Use these 7 quick tips to improve your SUP experience the next time you paddle!
In this article, we discuss ways you can improve your SUP experience on your next outing.
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Time on the water is fun. This is the case whether you enjoy a calm flat water experience or a strenuous workout. When the day comes to an end, after you witness the sun set from your board, you can’t help but feel completely content with how you spent your day. Of course, we all know nothing can really be perfect but somehow, at the end of the day, we also know every paddle is perfect in its own way.
This is the natural state of any paddler whether you’re a beginner or an expert.
Even so, there are simple, yet effective ways to improve your experience on the water. And the Perfect Paddles team has collected a list of the top seven ways to do just that.
Think of these tips as a way to expand beyond your comfort zone, remain present while on the water, and increase your overall fun.
After you give one or two a try, be sure to spread the stoke to your fellow paddlers so they too can max out their time on the water.
The best way to do that? Find a Paddle Buddy on Perfect Paddles in your area! Head to Perfect Paddles, create your own unique profile, match your skills, say hi, and meet up!
And when you do, be sure to share these tips…
1. Work on Your Technique
SUP can be whatever you want it to be.
If you want a calm, relaxing time on the water, you can paddle slowly and take in the scenery. Or if you want to maximize your strength, work on your cardio, or give SUP yoga a try, you can do that as well.
Even given the vast difference of experiences you can have on the water, there is one underlying thread that connects them all…
Your technique.
To improve your SUP experience, give the proper technique a try every time you find yourself paddling.
This will help you become a better paddler overall by increasing your stamina. In addition, it’s also an important skill to possess in case of heavy winds or unexpected changes in the current.
With the proper technique you will be able to paddle through any obstacles without having to call for a rescue boat.
The proper technique includes how you stand…
- Feet centered with the handle in between your legs
- Knees slightly bent in an athletic position
- Toes relaxed to avoid stiffness
To the proper paddle stroke(s)...
Forward Stroke
This is the main stroke used to propel yourself through the water.
- Hinge at the hips
- Reach your paddle forward towards the nose of the board keeping your arms straight
- Aim! Your top hand should be over the water so you go straight
- Sink your paddle all the way into the water (not just the tip of the blade)
- Bring your hips forward to meet the paddle. Remember: Any sport with a stick, “It’s all in the hips!”
Reverse Stroke
The reverse stroke is great for stopping your momentum and turning. The process is similar to the forward stroke but done in an opposite fashion.
- Reach behind you and sink your paddle towards the tail of your board
- Keep your arms straight, twist from the torso, and pull your forward towards your feet
- Performing the reverse stroke on the left side of your board will cause the nose to go left, and vice versa
Sweep Stroke (stop-turn/ speed-turn)
The sweep stroke is used for turning your board in a forward motion.
- Again, reach forward and submerge the entire paddle blade into the water
- Sweep your paddle away from your board is a wide arch motion
- Performing the sweep stroke on the left side will cause your board to right and vice versa
Combine all of these with some sprint workouts for a great workout on the water!
2. Take Time to Sight See - Above and Below
SUP provides a unique perspective.
Instead of sitting low on the water as you do in a kayak, you’re standing upright with the complete horizon in view.
With this perspective you can clearly see your entire surroundings. From distance waves, to rocky cliffs, thick jungle canopies, or local lakes, you can take it all in!
Beyond that though, you can also look straight down into the water.
Especially in clear water. Picture yourself in Hawaii, the Maldives, Bora Bora, so many places!
From atop your board, you can peer straight down into the water and spot fish, turtles, rays, manatees, even a dolphin or two!
With this unique perspective, always remember to look above and below for the best views.
Pro Tip: Wear a pair of polarized sunglasses to reduce the glare on the water for an easier time looking straight to the bottom!
3. Try Paddling at Sunrise or Sunset
There is something about watching the sunrise or the sunset. It’s the calmness of the activity. The peace that envelopes your body. How it speaks to your soul.
We don’t mean to get too woo-woo about it, but watching the sunrise or the sunset over the horizon is an activity that can truly heal your body.
In fact, according to All About Vision sungazing, “May increase levels of serotonin and melatonin, increase energy levels for emotional, mental, physical or spiritual health, can help a gazer connect with themselves and feel more inner strength, and it may reduce stress.”
Not bad for a free activity we can do everyday!
Combine this simple, yet powerful health boost with your SUP and you’ve likely found the best way to start or end your day.
If you do give this a shot, be sure to have lights on board. Launching in the dark or returning in the dark is super fun. It feels wrong but it’s okay if you’re properly prepared. Have all your safety gear - leash, pfd, whistle, and a light so you can be seen in a 360 degree view while on the water.
Next time you’ve lined up a few hours to spend on your board, combine it with a sunrise or sunset and see how great you feel afterwards.
4. Take a Break and Float With the Breeze
Our hectic modern world expects us to always be on the move…
Wake up early, head to work, attend meetings, zoom calls, head to the gym, burn yourself out there, get home, make dinner, and finally relax before heading to sleep and doing it all over again.
While we do believe SUP can be a powerful exercise modality to increase your health, we also believe it can be used for the opposite.
The next time you’re on the water, if you want to improve your SUP experience, take time to relax.
While you’re on the water, you’re by nature, isolated. It’s one of those rare moments when you’re away from electronic devices, schedules, text messages, social media, and to-do lists.
Pull up your paddle, lay down in the sun, and drift with the breeze in complete peace.
In this interconnected digital world, these moments are an anomaly…
Take advantage of it.
5. Try Some Breath-work
An additional way you can increase your level of peace and well-being (as well as improve your SUP experience) is by practicing some breath-work during this time of isolation.
If you feel comfortable doing heavy breathwork on the water, by all means, give it a try.
However, we have to give you this personal warning…
if you’re new to breath-work, you can experience feelings of lightheadedness. If you wish to remain safe during your first few tries, it might be better to only practice while on land.
There are plenty of different modalities on the internet when it comes to breath-work but according to healthline.com two great techniques you can try for relaxation the next time you’re out include:
Box breathing
During box breathing, you want to focus intently on the oxygen you’re bringing in and pushing out:
- Sit with your back straight, breathe in, and then try to push all the air out of your lungs as you exhale.
- Inhale slowly through your nose and count to 4 in your head, filling your lungs with more air with each number.
- Hold your breath and count to 4 in your head.
- Slowly exhale through your mouth, focusing on getting all the oxygen out of your lungs.
Box breathing is a common technique during meditation, a very popular method of finding mental focus and relaxing. Meditation has a variety of known benefits for your overall health.
And…
Alternate nasal breathing exercise
Here are the steps for the alternate nasal or alternate nostril breathing exercise, also called nadi shodhana pranayama:
- Sit with your legs crossed.
- Place your left hand on your knee and your right thumb against your nose.
- Exhale fully and then close the right nostril.
- Inhale through your left nostril.
- Open your right nostril and exhale through it, while closing the left.
- Continue this rotation for 5 minutes, finishing by exhaling through your left nostril.
A 2013 study reported that people who tried nasal breathing exercises felt less stressed afterward.
Combine these with the peaceful feeling of floating effortlessly on the water for a fantastic way to destress during the day!
6. Light It Up!
After you’ve experienced a sunrise or sunset paddle, all you need to do is try out a nighttime glow paddle!
That’s right…
You can attach a string of bright LED lights underneath your board and paddle at night. Some lights are even bright enough to see into the water at night!
Combine it with a destination paddle to your favorite bar or restaurant and you’re truly living the life.
This is a great way to improve your SUP experience that you and your friends will talk about for years to come.
7. Meet Other Paddlers on the Water
One of the best features about SUP is the built-in community inherent to the activity.
As you become comfortable on the water, you’ll be able to spot other paddlers out there, where you can approach them, introduce yourself, and make friends.
You already have an activity in common that you can connect with so finding the right icebreaker is a breeze!
In addition, as you gain experience, you’ll naturally gravitate to events, races, fun classes, even travel abroad.
And as we’ve already mentioned, you can find a Paddle Buddy on Perfect Paddles where you will be able to match your skills with a paddler in your area. Quickly introduce yourself and start having fun on the water to improve your SUP experience – today!
When your skills expand on your SUP, so does your friend circle.
Next Steps…
If you’re ready to improve your SUP experience, pick out a few of these tips and give them a try! See how you enjoy combining breathwork with your paddle. Or take your SUP out for a sunset paddle for a great way to end any day.
And if you’re ready to connect with other like-minded paddlers, check out the Member Benefits on Perfect Paddles where you will find additional resources to have a great time on the water — including matching up with a Paddle Buddy in your area.
SUP is one of the best activities for health and wellness. Even so, there’s always room to explore, expand, and improve. Whether it’s on or off the water!
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