How to turn the surdboard while paddling?

[akqw]

I'm a beginner, and my biggest problem is that I cannot turn the board while I paddle. I have a 7'6'' foam board.

I see other surfers turn very easily but I don't quite get how it's done. I tried turning but it doesn't work - the board just keeps going in a straight line.

Here is a YouTube video showing a surfer clearly turning the board while paddling

(5:16)

Can someone explain the technique?

[BaNZ]

It's actually very simple. Say you want to turn left, you paddle harder with your right hand or ONLY with your right hand and not move your left hand at all. If you want to turn right then do the opposite.

What most surfers do is they just paddle in a straight line. Once they get to the spot they want to be. They sit up quickly, lift the nose of the board from the water and adjust the position and paddle for the wave.

[waikikikichan]

I'm a beginner, and my biggest problem is that I cannot turn the board while I paddle. I have a 7'6'' foam board. I tried turning but it doesn't work - the board just keeps going in a straight line.

1) Are you in the whitewater or on green waves when this is happening ?
2) You are probably too far back on the board ( maybe even dragging your feet in the water ).
3) Is your question on how to turn while paddling in general OR when catching / setting up to catch a wave ?
4) You said you "tried" turning but it didn't work. What method did you use that your learned from the video ?
5) You shouldn't be on a 7'6" if you don't have basic paddle technique. You should be on something 3 feet over your head until you do.

[oldmansurfer]

I just realized I am not sure exactly how I turn while paddling but methods include sinking the rail on the side I want to turn to and paddling further away from the board on the side I want to turn toward. There may be other things I do but really not sure exactly what I do.

[waikikikichan]

It's actually very simple. Say you want to turn left, you paddle harder with your right hand or ONLY with your right hand and not move your left hand at all. If you want to turn right then do the opposite.

You may think that, but there's a technique to assist in turning the board as you paddle with BOTH hands. Think about how a plane turns. Does the pilot decrease thrust in the left engine ( or shuts it off completely ) to make the plane turn left. Probably, it could be done that way in certain situations. But you lose thrust right when you need it the most. So how can a plane and the surfer's engines ( his arms paddling ) keep at full thrust, yet turn ?

[IanCaio]

That looks like a question more related to big boards, not sure I'll be of much help. With shortboards paddling with right arm throwing a bit outwards is enough to turn the board. The very few times I tried a longboard it didn't respond so well so I'd usually turn it on the right direction sitting on the tail and the paddling would be just for small adjustments, maybe leaning on the rail a bit while paddling? Once I get a longboard I'll probably have to figure out those things as well

[akqw]

I'm a beginner, and my biggest problem is that I cannot turn the board while I paddle. I have a 7'6'' foam board. I tried turning but it doesn't work - the board just keeps going in a straight line.

1) Are you in the whitewater or on green waves when this is happening ?
2) You are probably too far back on the board ( maybe even dragging your feet in the water ).
3) Is your question on how to turn while paddling in general OR when catching / setting up to catch a wave ?
4) You said you "tried" turning but it didn't work. What method did you use that your learned from the video ?
5) You shouldn't be on a 7'6" if you don't have basic paddle technique. You should be on something 3 feet over your head until you do.

1) I'm asking in general
2) Maybe. Do my feet have to not touch the water?
3) See (1)
4) I tried both rowing slower with one arm, and both reversing the row direction in one arm
5) My instructor who gave me lessons said 7'6'' is fine for me. I caught waves very well with it. Also considering my dimensions it seems the right fit, and I feel very well on it.

[waikikikichan]

1) I'm asking in general
2) Maybe. Do my feet have to not touch the water? Most beginners are usually too far back versus too far forward on the board. Best to keep the nose just skimming over the water not way up in the air.
3) See (1) Just general paddling versus paddling to catch the wave ( and the 2-part setting up for it as others have already commented ) can be slightly different.
4) I tried both rowing slower with one arm, and both reversing the row direction in one arm. If you're too far back on the board, the counter paddling might not be effective.
5) My instructor who gave me lessons said 7'6'' is fine for me. I caught waves very well with it. Also considering my dimensions it seems the right fit, and I feel very well on it. So if you are taking your instructors advice on WHAT to ride, then you should also trust him to give you advice on HOW to ride that board. He/She knows you, he/she has seen your riding. We have not. You should be asking him/her how to best turn the board on the paddle, not us. Too many cooks, spoil the pot.

[akqw]

1) I'm asking in general
2) Maybe. Do my feet have to not touch the water? Most beginners are usually too far back versus too far forward on the board. Best to keep the nose just skimming over the water not way up in the air.
3) See (1) Just general paddling versus paddling to catch the wave ( and the 2-part setting up for it as others have already commented ) can be slightly different.
4) I tried both rowing slower with one arm, and both reversing the row direction in one arm. If you're too far back on the board, the counter paddling might not be effective.
5) My instructor who gave me lessons said 7'6'' is fine for me. I caught waves very well with it. Also considering my dimensions it seems the right fit, and I feel very well on it. So if you are taking your instructors advice on WHAT to ride, then you should also trust him to give you advice on HOW to ride that board. He/She knows you, he/she has seen your riding. We have not. You should be asking him/her how to best turn the board on the paddle, not us. Too many cooks, spoil the pot.

Thanks I'll try those out. About the instructor - it was a few months ago when I took some lessons, so now I'm on my own. As a side note - I had to take a big break due to intercostal muscle strain which took about two months to heal (I'm not even sure it has completely healed by now).

By the way - I had a session today on a flat sea and practiced paddling. It seems that pushing further away with one hand while leaning the other side does the job. I wonder why it hasn't worked in previous sessions.

Thanks to anyone who gave an advice.