| Paddling is the basic method of maneuvering
your surfboard. It is an essential part of surfing. Many people
new to surfing under-estimate the importance of being able to
paddle well. Being able to paddle effectively can make the difference
between a poor and a god surfer.
Paddling affects your ability to get out to the waves and
most importantly, it affects your ability to catch waves.
The most effective way to paddle is to stretch one arm in
front of other and pull one arm at time through the water.
There are tow main areas you need to look at so that you
can paddle effectively. These are:
1 Lying on the board correctly
2 Legs together
Lying on the board
Lying on the board in the correct position is important as
it provides optimum speed without having to use extra effort.
Find the equilibrium where the surf board nose rises only
slightly out of the water. This is the center of balance needed
to paddle most freely through the water.
Also, be sure to position yourself in the middle of the board.
i.e. not too close to one side or the other. You will find
that if you are lying closer to one side of the board, your
weight will cause the board to be unsteady and difficult to
paddle.
Correct position:
The nose is only slightly out of the water.
Incorrect position: Lying too far back
When lying on the board in the water, if you are too far back,
your nose will stick up out of the water. This causes b
drag on the tail of the board as it is too deep in the water.
It will be difficult for you to paddle trough the water.
Incorrect position: Lying too far forward
If you are too far forward, the nose of the board will dig
into the water creating drag by nose-diving. The faster you
paddle, the more the nose of your surfboard will dig into
the water and you will probably end up with a mouth full of
water.
Legs Together
Beginners should try to paddle with legs together, not dangling
over each side of the board as this will also create drag.
Learning to paddle with your legs together will virtually
force you to find balance in the center of the board and help
the surf board move freely through the water
Paddling is very tiring exercise, but it will get easier
the more you practice so don’t give in. it won’t
hurt that much and is good for your health too. So practice
often and regularly. |
