Paddle surfing is similar to prone surfing, except with larger boards. Although more challenging, paddle surfing is also more rewarding and enjoyable.
Stand up paddle surfing can be challenging in waves with crashing waves and whitewater, so practicing in calmer waters before venturing out to more treacherous waves is essential to success.
The Basics
Paddleboarding can be similar to surfing on a surfboard, with several important distinctions that you should understand before heading out onto the water. These differences include buoyancy levels compared to surfboards, dimensions of boards and where surfers stand on them when surfing.
Paddle boards are longer and wider than surfboards, with greater buoyancy due to the foam or air volume that provides extra buoyancy for paddling strokes without sinking the board in the water. This gives paddlers greater stability during paddling strokes as it keeps it from sinking beneath their paddle strokes.
Standing up on a paddleboard is much simpler than surfing due to its large deck pad which makes standing up easier both with or without paddles.
Paddling through whitewater or incoming waves requires taking an aggressive stance that is perpendicular to their direction of approach, enabling you to stay stable while still exerting force to gain momentum. A staggered stance will allow this.
Paddling out requires keeping in mind a few essential rules: to ensure you’re not paddling in the same path as an already-crowded wave (known as “cutting across”) is frowned upon according to surfing etiquette.
To stay out of trouble when paddle surfing, make sure that you paddle hard enough to gain momentum before turning and heading straight back towards the beach. This will prevent nosediving into waves – an often made error during paddle boarding.
Once your feet are in place, the next step is catching waves. To do this effectively, position yourself farther out than most surfers to catch early waves and ride them until their ends.
Once you’ve located an ideal wave, transition quickly from your parallel stance to wide surf stance for maximum maneuverability and ease of catching waves.
Equipment
If you plan on surfing on a paddleboard, it is imperative that you possess all of the appropriate equipment and have a firm grasp on its usage in order to do it safely.
To surf on a paddleboard, you’ll require a board designed specifically for this activity and equipped with enough length and shape to handle the type of waves you intend to ride. Furthermore, a good paddle will come in handy to control your board.
Surfboard selection depends on what kind of waves and duration you plan to ride, as well as your desired skill level. When starting out surfing, selecting a smaller, low-volume board with narrower and shorter rails might be optimal.
Experienced surfers should experiment with boards with higher volumes. These boards make it easier to stand up on them and gain an understanding of the weight of the water against your body, and allows enough speed generation before tilting or tipping causes you to fall off.
Consideration must also be given when purchasing a paddleboard based on its material composition. You can find various materials – aluminum, glass fibre, carbon and Kevlar are some examples – that make up its construction and can often make lighter and stronger boards than alternatives.
A board’s width can have an enormous effect on how it rides waves. Wider boards tend to ride softer and closer to the top of a wave while narrower ones ride harder nearer the bottom of it; this helps you stay on your board longer and catch more waves!
Thicker boards tend to perform better on certain types of waves; thinner, narrower boards may be easier for turning, but may be less stable and harder to handle.
Surf-specific boards typically feature narrow tails to maximize response to foot pressure when turning, and have lower volumes than other boards to optimize water surface gliding efficiency.
Safety
Stand-up paddle boarding has quickly become one of the fastest-growing water sports, yet it is important to remember certain safety measures when surfing on a paddleboard. Doing so will protect both yourself and others while making sure that everyone involved has fun during their session on the water.
At first, it is best to practice in calm waters until you feel completely at ease with your board and its balance, so that when it comes time for surfing you are safe from injury.
Before heading out on the water, be aware of how weather conditions could influence your paddle boarding adventure. Check the wind forecast and take note of when tides change so that you can plan a route that best fits with paddle boarding – this will allow for smooth sailing!
Consideration should also be given to the size and suitability of the waves you will be riding when paddling board surfing, for instance it is best to avoid large waves that might nosedive your board as this can result in damage and injury to both yourself and others.
Staying away from the edges of waves when surfing is another great safety tip to follow; this will prevent injuries to both yourself and other surfers while making sure that other surfers can safely enter and exit them.
Additionally, it’s wise to ensure that the material used to craft your boards won’t tear easily; this is particularly important if using an inflatable board.
As soon as you step onto the water, it is wise to wear both a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) and leash. While neither are mandatory in Florida waters, wearing both can greatly assist in avoiding collisions with other vessels or individuals on board.
Finally, it is crucial that when paddling on a paddleboard you maintain an even stroke with short, smooth strokes and switch sides regularly to prevent fatigue. Keep an eye on the horizon to maintain balance as you traverse across the surface of the water.
Surfing
Stand up paddle surfing (SUP surfing) is an incredibly enjoyable water sport where participants ride a paddle board with one foot on it while using one paddle to propel themselves through the water using paddle power alone or with help from their partner(s). SUP surfing can be enjoyed anywhere there’s water, from lakes to oceans! This popular activity offers endless fun!
Surfing is one of the most enjoyable forms of water recreation, and paddle boards make learning quickly and safely much simpler for beginners. In particular, paddle boards help remove one of the main barriers to entry: learning to pop up on waves.
Start paddling early by selecting the proper equipment. A paddleboard that accommodates you and your weight while also enabling you to comfortably catch waves is ideal, while choosing one between 9’6″ and 10’8″ in length and at least one foot wide and thick enough to float is your starting point for successful paddling.
Choose a paddle that is both ergonomically sound and fits comfortably into your hands, especially if you are just beginning. A long handle may make pushing both board and paddle easier.
Once you’ve selected your equipment, it’s time to get out in the water and paddle! Paddling will give your board some initial momentum as you navigate through break waves and into your lineup.
An effective method is lining up with the sets as they approach. This will allow you to catch waves before they hit shore, giving them ample opportunity to rip up.
Next, paddle hard to gain momentum before being propelled forward by waves. Turn your surf SUP around so it faces the beach and paddle hard again before the wave reaches you.
Another advanced technique involves turning slightly and paddling hard while maintaining momentum at all times – known as a parallel turn – which will allow you to maintain speed while reducing any loss caused by turning 180o.