Stand Up Paddle Basics

We suggest that you test a SUP several times on flat water, without wind or currents, in order to find a good paddling technique before you go out in the waves. The most ideal is getting out on a lake or a river.

Try to so this accompanied by an experienced SUPer on your first outings and/or at least ask questions to SUPers active on our GONG Forum.

Never start learning in a crowded line up or beach. You may cause a potential danger. One must know how to maneuver, turn precisely and stay in one place and with good balance before you start going after more experiences.

In function with your size, and the Board that you have, it may be that your first attempts are more wet than dry !!! On a 12’0 you will be sure to make it up in a few minutes.

Consider the Board : A 12′ is a normal Board, and 11′ is a technical Board, a 10′ is a Board for experts and a 9′ is for the elite. And yes, unfortunately, you need length and volume to be comfortable on a SUP.

Remember, it’s better to have a blast on a Board that’s too big than have a hard time on something that sins and is pretty.

Be sure not to ride a Board that’s too short in the beginning. You gain nothing in performance and it can turn quickly into a nightmare because the sport looks so easy when the conditions are good.

The gear is a key element in SUP, much more than in Surfing, because we are permanently on top of it, if it is not adapted to you, the ordeal will be bad and go on all the time and in every session.

The Paddle in and of itself is a formidable tool that will give you power and agility. And it will allow you to move these bigger Boards as if they were tiny surf Boards. But only if you use 100% of the Paddle.

Never surf a real SUP without using your Paddle; Without this support in the turns, your SUP Board is a log. Your style and your moves will be reckless and unsightly.

Do Not Surf without a Leash. It can be a cumbersome accessory but it will help to not lose your Board, and above all avoid from hurting other people with your SUP. (Not only other Surfers but people in the shorebreak). Whatever your skill level, think of others and do not surf without a Leash!

From a technical standpoint, one must always have the feet parallel to the axis of the Board for rowing (from the center stringer). Never paddle with your feet in a traditional surf stance. You will damage your back, fall no stop and cut your mobility in half.

It is the lateral balance that is difficult to manage so place your feet on each side of the Board, never in a surf stance. This remark goes for all transition maneuvers in which you must have a foot on each side of the Board, the closet to the rail as possible, so always on each side of the Board.

Your toes should always be 100% pointing forward, even in tricks and other turns. Don’t turn your foot when you back it up to turn, leave it facing the nose. You will have 10 times more balance.

Wax your rails to gain stability. Your feet will slip often off the deck close to the rails without wax, often called the ‘castrator’ fall.

Wax your rails for better hold and also for getting your Board back easier. These Boards are heavy, do what you need to do to get all the luck on your side so it doesn’t escape you, especially from having it pushed back to land if you break your Leash.

Your feet should be exactly the same distance from the back and more or less in the middle of the Board, depending on how the volume is repartitioned. Rowing at an angle brings you nothing unless you in the take-off (or need hoist the Board), or sometimes in certain conditions that are related to heavy winds.

You should be paddling facing forward, as you would if you were prone rowing on a surfboard, and not as you would if you were standing up surfing. Paddle straight, surf at an angle.

Always keep your torso facing the wind. You will often fall when maneuvering in the waves because your torso is crooked. The minute you are facing one rail with your back to the other you risk falling, even if your feet are well placed. Use your arms and shoulders to spread your amplitude.

Your feet should be spread apart to shoulder width, depending on your comfort. The more your feet are towards the exterior of the Board, the more balance you have. Learn to use a ‘Duck Foot’ position for better balance in certain situations.

In high winds, to offset your feet(5-10cm) in a crosswind, this is good to avoid making a mistake on the edge and not allow wind to rush up under your Board. You’ll find yourself with your downwind foot on the center stringer and your upwind foot completely on the rail.

Your legs should be loose, slightly bent at the knees, your hips play the role of shock absorber. It’s the lower half of your body, below the waist, that handles your balance, the top half is dedicated to propulsion. Disassociate the work the bottom half does from the top half.

Your feet are mobile. Don’t hesitate to move about to get better balance and to feel the Board.

Don’t take off running towards the front or back of the Board so as to not lop side it. For this, keep you margins. Never remain upright or hunched over your Board. Always keep in mind an exit that gives the margin to rebalance towards the back or the front of the Board.

The best thing to do when you start losing your balance when paddling or rowing is, do nothing. Calm it down, slow down and lower your center of gravity and hold your paddle with BOTH hands. Archimedes thrust will flatten the Board back out.

If the Board is stable but flat on the water, it’s probably because you’re too far forward.

If the board rears and becomes unstable, it’s because you’re too far back.

Always lower your center of gravity in the face of wind to keep balance.

In the wind, and when stopped, the Board will reverse. In this situation, the edges are reversed (depending on Board shape and especially the Fin set up, the longer they are the worse the phenomena) and balance is very hard to maintain, especially on smaller Boards. Never let your Board drift in reverse. Always keep the Paddle Blade in the water so you can maintain balance and to insure the Boards immobility, you must row to stay stagnant

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Rivers, flat water, family and friends share easily on SUP!

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Revolutionary gear for revolutionary people:

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All girls are in love with SUP!

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Powerful rides on GONG SUP:

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Want some fun with your kid?!!!?

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Is it possible to turn a 12′ of 220 liters???

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SUPer : Patrice Guénolé et GONG Surfboards.

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