looking for quick tips to increase my paddle power out of the water.. i know paddling laps jetty to jetty is great, but it usually strains my back since i paddle with my chest up.. ANY TIPS??? ( I dont have a pool so dnt recomend that one)
the catch is really the same as swimming (i swim), you just arent gonna get the rotation of your hips/shoulders to give you that extra bit of power but thats really no big deal...focus on always keeping your elbow higher than your hands, and your fingertips pointed down. during your pulling motion you always want the palm of your hand to be pressing backwards and propelling you forward. theres no need to paddle crazy like a spaz and go nowhere. a few strong paddles will take you further and youll go much faster than someone who just spins their arm but has their hands slip through the water. watch the best swimmers, they arent flailing their arms, they are maintaining high speed with what looks to be "effortless" motion. elbows high. think like youre reaching over a barrel.
yeah i'm a swimmer too and i happen to be a sprinter so this is my ****. deep strong strokes are the way to go. if you keep your elbow up you'll be pulling water with your hand AND your forearm which will really add some extra power to your strokes. increasing your stroke turnover (taking faster strokes) works but only if you have a powerful pull so work on that first. technique is only one part of it though, you need to get in the water and kick your own ass if you really want to catch more waves.
see if you can find the book "fit to surf" at your local library or book store. there are lots of great land-based exercises in there. it's definitely helped me out a lot during those long flat spells.
A good ol fashioned workout of push-ups and pull-ups works the paddling muscles like crazy and builds both stamina and strength. Besides that, it's all technique
Iv got ya... Awesome article that i remember reading a while back on surfline. check it out: http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/s...ds-best-on-how-to-maximize-your-stroke_41384/ My 2 cents: Momentum, in any way shape or form. I tend to shove my board under water and ride the buoyancy up into my paddle. Also, master that duck dive, paddling is the easy part.
