Proven Techniques for Powering your Standup Paddleboard Rental

Standup paddleboards are fast becoming the go-to method for reaching out of way spots throughout the Indian River Lagoon ecosystem and other wild places. While motorized boats will get you between point A and point B much faster, their noise and speed makes it virtually impossible to fully experience the area’s natural wonders.

Before paddleboards came onto the scene, kayaks were the preferred non-motorized way to reach those out of the way places.

In recent years though, many outdoor enthusiasts have found the standup paddleboard to be an easy way to see BOTH land-based creatures like the Blue Heron, Egret and Sea Turtle as well as aquatic species like the Alligator, Manatee and Stingray.

If you’re a novice to paddleboarding, you may be a little nervous about venturing into the backwater areas around the Banana River Aquatic Preserve, Pine Island Conservation Area and other spots in this dynamic estuarine ecosystem.

Knowing how to paddle one of these boards is one of the most critical things to learn before setting out. Fortunately, it isn’t rocket science, and only requires you to remember one simple rule.

Continue reading to learn more about proven paddling techniques to ensure you’re piloting your standup paddleboard in the direction you want to go.

Techniques for effectively piloting your standup paddleboard rental…

In the simplest terms, the most important thing you need to remember when paddling a standup board or canoe is the following:

Paddle on the left, the board moves to the right. Paddle on the right, the board moves to the left.

While that’s easy enough to remember, actually applying it out on the water can be somewhat confusing. When you steer your car for example, you turn the wheel the way you want to go, not the opposite. The same is true on most powerboats.

And although we’d love to think that’s all there is to it, that just isn’t the case.

For starters, if you want to go straight, you will have to switch between the left and right side.

The standard approach is to paddle around 4-5 strokes on one side, switch to the other side for 4-5 strokes, then back again. It’s possible for you to paddle more or fewer strokes depending on the currents, but on average, 4-5 strokes per side is the sweet spot for keeping yourself moving in a straight direction.

If you want to move right or left, simply continue paddling on the opposite side until you’re pointing in the direction you want to go. Once you reach this point, switch your paddle to the other side to straighten your path.

Besides the basic rule of paddling on the opposite side from where you want to go, another important thing to keep in mind is how you hold your paddle.

If you’re rowing on the right side of the standup paddleboard, you will hold the top of the paddle with your left hand and keep your right hand about halfway down the shaft. Conversely, if you’re rowing on the left side, you will place your right hand on the top of paddle and keep your left hand about halfway down the shaft.

Also, keep your arms straight when putting the blade into the water and pulling it towards you. As you reach forward to put the blade into the water, you will twist your torso toward the same side you’re paddling on. As you move the blade, your torso will naturally move back to a normal position. In a way, your abdominal or “core” muscles are working just as much as your arms to propel the boat forward.

Additional standup paddleboard techniques to keep in mind for occasional situations…

Understanding the basic rule of paddling on one side to make the paddleboard go the opposite way is sufficient about 80% of the time.

However, there are certain situations where you may need to employ a different stroke, including:

·         Backing up or stopping – If you find yourself in a spot where you can’t go left or right and need to back up, or you need to stop abruptly, you will simply reverse your stroke. The same rule of paddling on the opposite side of the direction you want to go (left vs. right) still applies.

·         Turning quickly – If you need to turn left or right really quick, you can employ what’s known as a sweep stroke. What you do is lean out slightly, place the paddle into the water and make a wide “sweeping” motion toward the back of your paddleboard. Doing this will make your board turn left or right more abruptly.

·         Moving the paddle board left or right without turning – Let’s say you’re at shore but not quite close enough. If you need to pull yourself closer to something, simply place your paddle slightly away from the board toward the spot you’re trying to get closer to and pull the paddle toward you.

If you want to move away from a spot but keep your board pointing in the same direction, place your paddle next to the board on the side you’re trying to move away from and push it away from the vessel.

Again, the most important rule to remember is that the paddleboard will move in the opposite direction of where you’re paddling. For the most part, you will be moving in a forward direction, but in limited circumstances, you may need to stop abruptly, backup or move the board perpendicular to the direction it’s facing.

If this all seems a little confusing, that’s okay. If you’re using a stand up paddleboard rental and guide service, an expert will show you all of the strokes you will need to know for safely piloting the craft through the water.

If you’re visiting Orlando or the Space Coast region, Calypso Kayaking offers guided tours or stand up paddleboard rentals for exploring the wild parts of the Indian River Lagoon. We invite you to visit CalypsoKayaking.com to learn more, or contact us about a standup paddleboard rental or guided trip today!