How to Stand Up Paddle Surf

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How to Prep a SUP Paddle!

Posted on | January 2, 2009 |

This is an awesome post from Bill at Ke Nalu, about how to prep the grip area on your paddle.  I haven’t done it like this but I’m going to.  It sounds perfect.

Few things in SUP cause more controversy than paddle prep. Some folks like their shaft bare, some like padded shafts, some like wax, some like mastic tape. I’ve played with about every combination and I’ve hit on the perfect preparation for me. I suspect you’ll like it too, even if you’re a bare shaft fan.

I say that because I’m a bare shaft guy. I don’t mind a little wax, but I don’t like the shaft to be too sticky, and I don’t like it being larger, or having a soft grip. Nothing saps my hand strength faster than a soft grip.

But I also don’t like my hands to slip, and the least bit of sunblock or oil on my hands or the shaft and my paddling is compromised. Yes, I clean my hands with sand and give the shaft a scrub, but you can transfer goop from other places easily. This approach solves the problem, giving positive traction without softening or thickening the grip. Once it’s done it lasts for many months–you never have to rewax.

Here’s the recipe:
The Grip: Locate your grip area and mark the shaft with pencil about ten inches above and below the grip point. If you’re not sure of your grip point, hold your paddle on your head, place on hand on the handle, the other on the shaft and bend your elbows at right angles so your forearms point straight up–the hand on the shaft will be in a nearly perfect grip position.

Start at the upper mark and wrap hockey tape around the shaft, starting with one full wrap and then overlapping the successive wraps for half the width of the tape. End with one full wrap.

Now wax the tape with warm water surf wax lightly over the full length and heavily in the grip area. You’ll be able to both see and feel the proper grip point. The wax embeds into the tape and doesn’t come off, even after months of use. The wax also cushions and strengthens the tape, making it last much longer. and finally the wax prevents the tape from being too sticky, as friction tapes sometimes get when the adhesive bleeds through the cloth.

Prepping a Paddle | Ke Nalu

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Category: Gear

Comments

2 Responses to “How to Prep a SUP Paddle!”

  1. DS
    January 25th, 2009 @ 4:18 am

    For a organic (non petroleum Based) paddle wax try Element Expeditions Warm or cold paddle wax.

  2. Paul Smith
    March 9th, 2009 @ 8:35 pm

    I’m JUST getting started in this SUP fun, but this sounds like a great idea! I’ve played hockey for a few years and just like you guys with paddles, I’ve experimented with a lot of different grips and wraps. I would be interested to know how a Hockey Tape called Powerflex would work on paddles. It is a BIT cushiony but not thick AND it does NOT get waterlogged like regular hockey tape can, even using wax, hockey tape will get heavy and waterlogged. Might be worth a try, I know it’s only about 3.00 on hockeygiant.com. Just a thought.

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