How To Do a Pivot Turn
Are you ready to try your first pivot turn? Then check out these tips you can use on the water - today!
After reading through this article (and with a little practice) you'll go from the top picture to the one below...
Promise.
Let's get into it!
1. Goofy Foot or Regular Foot?
The absolute first thing you must do in order to accomplish a pivot turn is determine whether you are a goofy foot or a regular foot.
What do we mean?
It's fairly simple...
When you take a step back and move into a surf-style position do you put your left foot back or your right?
With your left foot back you are goofy footed and with your right foot back you are a regular foot.
Determine this first to know what foot you need to move in order to get into the correct position for the turn.
Below is a simple illustration - even though this is on a surfboard the stance remains the same.
Practice this first on dry land and then slowly move to the water. Once you feel comfortable maneuvering your feet, then you can proceed to the next step.
2. Balance Practice With Your Blade During Your Pivot Turn
One of the most under-appreciated (and under practiced) motions in SUP is the use of your paddle blade for balance. Especially for a pivot turn.
As you are practicing stepping backward and forward on your board get into the habit of keeping your paddle hovering over the water with the flat back part (the part that pushes the water when paddling) facing upward.
If you feel yourself falling, use the paddle as a balance point to push yourself back upright and keep your stance.
With this motion ingrained into your muscle memory, it will help you stay upright in almost any situation!
3. Go Step By Step Through a Pivot Turn
Now that you know if you are goofy or regular footed, and how to maintain your balance when moving into the stance...
It's time to go step-by-step through the entire motion of a pivot turn.
- Stand straight ahead and gain some momentum on the board
- Using your paddle to maintain balance in the way described above, move one foot back into a surf style stance
- Make sure you are far back enough to lift the nose of the board out of the water
- Bend your knees - by staying low you create a low center of gravity that will help you remain balanced
- Take your paddle on the side you are facing towards the water and bring it forward to the nose, place it into the water, and bring it back with a strong paddle stroke towards your feet in a crescent-shaped motion pushing the nose in the opposite direction
- In this stance with the nose lifted out of the water, you will feel the ease with which you are able to turn the board in any direction
- Once the turn is complete, use the paddle once again to maintain your balance and hop your feet back into a forward standing position
Your pivot turn is now complete!
Extra Tips for Pivot Turns
- When using your paddle to turn some paddlers prefer one long stroke to get their boards to turn while others prefer shorter, quicker strokes - find out which one you like as you begin to learn. Often the best stroke is the one that keeps you upright on the board - whatever helps you maintain balance is the correct stroke for you.
- Keep momentum - as you come out of your turn and want to go straight again, keep paddling. Just like in riding a bike, the best technique is to always keep yourself in motion to maintain balance
- Just like in all things in life - practice, practice, practice! The more you try, the more you will probably fall, but the more you fall, the quicker you will succeed. Keep trying every time you are on the water, and soon enough you'll be turning with ease!
As always - we have something for the visual learners out there.
If reading how to do a pivot turn is not clear enough, below is a short video showing the exact motions you will need to practice to increase your balance and conquer the pivot turn.
Check it out!
Give this new motion a shot the next time you are out on the water and...
Let us know how it goes!
And of course, even with the falls, the failures, and the eventual triumphs...
Remember to...
Stay stoked!
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