How to Stand Up Paddle Surf

The Best of the Best How-to-SUP Stuff from Around the Globe — Just Add Water & Go!

Great Noseriding Tutorial!

This was written by a prone surfer but the total massive excellence of its advice is also applicable to SUP.  Read it, do it!

Observe any talented tipster; past or present, from contemporary to old school, they all do it. They all understand the value of setting the tail and walking smoothly up to and back from the nose. Fact is, when you see someone pulling solid, stable, gravity defying nose rides; you’re witnessing a surfer who understands the physics of setting the tail and walking smoothly to the tip. I planned to reel off a few names here, but there are just so many, both famous and anonymous. Point is, at your local break, you already know who to watch. The real trick is, to know what you’re watching.


Setting the Tail
The physics: a belt of water flows around the inside rail, across the deck and tail locking your board in place. Tail set, the horizon of possibility broadens considerably.
Here’s just a few of the infinite ways to achieve this:

The stall.
A gentle pivot off the bottom, resisting the urge to drive hard.
Trimming in under the lip of a steep section, as you approach from a fatter section behind.

Read more

Do Not Buy Wave Rod SUPs!!!!

Like many others, I firmly believe Wave Rod’s Jeremy Fry lifted his shapes from the genius mind of Joe Blair.  That sucks bigtime.  My opinion: no one should ever buy a Waverod board.  And … everyone should go out of their way to spread the word to never ever buy a Wave Rod stand up paddle board.  Never.

For more information about this, please please see:

Blair SUP - WaveRod - Honesty and Ethics?

Planting the Paddle SUP-Style!

This is from JonEB via Seabreeze and specifically talks about how to use the paddle while on a wave.  I still haven’t gotten very good at this, especially in cut backs.  Got to practice more … 

Use of the paddle can be frustrating at first. There are two schools of thought: one utilizes the paddle throughout the wave(difficult at first - especially to make it look good), the other uses the paddle only when necessary(basically surfing regularly once they are riding). I am of the former school, as I use my paddle as a "feeler" and a pivot/lean point throughout the ride.image
The next time you go out on a day with a bit of push, try really leaning over onto that paddle on the bottom turn. If done correctly, you can get an amazing amount of leverage while projecting yourself farther than you could without the paddle - this works especially well with the bigger boards(kind of like an outrigger). I have actually had my arms and head go completely underwater and recovered by using the resistance of that paddle(face-plant preventor).
As far as the topturns go, on your frontside you can lean way back on your paddle or you can plant your paddle in front of the tail and sort of "plant-and-scoop" it around the tail. This will(as mentioned up the thread) help you throw the tail around for faster direction change. Backhand is a bit different: leaning back on the paddle is leagues easier as the plant-and-scoop method is almost impossible unless you are a contortionist(I must admit I am still working on a better backhand method).
I say get out there and experiment with stuff that you envision when you are mindsurfing waves. Use that paddle! So what if you fall some? You might surprise yourself with what you actually pull off - there are many techniques yet to be discovered!

Seabreeze Forums! - Stand Up Paddle Who uses their paddle while