How to stand on your paddle board

Ideally, your want to start in shallow and calm water when getting on your LIVE paddle board

• Stay in shallow water, but navigate your board to a depth where the fins aren't touching the bottom surface
• Climb on your paddle board while kneeling and center yourself on the board
• Take a few paddle strokes on each side to give your board some glide
• Slowly climb up from your knees, one foot at a time and re-center yourself on the board
• Keep your feet about shoulder width apart and knees slightly bent

Paddle board basic forward stroke

The key to a good paddle board stroke is properly using your paddle as a lever and engaging your core muscles to provide an efficient and powerful stroke

• You want one arm positioned on top of the paddle, with the other arm straight and positioned lower on the paddle (if paddling on your left, the left arm should be the lower arm with your right on top and visa versa if paddling on your right)
• Your lower arm should act as the fulcrum point of the lever (staying relatively still), while the top hand is used to move the lever (paddle)
• To begin, move your top hand closer to your body to push the blade of the paddle forward
• Insert the paddle blade into the water, then use your core muscles along with your top hand to push yourself past the paddle (stroking the paddle backwards)
• Repeat that stroke several times, and be sure to switch sides to maintain a straight line while paddling (remembering to switch arm position on the paddle when you do switch)