Paddling tip 1 - Look for a channel to paddle out in. It will save you huge amounts of energy that are better spent paddling after great waves. White water paddling is extremely tiring and will lead to unnecessary fatigue. A channel is where the waves are not breaking, this can also be a rip so if you are new to the sport be careful and don't freak. Everyone remembers what to do in a rip right? Stay on your board and when the tide slows down from pushing you out paddle left or right away from rip. Do not try to paddle back to beach and ultimately back in the rip. You will not win. Always remember parallel to the beach :) Paddle tip 2 — Practice. Practice. Practice. Find a safe, uncrowded place where you can practice paddling in and out. This will perfect your timing and save your energy in the long run. I know you gals hate this but if you come to a meetup and its flat, don't go home. Go out and paddle. Paddling tip 3 — Avoid paddling through the line-up. This is highly important. You can consider the line-up to range from the point where people are taking off on the waves to where they finish the ride. Not heeding this advice will result in getting run over or ruining someone else’s wave. Even if you see others doing this, do not follow their lead. In order to build respect as both a beginner and a girl you must show respect. Paddle tip 4 — Sprint. This is the surf version of interval training. You want to paddle as fast as you can for about 20 meters or yards. Doing sprint style training will give you the paddling strength you need to catch waves. Try paddling as fast as your can for one block. Start on 4th by the lifeguard stand and paddle all the way to the next lifeguard stand. Paddling tip 5 — Paddling endurance. Like the tortoise, slow and steady may not be glamorous. But practicing for two - three blocks will build the endurance you need to get back out to the break after you catch waves. This is critical gals because when they waves get bigger it gets harder to paddle out. And most of you are long boarders and you will never be able to duck drive a long board so your paddle and the turtle are your best friend. |
Exercise 1- Timing — Practice turning your surfboard 180 degrees. The best way to do this is to sit closer to the tail of your board until the nose is at about a 45 degree angle. This basically gives you a pivot point to rotate on. Hold the rail with one hand and pull the board in that direction by paddling with the opposite hand. Work from both left and right sides while you are practicing. This will help you catch a lot more waves. "Riding the bull", I am sure you've heard me say that.lol Its a lot faster than trying to turn while laying down.
Exercise 2 - Endurance — This is a mimic of what you will be doing in the water when you are actively catching waves, hopefully very soon. Paddle stop and do your turning exercise and paddle full speed. Try starting with one block. This is exactly what you will be doing when you come back out and try to catch a new wave and will build both your timing and endurance.
Important Safety tip!
As a safety tip when you are waiting for waves, always sit with your board pointing towards the waves and not parallel. This is extremely important. The force of the water hitting your board when it is parallel to a wave is amazing. It can knock you unconscious. For your safety, always point your board into a wave and do not begin a turn if you risk only half completing it and ending up parallel to a wave.
