Intermediate
Paddling Technique Ultimate Guide: Power, Longevity & Efficiency
Coach's take: Excellent, clear and deep - explains the why behind every cue.
3.8
Paddling technique
Surfing / Popular
Paddle efficiently with body position, stroke mechanics, and breathing control.
What coaches agree on
- Find your sweet spot on the board by lining up the stringer with your chest, then sliding forward or back until the nose sits just above the water.
- Lift your chest and head slightly to arch your back while paddling. This switches on your back and core muscles for a stronger stroke and helps you see the waves ahead.
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- Paddle with cupped hands and take long, full strokes, reaching forward and pulling all the way through past your hip.
Common mistakes
- A very common mistake is reaching in with a straight arm and a low elbow instead of catching the water with a high elbow, which saps power from the stroke.
Intermediate
Top 3 Ways to Paddle Like World Champion Kelly Slater - Surfing Paddling Technique Revealed
Coach's take: Specific, well-explained cues plus a usable drill.
3.6
Beginner
How Surfers Catch Waves | Unbroken and White Water Waves
Coach's take: Good step-by-step progression, safe way to practice.
3.5
Beginner
Learning to Paddle Out the Back (Without Relying on Perfect Conditions)
Coach's take: One of the better beginner paddle-out breakdowns I've seen — practical and well explained.
3.5
Beginner
How to Paddle on a Surfboard - Top 2 concepts to optimize your paddling technique | How to surf
Coach's take: Strong, detailed stroke breakdown despite the course pitch.
3.5
Beginner
Surf Simply's Question Time: Paddling Position on the Surfboard + Fins: Fiberglass or Plastic?
Coach's take: Great explanation of finding your paddling sweet spot, with a real drill to test it.
3.4
Intermediate
Surfing Paddling Technique - two different types of strokes to use when paddling a surfboard
Coach's take: Simple, useful framework for two paddling styles.
3.1
Beginner
How To Stand Up Paddleboard, Kneeling
Coach's take: Clean, accurate basics on the paddle stroke - good starting point.
3.1
Beginner
Don't Make This Huge and Common Surfing Mistake
Coach's take: Explains why the mistake matters, not just what it looks like.
3.1
Beginner
How To Stop Getting So Tired And Sore From Paddling
Coach's take: Solid, usable cues on stroke mechanics and body position — minus the merch pitch at the end.
3.1
Intermediate
Huge Paddling Technique Mistakes FIXED
Coach's take: Useful real-world tips, a bit rambly.
3.0
Intermediate
How to Stand Up Paddleboard, SUP, The Step Back Turn (pivot turn)
Coach's take: Detailed, technically sound breakdown of the turn with useful nuance on foot and blade control.
2.7
Beginner
How to Pass the Break on a Longboard | How to Surf
Coach's take: Clear, practical breakdown of three ways to punch through waves.
2.7
Intermediate
Paddle Your Surfboard Faster & Longer | The Correct Technique & Practice Exercises
Coach's take: Good cues, but the comedy bit gets in the way.
2.7
Beginner
How Surfers Can Develop More Paddling Power
Coach's take: Smart, well-sequenced gym progression for paddle strength.
2.6
Intermediate
SUP The Step Back Turn (pivot turn)
Coach's take: Clear technical cues on foot and paddle positioning for the pivot turn.
2.5
Beginner
Stand Up Paddle Boarding - getting started
Coach's take: Good starting point, but it only scratches the surface of paddle stroke technique.
2.5
Beginner
How to Surf Like a Pro in 25 Minutes
Coach's take: Clear and practical, good starting point for beginners.
2.5
Beginner
How To Paddle Into Waves Like A Pro | Learn To Surf
Coach's take: Useful concepts, but you need the video for the visual cues.
2.5
Intermediate
How To Paddle Like A Pro
Coach's take: Good tips but relies a lot on footage you're not seeing here, plus a merch plug at the end.
2.5
Beginner
How To Surf: Paddle Perfectly With This Technique
Coach's take: Correct but basic, lacks depth.
2.5
Intermediate
Does Kicking Help You Catch Waves? | Surf Paddling Technique: How Kicking Can Boost Your Speed
Coach's take: Honest, evidence-based, doesn't oversell the point.
2.3
Beginner
How to catch waves - (A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners)
Coach's take: Solid, thorough — more about timing than stroke mechanics, but worth watching.
2.2
Beginner
Surf Simply Tutorials: Paddling To Spot X
Coach's take: Superb lesson on positioning, just off the named skill.
2.2
Intermediate
Surf Coach Board Paddling Technique
Coach's take: Solid technical cueing, adjacent discipline.
2.0
Intermediate
Your Paddling Is Ruining Your Pop Up | Surf Lesson
Coach's take: Useful paddling insights buried in a rambling all-round surf analysis.
2.0
Beginner
How to Catch an Unbroken Wave | How to Surf - Paddling into Green Waves
Coach's take: Solid content, but the language is a barrier here.
1.8
Intermediate
How to Catch More Waves with Less Effort | Positioning
Coach's take: Decent paddling-line tips.
1.8
Beginner
Are You Struggling To Pop Up? Try This!
Coach's take: Good positioning tip if you can find it past the tangents.
1.6
Beginner
Surf Fitness with Coach Teale: Paddling Strength & Stamina
Coach's take: Solid conditioning work that supports paddling, well explained.
1.4
Intermediate
How To Stand Up Paddleboard, SUP, Paddle Slap, Low Brace
Coach's take: Clear brace cues, though it's a quick, narrow tip rather than a full technique breakdown.
1.4
Beginner
Increase Paddle Power with This Simple 1 Minute Trick!!
Coach's take: Quick, clear drill you can actually do from the description alone.
1.4
Beginner
How to Stand Up Paddleboard, Basic Paddling
Coach's take: Clean beginner SUP stroke primer — useful for SUP specifically.
1.4
Beginner
Basic Paddling, SUP
Coach's take: Crisp, correct beginner SUP stroke — handy, if its SUP youre after.
1.4