How to Stand Up Paddle Surf

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

Cross Stepping on an Inflatable!

Want to see someone who *really* knows how to cross step on a SUP, then check out this video of Tim Mellors of Custard Point Surfboards in the U.K.  Wowza, can he ride or what?  Notice how small the steps are he takes, how delicately he puts his feet down, and how when he walks his shoulders don’t bob up and down.  Great stuff.  BTW, in this vid, he’s riding one of his company’s new line of inflatable stand up boards.  Beautiful!

Fancy Footwork on a SUP!

Check out this video from Bryon via the Zone.  If you’re into cross-stepping, well, brother, this guy can cross-step.  Look & learn! 

How to Take Off Early on Your SUP!

 Here’s a YouTube video of Hawaiian great Leleo Kinemaka, and there’s lots to learn from it.  What I want to point out today is where Leleo often stands on his board during his take offs.  For most of us, it’s typically in the middle; check out 4min17sec for an example of Leleo doing this.

  But sometimes the middle is too far back: there’s not enuf weight far enuf foward to get the board sliding down the face of the wave.  In those instances, as Leleo does in this vid a number of times, you’ve got to paddle into the wave almost standing on the nose.  And then once you catch it, you’ve got to back pedal fast to keep from pearling.  Here are some relevant time spots to watch: 1min40, 2min15, 2min35, and especially 5min30.  Great Stuff!

Another Beginner’s SUP Video

Actually, I kind of like this one more than the Starboard one below.  Again, it’s very basic.  And again, it goes into nice great detail about the basics.  If you’re just starting out, do take the time to study it — you’ll learn a lot — then check out the rest of the site for more SUP goodness.

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http://www.standuppaddlesurf.co.uk/how2.htm

A Great Basic How-to 2-min SUP Vid

I really like Starboard SUPS (altho I’m currently obsessed with buying an ULI …) and am also a huge fan of the way the company does business.  Very professional … as you can see by the video linked to below.  It teaches two basic skills: how to paddle in a straight line and how to turn your board.  Has some cool diagrams and some good details.  Check it out!

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Starboard : Learning how to SUP

Flatwater Practice Makes Perfect!

Here’s one of the better early SUP vids, showing a guy out in flatwater doing what we should all be doing, both in flatwater and in between waves — and that’s practicing various moves and turns.  I try to do a little each session but sometimes I’m just too winded and spend my between-waves time hanging out simply trying to catch my breath.  Still, I know I should be doing what this guy does.  And so should you! 

Maui SUP Vid — cool new angle

Just came across this on YouTube and it here and it features an on-the-wave camera angle that I don’t think I’ve seen before.  Really gives you a sense of what it feels like on a wave.  To make it ez on ya, I’m talking about the stuff at .05 sec, 1min35sec and 3min25 sec.  Have a look.  Pretty instructive.  Also that first one has some sweet cross-stepping moments in it:

More Ivan, in S.A., on a Starboard Fish

Guess I’m going to have to continue my Ivan Van Vuuren fascination and hero worship by posting this new YouTube video.  This time,  he’s surfing Jeffrey’s Bay, in South Africa, and riding Starboard fishes, either the 9 or the 9.8.  I happen to own a number of Starboards, including a 9.8, so it’s great to see him give these babies a workout and prove to me, once again, it’s the rider that makes the machine and not the other way around.  Also, about halfway through, it’s fun to see Ivan take one on the chin while paddling out.  Hey — it happens to everybody.  Enjoy.

Great Beginner’s Take-off Vid!

Check out this YouTube video if you are a beginner and trying to figure out how take-offs are accomplished.  The guy here does it with a parallel stance but then quickly hops to surfer stance.  It’s very instructive to see it actually done.  To make it EZ for you, here’s where the good stuff is: 12 seconds in, 2min40sec, 3min20sec and 3min45sec.  Hit the Play button, then hit the Pause button, then read around this site while the video loads, then use the video scroll bar to navigate to the right time.  Cool.  Also, at 3min, there’s a nice little pole-plant cutback.  Sweet!

Cross Stepping to the Nose

This isn’t a SUP video per se but if you’re interested in cross stepping to the nose, this is a good one to study. These guys know how to do it. Very cool.