Beginner Surfers Learn Paddling Techniques and Timing that are not natural instincts. It would seem paddling doesn’t need explanation but every beginner needs to learn how to paddle correctly. It is an essential first fundamental.
Most beginners want to take swim strokes to catch waves which means long stretch paddles. These turn the board and are two slow to catch foam waves. It is alright to use swim strokes to paddle out through waves but catching waves needs short punchy strokes. The other tendency is to paddle fast with the hands only. This doesn’t deliver enough power.
Learning the Correct Paddling Stroke
The correct stroke is half a swim stroke driving the arm into the water to the elbow and then pulling straight back with the forearm. Three or four quick powerful strokes is all that is needed for most foam and real waves. It is important not to over paddle foam waves and get too far in front where there is no longer push. The optimum is to feel the board take off and then put the hands on the board.
Missing foam waves for beginners is usually a combination of not paddling correctly and placing the hands on the board too soon. The mistake usually made with placing the hands is the surfer places them in front of their shoulders which pushes down the nose into a pearl. Hands have to be placed next to the rib cage so the push up keeps the board level and places no pressure on the nose.
Most beginners don’t instinctually place their hands next to their chest after catching the wave. All advanced surfers do. It is a basic fundamental. Beginners want to throw their hands in front of their shoulders in an already pushed up position. This pushes the nose down and prevents the ability to get the feet under the body. The surfer first places their hands next to their chest while staying down on the board. Then the surfer pushes up to bring the feet underneath the body.
The Rhythm of Catching Waves and Standing Up
Most beginners only think of standing up. They don’t think about catching the wave first. On foam waves once you catch the wave and place your hands next to your rib cage, you can ride all the way to the beach. This means you have plenty of time. Most beginners have racing minds and think it is mandatory to stand up in an explosion. It is not. Standing up should be smooth and in a sequence of steps.
The beginner pop up has the surfer pushing up and then placing their back foot under their butt flat on the board. The surfer uses this as a platform to stand up and release the hands from the board. Beginners want to hold on until both feet are on the board. This results in them flying off the front. After the surfer rises and lifts his hands, he moves the other foot from the rear of the board and places it in front of his body in the middle of the board.
The surfer should rise in a stance I call pushing the box in which his hips and shoulders are parallel to the beach and his hands are in front of his body. There is a rhythm of paddling, then coasting with hands next to the chest and then smoothly rising to the correct stance.
Read Other Posts:
Beginner Surfers Learn on Soft Tops
5 Steps to Improve Surfing Performance
3 Ways to Catch Real Surfing Waves
Training to Ride the Surfing Short Board
Short Board Surfing Techniques
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