Hit and switch or corrections?

[XLR8]

I'm in my 2nd summer of SUP paddling but have many years of whitewater canoeing and big water canoe tripping behind me. I know how to use a paddle and am trying to translate what I know to SUP style.  Some corrective strokes do not respond  on a board with a finor fins like they do on a vessel like a canoe. I find the J stroke is not very helpful.  Bow draws are helpful, stern draws work but are not really needed.  Braces are helpful when paddling through the shore break and surfing in the great lakes surf.

I find that when I am paddling on relatively calm water (1-3' great lakes swells) I tend to paddle on my left side ( right hand controls the paddle). I do a few straight strokes, a bow draw, maybe a crossbow stroke to correct.  This has me generally running a straight line.

I have also tried what I call hit and switch...two or three strokes on the left, switch sides and two or three strokes on the right.  I tend to waddle a bit when I do this.
I'm interested in hearing what folks are doing when paddling for distance in a relatively straight line.

I also find that I am more comfortable using a snowboard-like stance rather than a parrallel stance.  My natural comfort is to have left foot forward and paddle on the left side.  I'm trying to not get too comfortable relying on one technique.

My board is an old One Design wind surfer board: 12'6" long, 27" wide in the middle and almost 5" thick.  I'm in the market for an 11' or 11'6" board that is 29 " wide.  Mine is really heavy..maybe 40 lbs.

Any thoughts on what I've said would be appreciated.  I know I haven't really asked a question but I'm interested in improving.

[DavidJohn]

My board is an old One Design wind surfer board: 12'6" long, 27" wide in the middle and almost 5" thick.  I'm in the market for an 11' or 11'6" board that is 29 " wide.  Mine is really heavy..maybe 40 lbs.

Any thoughts on what I've said would be appreciated.  I know I haven't really asked a question but I'm interested in improving.

I used something like that for almost two years before I upgraded to something better..and I look back now and think that I should have done it much sooner...Back then the main reason to upgrade was the weight. Lifting it onto the roof of my car myself was hard work and only a matter of time before I would do myself an injury.

I now have a Naish 11'6" and it's about half the weight..and it so much faster and more fun to paddle..The biggest difference is that the Naish will surf..the old windsurfer would not surf very well..It would go left when I want it to go right. That was very off-putting.

Try using a slightly staggered stance and rather than use a fancy paddle stroke and just use the rail more and keep the paddle as vertical as you can..This will help more for keeping you paddling straight...IMO

Welcome to the Zone.

DJ

[XLR8]

Thanks for your reply.  I have looked at the Naish 11'6" and have seen many good reviews. 

When you talk about using the rail I have been trying that and have felt like the board is not responding as it should...probably due to the design of it.  If I'm paddling on the left and want to continue tracking straight, the board will want to begin to swing right if I do nothing.  I'm assuming I sholuld drop my left rail to cut in that direction and continue to paddle on the left.  It seems to me that if I'm paddling a slightly staggered stance with my right foot back than I could also use that foot to increase the amount of swing th board has to the left.

Well...anyway it's a lot of fun and I would like to get a much lighter board.  I bet I wouldbe amazed at the speed and glide difference.  I don't see anyone SUP paddling in my neck of the lake.  Most days I don't see anyone on the beaches except at this time in July.

[flipperade]

If the rails on your board are very rounded then it wont work very well, also there is some debate if using the rail in efficient as this will reduce the planning area of the board, have to say I havent noticed any real loss of efficiency, I would imagine the narrower the board and the harder the rails would determine this?

Adrian.

[PonoBill]

A steady bow draw will keep most boards going straight as a string. I can even do it on a JL 11er, which is known as requiring a lot of correction. Sinking the rail helps as well, but the most important part is getting the paddle down deep enough so the shaft can be next to the board and half the paddle under it. A lot less side thrust that way.

I did a video on Ke Nalu about paddling straight. http://www.kenalu.com/2008/04/02/how-to-paddle-straight-2/ It needs an update, but it might be useful.

You'll also find that how you weight the board can be important. If you stand forward of the center point of the board it will often track staighter

[river]

Stack your hands while paddling.  I.e. while paddling on the left your right hand should be directly over the top of your left hand so the shaft of your paddle is Vertical and visa versa.  A vertical shaft angle will make your board go straight a horizontal shaft angle will make your board turn.  Hopefully that makes sense.

[XLR8]

Good discussion so far...river's comment on keeping your padle vertical is important.  And I've learned in the last few days out that the bow draw is basically the essential stroke.

I'm planning to experiment with where I stand on the board.  I'm wondering if standing just front of center will slow me down.  Maybe the tradeoff is worth it because I won't be correcting as much.

They're calling fro waist to shoulder high waves tonight and tomorrow morning so I'll be playing in the surf, not distance paddling.

[Poppy]

river,
good to know, I'll try that......
Aloha

[adios pantalones]

Hey all, new kid here.

Nice to see a little discusion of stroke technique. Like tcoaster I have some canoe and kayak back ground. There is so much to be said for a smooth, efficient, pretty stroke. I've found a mix of a bow draw and paddle side rail dip that allows me to track straight and paddle to exhaustion on one side before switching.
I've always found switching just to steer ungainly.

To the OP, if I stagger stand, I tend to paddle opposite the front foot. (think high kneel) I find that sinking the rail comes not so much weighting the down foot as much as unweighting the offside. Subtle difference, but worth a try.

Great forum!

[jjue]

This was a great and useful thread for me ... I also  have some canoe and kayak  background ..    yesterday  did a  3hr flatwater touring session  in the Sacramento California  river delta ,   I really found  PonoBills  vid on paddling straight helpful ..  I think  the  bow draw  and rail  side dip  really  is the equivalent in SUP ing to  the J stroke in  single person canoeing ... Like  adios  says  ,    with that stroke ,  I was able to  do   basically  the entire  tour  paddling on one side  holding a straight line , I prefer to paddle on my right  , and even turn to the right when necessary by  using a stronger corrective bow draw ...   by the way   , lots of questions from kayakers and  canoeists about  SUP , there were quite a few folks out yesterday ... ....Even though  my area is an active area for flat water canoeing and kayaking on rivers, lakes and delta ... most folks have never seen  SUP  ..

ps . one small disadvantage of  Standup over kayaks and canoes is our fin ...
at the beginning of    the trip there was a real shallow weedy section  that I had to negotiate and had to   clear weeds off my fin  periodically  ... while the folks on canoes and kayaks just sliced through , once I got into  more open water , there  was no way I would trade my   SUP for a  canoe or kayak however..   I really enjoy how you use your  whole body   in Standup  vs just the arms   in sit down paddling ..