Tips to help you get ready to turn your paddleboard
To turn with style and ease, let's first go over the basics: getting into a good position on your SUP, having the right attitude and the correct paddling technique.
How to turn a stand-up paddleboard
With a little practice and a good technique, turning will soon be a piece of cake.
Have you followed all our advice on how to stand-up paddleboard? You are now ready to make your first turns and move around on a body of water!
How to stand on your sup
By adopting the right posture on your SUP, you will quickly improve your stability on the board and your movements will become smoother. Once you have mastered standing up on your SUP, remember to position your feet in the middle of your board: on either side of the carry handle and shoulder-width apart.
Then don't forget to keep your knees slightly bent so that they can act as shock absorbers, keep your back straight and engage your core muscles to protect your lower back.
How to paddle a sup
Before turning your SUP, you must learn to paddle correctly and in a straight line. Once your paddle is properly adjusted and your hands are in the right position, it's time to perform your first paddle strokes!
To do this, reach out as far as possible towards the front of your board then pull the blade of your paddle back to your feet, using the hand on the shaft like a lever.
Remember to engage your whole body in your movements for more power. You can then repeat the sequence several times and then swap sides to continue moving forward in a straight line.
The different ways to turn a stand-up paddleboard
For beginners, there are several easy ways to turn your SUP while keeping control of your board and your balance. After that, we will share with you the technique used by experienced paddlers, which requires a little more practice!
The basics of turning a paddleboard: the classic turn
Turning while continuing to paddle from the front to the back of your board is the most intuitive way to change direction. This "classic" turn requires you to paddle on the side opposite to the direction you want to go:
- to turn left: paddle on the right;
- to turn right: paddle on the left.
For maximum effect, remember to reach out as far as you can in front of you and pull the paddle back in line with your feet.
This method is not the fastest and does not allow you to turn on a sixpence, but it is the easiest technique to perform.
The reverse-paddle turn, paddling backwards
If you want to turn faster and in a smaller space, this second method will be more efficient. On the other hand, we recommend only using this technique when stationary or at slow speeds because you will lose all inertia.
To perform a reverse-paddle turn, you paddle from the back of your board to the front on the same side that you want to go. This technique is more powerful; your board will turn faster as it turns on the spot.
Step-back turn
The step-back or pivot turn lets you turn faster but it is also more challenging. Wait until you are comfortable on your SUP and get some practice if you are a beginner. This is the preferred turn of SUP racers and paddlers with long boards as the technique is more extreme than the first two techniques covered.
The move consists of stepping back as far as possible on your board in a surf stance: one foot in front and one behind, so that your back foot is level with the fin. Shift as much weight as possible to your back foot to lift the front of the board, then make circular movements with your paddle. Your board will turn in the direction you want quickly and on the spot. Be aware that there is a greater risk of falling off... this turn is very unstable!
Now that you can stand up on your board, get back on after a fall, paddle efficiently and turn, you are ready to head off on an adventure on the water! Check out the best paddleboarding spots in France, here. (hyperlink to how to find your spot)
