Bought a SUP recently (9'2"), and just started playing around in the waves. I can easily paddle into small waves and get going no fuss, but when I head further back into the bigger waves (approx shoulder height) I'm not so stable on the takeoff. I find it easier to paddle in on my knees and then stand up, or worse yet, paddle in with my arms on my stomach and then stand up.
Is this a legitimate technique or am I being a pussy and need to learn to paddle in standing up?
Cheers.
Select to expand quotemattyjee said..
Bought a SUP recently (9'2"), and just started playing around in the waves. I can easily paddle into small waves and get going no fuss, but when I head further back into the bigger waves (approx shoulder height) I'm not so stable on the takeoff. I find it easier to paddle in on my knees and then stand up, or worse yet, paddle in with my arms on my stomach and then stand up.
Is this a legitimate technique or am I being a pussy and need to learn to paddle in standing up?
Cheers.
i hate people like you...sell your sup now and start lawn bowling...ffs how do you learn to get better by being on your knees,except to get a mouth full off ...... next you will start a thread on that you have lost your paddle.....
or take up kitesurfing and troll their threads...they love man pussy
You're a PUSSY.
But don't worry it takes ages to learn to paddle in easily.
A couple of hints:
1. Make sure you bend your knees.
2. Lean forward not back.
3. Take strong constant strokes and don't stop paddling until the wave has you.
4. Paddle on one side only as you will lose concentration and momentum if you change sides.
5. You could try being in surfers stance as you paddle for the wave.
6. Have lots of fun.
Hope this helps.
ET.
The main reason I was doing it is because I'd stand up paddle into the first wave but stack it and then the second wave is right on me so don't have time to stand up and paddle in again. Usually just got time to slide on my board on my stomach and paddle like **** with my arms to not get sucked up and spat out. Found I always caught the wave this way.
Thanks for the info, its only my second day at it. I'll keep trying to stay on my feet. I think tip 2 and tip 5 above is what I need most.
Select to expand quotemattyjee said..
Bought a SUP recently (9'2"), and just started playing around in the waves. I can easily paddle into small waves and get going no fuss, but when I head further back into the bigger waves (approx shoulder height) I'm not so stable on the takeoff. I find it easier to paddle in on my knees and then stand up, or worse yet, paddle in with my arms on my stomach and then stand up.
Is this a legitimate technique or am I being a pussy and need to learn to paddle in standing up?
Cheers.
Hey Matty,
As you can see from the answers above: No it's not a legitimate technique and yes, you do need to learn to paddle in standing up. But don't be hard on yourself, it takes a bit of time and practice. If you want to lie or kneel, there is no law against it, but it's not so efficient and every wave you do it on is one you could have been practising stand-up paddling. Watch what the other guys do. It's a real advantage to be standing up to spot the wave early and get moving in anticipation of it. Keep your paddle strokes regular (not too hard) as if you were simply trying to paddle in front of the wave as it approaches the beach and if your rhythm and timing is right, your pace will mean you will pick the wave up nicely (though it's almost as if the wave picks you up). And yes, move into the surfers stance when you have a little momentum. Standing up means you spot the wave early, you meet it more efficiently, you paddle on to it better, and if you want extra speed you can easily dig the paddle in a couple of times to really propel yourself through that first section.
I mean it's called STAND UP Paddle for a reason. 
It will come to you quickly with practise. Good on you for having a crack. Stick with it.
I don't freak out much but when I see this type of activity from a sup surfer,I freak out and it just looks so wrong.
just go somewhere alone and get it right
there is no bigger turn off for the line up then someone does this.
it p1sses everybody off including other sup pers. everyone gets nervous
i've seen guys calling waves while kneel paddling for a wave- that's just the rudest thing ever
Your not a pussy... some of the best in Australia still paddle prone and don't get ribbed for it.
Surf stance helps as you paddle for the wave, gives you better fore/aft stability.
Most of all have fun and steer clear of others until you're more confident.
Select to expand quoteMixup said..
Your not a pussy... some of the best in Australia still paddle prone and don't get ribbed for it.
Surf stance helps as you paddle for the wave, gives you better fore/aft stability.
Most of all have fun and steer clear of others until you're more confident.
Are ypu saying some of the best stand up paddle surfers still paddle prone into waves?
Yep you're a pussy.
But there is hope...
Get a lesson with a SUP coach to learn correct technique. Of sll the things to try this will help more than anything else.
Also stay away from crowded lineups. Thats the easiest way to kook everyone out and give the pronies another reason to hate SUPs (disclaimer... I surf prone and SUP so no bias one way or the other)
And as has been said before... Nobody ever learnt to get it right without getting it wrong lots if times before.
Just try to jump/ move towards the back, tail of the board will give you more control and less chance off nose diving or catching a rail
Select to expand quotehusq2100 said..Mixup said..
Your not a pussy... some of the best in Australia still paddle prone and don't get ribbed for it.
Surf stance helps as you paddle for the wave, gives you better fore/aft stability.
Most of all have fun and steer clear of others until you're more confident.
Are ypu saying some of the best stand up paddle surfers still paddle prone into waves?
Not sure about into waves but I have heard a few that paddle out prone...to each their own.
Funny that nobody seems to worry about that.
mattyjee, go for it and have fun!
Select to expand quoteJasonProsser said..
No holding back on this forum 
True, but I love it.
Thanks all for the straight talk. I am practicing alone with no one around for miles (at a nice break too) so if i didn't admit it here no one would have to be "freaking out" or "getting turned off". I'm getting there, nose diving is probably the main issue. I thought I was being a pussy but thought I'd check first in case it's semi normal.
Select to expand quoteChris_M said...
Yeah, sorry, you are being a big, fragrant, seeping pussy
Haha
Select to expand quotemattyjee said..
...I am practicing alone with no one around for miles (at a nice break too) so if i didn't admit it here no one would have to be "freaking out" or "getting turned off". I'm getting there, nose diving is probably the main issue. I thought I was being a pussy but thought I'd check first in case it's semi normal.
That's the best place to learn! So you're doing that right. Staying away from the crowds & other surfers gives you time to get used to your balance, moving your weight around the board & timing at which you step back etc. without needing to worry about getting in the way and/or potentially injuring others, until your confident enough in your paddling to be able to avoid getting into most problematic situations.
As for paddling into waves kneeling/lying down, I have to agree with most of the others on here that it just shouldn't be done on purpose!
In a crowded/busy line up (so maybe not quite a parallel to your situation) its just damn scary watching someone on a big board fumbling around trying to prone paddle into a wave, paddle lying sideways taking out anyone within a close distance on either side, taking the drop still lying down, then trying to standup and wobbling all over the place looking completely out of control before falling off and their board potentially taking out anyone in a 7m radius of where they are. It's this sort of stuff that's the reason so many surfers still give us attitude simply because were paddling a sup (regardless of our ability).
The other big thing I've noticed is that the few guys who regularly kneel/prone paddle their sups into waves tend to progress MUCH MUCH MUCH SLOWER than those who force themselves to learn to do it right from the start - so it's not really even helping them!
You've got the first bit right by avoiding the crowds, but the fastest way you'll learn to get comfortable catching waves standing up is to CATCH THEM STANDING UP in the first place. If you're comfortable on the smaller inside waves, head further out, but maybe start trying to pick the fatter sections on the shoulder of the waves and gradually move deeper as your confidence/ability improves. Eventually it will 'click' and feel natural and you'll get used to where to stand and when to step back, but you'll never feel this if you're not standing up in the first place.
Just keep getting out there, enjoy your time on the water and you'll reap the rewards of the effort you've put in!
your board is too small - get a wider board. Makes all the difference.
Probably the #1 mistake if have seen with many xmas present SUPS on the beaches
30 inches or more for starting out.
looks way better too - no falling in or bum sticking out stance.
there will plenty of time to go for smaller boards once you can actually ride some surf (although i dont personally recommend it)
Matty head out in easy fuller waves till you get it dialed. it does take time to get the catching part sorted. its more fun catching fun little sliders than getting skull deagged by your leggie trying to get out thumping close outs
One bloke told me it takes 9 weeks before you are really comfortable with the whole process. If it is only your second day you are expecting a lot. Just have to keep at it. I bet you if you get a couple of weeks in surf you will have scored a few good ones.
SUPping can be the easiest sport in the world or one of the hardest depending on what board you are on, so depending on what width your board is like Matty says that could make a big difference. If you are on the right board than 2 days in you should be starting to get the feel of it, if your on the wrong board you could be going for a lot more than 9 weeks.
Also go and play around in the flat water to get used to the board. Most people think they are beyond this as they see people in the surf who make it look easy but that has come with plenty of time. This way when it comes time to catching waves you know how the board reacts and feels in different positions and all you have to do is worry about catching the wave as all the board work feels natural.
Select to expand quoteAseela said..
One bloke told me it takes 9 weeks before you are really comfortable with the whole process. If it is only your second day you are expecting a lot. Just have to keep at it. I bet you if you get a couple of weeks in surf you will have scored a few good ones.
I offer a 7 week coarse that will have you more than comfortable???.except for parting with your cash which will leave you feeling raped.
Select to expand quoteNewScotty said..
Did somebody mention pussy ?
Oh how I have missed you Scotty, welcome back.
ET.
Select to expand quote62mac said..
May I suggest you leave the paddle coffee mug in the carpark,welcome to longboarding
Fixed it mac
Hi All
I have a Fanatic Allwave 9/5 - now for a couple of months. I have never paddled a SUP before purchasing my board.
I have spent approx 20 to 30 hours now on the flat and 2 x 3 hour sessions in the surf.
From my experience one needs to get comfortable on the board learning to move around and balancing on the board. Similar to learning to ride a bike or skateboard. Practice on the flat seems to wire up the brain cells so that one balances and moves whilst not thinking about it too much.
From my experience, the surf is a whole different ballgame with the need to practice ones balance intensified.
On my first surf day out I just went into the large surf up at the Salt Resort at Kingscliff on an unpopulated section of beach well out of the flags and swimmers but still in view of the lifesavers - and learned simply to face the waves, stand up and then get dumped - over and over again. It took a couple of hours just to handle the big board and I learned a few hard lessons. My logic was to learn first what the worst would feel like when fresh and how to not get hit by the board and how to handle and get used to falling off.
On my second surf outing I picked a medium swell / wave size day and spent 3 hours simply standing on the board facing the oncoming variety of waves just paddling enough to stay in a stationary position and practicing balancing over the waves and using the paddle in the water as a brace. Staying stationary is hard so my logic is to master this first before paddling out past the waves.
Toward the end of 2 hours I seemed to get the hang of it and I could stay standing up more or less stationary in amongst the coming waves. I adjusted my paddle shorter and bent legs more and the trick is to keep the body centre of gravity constant whilst the board moves around and face each wave front on as best as possible.
On my next outing I am planning to simply paddle out past the waves and come back in without trying to surf anything other than for a bit of help returning to shore - over and over again until comfortable. After this I plan to learn how to paddle up and down the chop past the waves in an efficient and comfortable manner. Only after all of this would I attempt to really surf any wave as the board to me is too big and dangerous to learn in the surf other than by small steps.
Anyway, that is my 2c - I would be too scared to even catch a wave until able to stand up in all conditions as well as feeling 100% comfortable on the board.
As anything, there are always many ways to skin the cat so this simply my way of learning how to learn.
Cheers
