Do you narrow your stance on a tippy board?

[madmax]

27 inches?  I'm such a kook.  I get twitchy on my wife's 29" board.

I need a lot more lineup time. 

[RATbeachrider]

Zoo - 29.5.

[Zooport]

Zoo - 29.5.

Had it out at SanO yet?

[RATbeachrider]

Zoo - 29.5.

Had it out at SanO yet?

One time.  Mostly surfed the local beach breaks.

[SUPsideATX]

Perfect topic for me...been a member of the website for about a year, but first time posting. Two years experience Stand Up Paddle Boarding, but I'm trying to figure out which stance wide or narrow is better on a 10'6 31'' SUPATX board? I'm usually in a narrow stance with both feet touching each other, pointing on the side I'm paddling on (My narrow stance is pretty stable in flatwater). Feet are usually right in the middle of the board too.

[Zooport]

I'm finding that a narrow stance is better for me in the surf.  I somehow balance better that way.  Probably because I don't rely on the board as much for balance. 

[Sup-position]

Narrowest I can go is one foot on top of the other...

[PonoBill]

If you're going to move around on your board the only way you can is to start from a narrow stance. Lift one foot in a wide stance and the board flips. Best you can do is shuffle or jump. I think most people that are frozen in place are stuck because they think a wide stance is more stable. It's really not, but it takes a while to get you mind to believe that.

[nosarapaddlesurf]

Each board will have a slightly different sweet spot and each rider, depending on size, weight and skill will dial in their stance with more time on the water.

Here's my specific technique to start from on a lower volume board. Feet are staggered and about a hand width apart. The ball of my back foot lines up with the heal of my front foot.

When first standing up it's helpful to get your front foot in position and comfortably planted before standing up. Have the paddle lay across the board, with blade on your frontside (same side as your back foot); and as you stand up and set your back foot immediately plant your paddle on your frontside with a solid forward stroke. This will help you plane the board up and out of the water while maintaining stability. Keep your head up and follow up with a couple high cadence strokes to get your momentum.

[Zooport]

Is that a SUP or a submarine?  I'll bet it's tough to stay still and wait for waves on that Infinity.  What's the volume?

[Zooport]

If you're going to move around on your board the only way you can is to start from a narrow stance. Lift one foot in a wide stance and the board flips. Best you can do is shuffle or jump. I think most people that are frozen in place are stuck because they think a wide stance is more stable. It's really not, but it takes a while to get you mind to believe that.

Yeah, my mind is starting to believe it now.  My balance, while still not great, is the better for it.  Wide stance just does not work at all on my narrower boards.  The two big ones, it doesn't really matter. 

[nosarapaddlesurf]

Ha Zooport. The 1/4 mile paddle back from that offshore reef is always the worst. My board is 7'7" / 92 liters; I weigh around 185.

[Zooport]

Ha Zooport. The 1/4 mile paddle back from that offshore reef is always the worst. My board is 7'7" / 92 liters; I weigh around 185.

You da man.  My 8'3 X 28 is somewhere around 105 liters and I have to work to stay upright on that. 

[surfafrica]

I've been consciously trying to play around with different stances, but currently my most stable is shoulder width apart and slightly staggered. This is where my feet naturally go to if I stop thinking about it.  I do find that I jump into surf stance while I'm paddling in for a wave (before the wave has picked me up).

[coldsup]

I don't like too narrow....jus what feels comfy and natural slightly staggered.