How to Paddle on a Surfboard

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Paddling the board requires a bit of balance. At first you'll probably find it easier if you have your legs slightly apart when paddling, giving you a little bit of extra balance. Reach out with one arm at a time, stroking your way through the water. You don't have to dig your arms too deep.

Keep the movement of your arms nice and smooth, pulling the board through the water. It's simple, yes? As mentioned earlier, make sure that the nose of your surfboard is not dipping under the water at any point. On a nice flat day you should be able to practice without the interruption of waves. (It may look a little strange to anyone observing on the beach though!)

Here are a couple of common problems you may encounter:

Digging the nose of the board in:
If you are too far forward on the board, you'll find the nose of the board keeps dipping underwater making it difficult to paddle. You'll also find yourself always tipping forward and possibly the board pinging out backwards. Try shifting your weight backwards a little to raise the level of the nose above the water.

The Torpedo:
Sometimes your board may keep shooting out in front of you like a torpedo to all your friends' amusement. People on the beach may be getting nervous and pondering calling the police. However, don't worry - there are two simple causes for the torpedo. First, it could be that you are way too far back on the board or are leaning back excessively. Second, it could be that your board needs a decent coat of wax. A poorly waxed board can be as slippery as an eel.

The Dead Weight:
Paddling your board may feel like trying to paddle a waterbed. If this happens, then you're probably sitting too far back on the board, creating a lot of drag with the bottom. Move forward a little to correct this problem. Remember that the nose of your board should only be a couple of inches out of the water.

Paddling is something that you can practice any time you surf. You'll see other surfers sitting in the lineup on their boards, waiting for the next wave to come; however, it's a good idea to initially spend some time practicing your paddling.

Next Up: Sitting on your board