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A simple tip to relax your paddling!
This simple tip applies at all levels of paddling. It's super simple, and extremely effective!
How to get more of a balance workout on your paddleboard, whatever size it is
Stand up paddleboarding is a fantastic way of improving your balance. But there's a really simple way to greatly increase the intensity of the balance workout your paddleboarding is giving you, whatever board you're on. Check this out next time you're out for a paddle, you'll be amazed how powerful it is!
how straight should your bottom arm be when stand up paddleboarding?
How much should you be bending your bottom arm during the power phase of the SUP stroke? It’s very easy to get this wrong, and instantly transfer the workload from the big, capable muscles that you should be using, to much smaller muscles far less suited for the constant workload required for stand up paddleboarding. Note, if you're sprinting, or cranking for maximum power like when you're trying to catch a wave while SUP surfing, then the efficiency goal goes out of the window, and every possible bit of power that can be extracted from the body can and should be used. So you will see top paddlers bending their bottom arms, for this reason. Nevertheless, for sustained paddling, particularly in a more recreational context, for non-elite paddlers, bending that bottom arm should be avoided as much as possible, to avoid bringing those small upper arm muscles into play.
Is a waist mounted beltpack PFD a good option for stand up paddleboarding?
Wearing a buoyancy aid is a legal requirement for stand up paddleboarding in many parts of the world. In other videos we've discussed the permanent-flotation style of lifejacket, which always work but do have some disadvantages for paddleboarding. The other popular option for SUP is the beltpack style of inflatable PFD (personal flotation device). These have many advantages, and for the competent paddler in warm weather they're a great option. However, they are most definitely not the right option for everyone, as we discuss in this video.
What is the correct head position for stand up paddleboarding?
It might seem a very minor aspect of technique but actually, getting your head orientated correctly in line with your body while paddling can make a whole lot of positive difference to your paddling.
Quick guide to board measurements
Length, width, volume, thickness, max weight - what is the actual relevance of these numbers, which ones matter and how do they compare? Here's a quick summary of what it all means.
Understanding SUP Board Lengths
Paddleboards come in many lengths. So what difference does it make, and what is the right length for you? SUP COACH explains all...
are you getting your blade deep enough in your paddleboard stroke?
How deep should your paddle blade go into the water when you are stand up paddleboarding? A lot of paddleboarders get this wrong and dramatically reduce the efficiency and effectiveness of their paddleboard stroke.
top technique tips to stop your stand up paddleboard turning so much
For so many stand up paddleboarders this is one of the most frustrating things - why does my board turn so much when I'm paddling? In other sup coach shorts we've looked at many of the reasons - do check those videos out if this is a subject you want to know more about. In this video we look at a couple of the main paddle technique issues that are responsible for the problem.
The importance of paddling efficiently
What's the very best thing you can do to improve your paddleboarding? Hint - it's not going to the gym, nor buying faster equipment. Sup coach online sets out the arguments why the most important aspect of improvement is so often the one that gets the least attention.