How to Paddle your SUP in a Straight Line

For more information about all things stand-up paddleboarding, please subscribe to our channel @supboardguide by hitting the SUBSCRIBE button above, hit the thumbs-up to like this vid, and check out SUPBoardGuide.com by clicking the link below: https://www.supboardguide.com/ Do you find it hard to hold a straight course on your stand-up paddleboard? If so, you’re absolutely not alone. This is one of the most often-asked questions in all of paddleboarding; how do I keep the board going in a straight line? So that’s what we’re going to be discussing in this video. First thing to be aware of is that it might not be your fault! When you’re paddling into a breeze, the wind is always trying to turn the board around. As will any current flow. Your choice of board may also be playing a part. Wide boards naturally turn more. Short boards naturally turn more. So if you’re on a short wide board, it’s definitely going to be turny! If the problem is that your board always seems to want to turn one particular way (i.e. always to the right, for example), this too may not be due to you doing anything wrong at all. As already mentioned, it may be due to the conditions, with the wind or current pushing more onto one side than the other. But it might simply be that you’re stronger on one side than the other, as we discuss at 1’55”. Most people are functionally asymmetric in terms of body power, especially if you play racquet sports or golf regularly. Anything that builds up one side of your body more than the other, will naturally introduce an asymmetry into your paddling. In the video we discuss what can be done in this situation. It could also be a gear problem. There are a number of equipment issues that can cause your board to track more one way than the other. We discuss these at 2’40”. If all these possible causes are ruled out, then it’s probably something to do with your paddling. For starters, let’s just check off another easy one. Are you standing in the right place on the board? If you’re too far back then the board will be far more pivotal and quick to turn. Assuming this isn’t the problem, then the most likely cause is that you are actually paddling a turning stroke rather than a purely forward stroke, as we discuss at 4’10”. Essentially, as detailed and demonstrated at 5’30”, straight paddling is all about getting the paddle shaft as vertical as possible. And this is surprisingly hard! It needs to feel almost like you are hooking the paddle underneath the the board. As discussed also at 6’05”, it’s important that your paddle is tracking straight and true to the course that the board is trying to take. Don’t follow the side of the board with your paddle, that quickly becomes a turning stroke. It’s also really important to ensure that your paddle is actually deep enough in the water. If it’s not fully engaged, it tends to flutter and change course as you try to apply power, which quickly leads to turning. Next up, and discussed at 7’20” is the difference between pulling yourself forward, and pushing yourself forward - the latter being a classic way of introducing a whole lot more turn into each stroke. Finally, a couple of things NOT to do. Firstly, as discussed at 9’00, don’t worry about doing J strokes, draw strokes or any other form of steering stroke. Yes, they’re cool tricks, and they do definitely have their place in many more advanced paddleboarding scenarios, but you absolutely don’t need them to paddle straight. They actually take a lot of power out of your regular stroke, and you are much better off learning to paddle properly. And likewise, paddling straight is NOT about putting weight on one side or other of your board. You will encounter this myth all over the internet! But it’s complete fallacy. Indeed, we are planning a vid specifically to debunk this, along with a number of other weird myths that have taken hold in the SUP world. For now, just trust us that paddling in a straight line is not about having your weight on one side of the board or the other. So we hope you find these tips of use, and they assist you in keeping your board tracking in a straight line. We hope you enjoy the video. Bill Dawes has been coaching SUP at all levels for 15 years, during which time he has built up a vast amount of knowledge and experience in understanding how to teach the sport. Check out his other videos on our channel, which cover everything from beginner mistakes to advanced paddling technique. If you'd like to book a personal online coaching session with Bill, check out www.supcoachonline.com