengthwise, the tip of the surfboard should be just hanging out above the water (nose slightly lifted).
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Neck Tension
The “banana shape” concept is important because it prevents the buildup of neck tension that many surfers think is inherent to the sport. The wrong posture inflames the joints in the neck.
Shallow Strokes
Paddling without putting your arms in deep enough (tricep depth) is ineffective, resulting in wasted effort and wasted waves.
Endurance Mistake
For short-duration paddling (like scratching into a wave), it can be helpful to lean forward, but this is impossible to maintain throughout an entire session and is not ideal for endurance paddling posture.
Ignoring Volume
If you feel a sinking sensation whilst paddling, you may need to up the volume of your board. Practicing paddling on a bigger, more buoyant board is excellent, as it offers a good crossover onto smaller boards.