How To Hold Your SUP Paddle

Want to learn how to Paddle Board more efficiently to have more fun? Let's start with how to correctly hold your paddle!

As ACA SUP Instructor Trainer  and ISLE's VP I will take you through the ins & outs of proper paddling technique. 

Common Mistakes

One of the most common things people do where they're not as efficient as they could be on the water is they hold their paddle blade with the wrong side facing forward. If you hold your paddle with the wrong side facing forward you end up scooping the water which causes you to lift the water. This is really inefficient and doesn't propel you forward. Holding the paddle incorrectly will make you tired, slower then your friends, and you want to do it the right way. 

How to Correctly Hold Your Paddle

When paddle boarding, the blade of your paddle should be facing away from you, with the concave side facing towards you. This means that the curved or concave side of the blade should be facing forward as you paddle through the water. When we take our stroke it comes out at our foot and it means that the paddle blade is vertical the entire distance of the stoke. The concave shape helps to increase efficiency and maximize your stroke power by allowing the water to flow smoothly over the blade.

Now you know how to correctly hold and stroke your paddle! Check out the rest of our Tips & Tricks Youtube Series. We look forward to seeing you on the water!