Three Tips to Improve Your Stand-up Paddleboarding Skills

Trained diver Edwin Hammond Meredith is an avid outdoors enthusiast and skilled athlete. Edwin Hammond Meredith participates in several water sports, including surfing, scuba diving, and stand-up paddleboarding.

In stand-up paddleboarding, participants stand on a large board much like the first surfboards and paddle across calm water. Paddleboarding is relatively easy to learn. However, if done incorrectly, paddleboards can be difficult to navigate and can even cause injuries. Some tips for improving paddleboarding techniques include:

Get the right equipment: Paddleboard paddles come in different lengths, and working with a paddle that isn’t a proper fit can lead to poor technique. In general, paddleboarders should purchase a paddle that exceeds their height by 8 to 10 inches.

Have the right posture: Paddleboarders should engage abdominals and keep their backs straight while standing. They should also avoid bending too deeply at the knees, as this can hinder paddling effectiveness.

Hold the paddle correctly: Another common mistake is to hold the paddle shaft too tightly or placing the hands in the wrong position. The left hand should be on top when paddling on the right side of the board. The opposite is true on the left side.