How to Stand Up Paddle Surf

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

Barrel Riding SUP Style Part 2~

And now, from Blane Chambers, how he and his friends do it:

Best technique I have seen and now use is this one that Stewart Ferriman has wired..   One day I saw him in solid waves getting shacked without any problems from the paddle catching.    Right then and there I knew it was the most productive way to ride the barrel without the paddle getting caught…   Later I got these shots of him doing it…   IMO  The best way possible when the barrel isn’t big and I have pulled into many barrels and gotten smashed trying to keep control of the paddle.   This way I can relax and enjoy the view…


You basically ride the barrel just like you do with any other board complete with arm stalls if you like.    I got my best barrels using this way and next winter plan on getting a whole lot more!

I need help with barrel riding techniques for SUP?

Getting Tubed, Sup Style!

We don’t get too many tubes over here on the East Coast, but for those in places that do, here’s some advice on getting shacked from John Ashley aka paddlesurf.net.  BTW, check out his site: i do, once a day, and it’s great!

I love pulling in… usually I get TOOLED. Some observations: 
1. These boards are so fast that lots of times I miss the tube because I’m going too fast. I’ve found that unless I get lucky and backdoor an already pitching little section, I have to take a different line to position myself for the cover up. I’ve had the best luck with dropping straight down, waiting in the flats for it to start to pitch and then pulling up under the hook- you pay big time if your timing is off but it’s the best way for me to get right into the barrel without outrunning it.
2. Helps if the wave is really throating- super hollow- the little almond eye tubes are usually too small to fit all of my junk in… and I’m packing some junk. Downside is when it’s the kind of wave that you need- the dues to be paid are pretty severe.
3. Dragging the paddle helps- usually, for me, it gets yanked back up into the spot where the lip seperates from the face- which is a trip- it just grabs it but it does help slow you down a little.
4. When you pull in- point the nose at the hole and get small- and pull up higher in the wave than you think you need to be… grab your line and just let it happen.
Just some observations for what its worth- tube riding’s tough on these especially down here on the beachy where they pop up really fast and upredictably.
good luck!

I need help with barrel riding techniques for SUP?

Improve Your Breath-holding Capacity!

 Getting held down after a wipe out can be a nasty thing, especially if you run out of breath halfway through.  Here’s a tip from Bill, via the Zone, on how to increase your breath-holding time.  I’m gonna do it!

I’ve just come across a breathing technique that more than doubled my breath-holding in one day. I know that sounds ridiculous, but I’m headed for three minutes after struggling with one just before I found this. I did 2:43 yesterday. image
You fill the bottom of your lungs first, by pressing out forcibly with your stomach as you start to take a breath then expand your lungs. It’s a little hard to describe the full cycle, but you can practice it anywhere and you’ll get the feeling–it’s kind of a rolling breath and you push downwards with your diaphragm.
I’m writing an article on it for Ke Nalu, but the rest is just refinements. If you take four long breaths like that you’re good to go. What it does is use your full lung capacity instead of just the top. Shallow breathing just moves air up and down your trachea, and leaves a lot of stagnant air in your lungs.
How this applies to surfing is that I’m practicing taking these kind of breaths all the time when I surf. And when a big wave is coming that I aim to take, or I’m caught inside, I breathe this way. I can tell you first hand that it works well. the last two days have been rough for hold downs. As I said yesterday, two evenings ago I got caught inside the channel at Kanaha and held down forever. I probably would have made it anyway, but this technique transformed it from a grim battle to an interesting if unpleasant experience.

Best Breathing (or lack thereof) Practice for Hold Downs?