Balance on a Paddle Board
If you are a beginner paddler, then one of your main goals should be to learn how to balance on a Paddle board. However, it can be difficult to do this if you are not used to being on the water and your body isn’t used to the movements of the board. The best way to overcome this is to do a bit of dry land practice before you get out on the water. There are a lot of different stability ball exercises you can do to improve your balance and coordination.
One of our favourites is the Jack-Knife – this involves starting in push up position on the ball and then moving your knees in to form a jack shape – it will help to strengthen the legs whilst improving balance. Another great exercise is the side-to-side jog on the ball. This helps to strengthen the core and improve balance at the same time. Both of these exercises will also improve your overall posture – a good posture is key to balancing on a paddleboard.
Once you are out on the water, it’s important to understand that your board is actually a lot more stable than it seems at first glance. It has what is called ‘secondary stability’ which is the built-in resistance it has to being tipped over by your bodyweight. This can be really helpful in getting past that initial worry that you are going to fall off the board.
How Do You Balance on a Paddle Board?
The next thing to keep in mind is that your feet are crucially important to keeping the board balanced. The ideal foot position is a bit wider than your hips or shoulders, but not too much. You should plant your feet equidistant from the centre handle – this is the balance point for the board and it will feel the most stable in this position. It can feel like you are sinking if you place your feet further forward or back – try to avoid this if possible.
Lastly, you can use your paddle to help you stay balanced on the board. If you want to look behind you while on the board, just move your paddle out and away from the body and then twist around with the shaft of the paddle in your hand. This will give you a third point of contact to brace on and it’s really useful if you are just learning how to stand up.
Remember, it takes time to learn how to balance on a paddleboard so don’t be discouraged if you have a few falls in the beginning. The more you practice, the easier it will become. It is also worth trying to get your hands used to the movement of the paddle as it will be a very important tool for navigating the water and staying in control when you are standing up.
Paddleboarding is a fun and engaging water sport that has gained significant popularity in recent years. It involves standing on a long, stable board while using a paddle to propel oneself across the water. Often referred to as stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), this sport combines elements of surfing, kayaking, and canoeing, providing both recreational and fitness opportunities. In this article, we will explore what a paddleboard is, how it works, the different types of paddleboards, the benefits of paddleboarding, and tips for beginners.
