Does anyone practice paddling when its flat?

[Sar]

Hi All,

Just wondering if anyone goes out when its flat to practice paddling. Being new to surfing I could do with spending as much time on my board as possible (cant balance that well) and REALLY need to build up my muscles - can just about do 3 push ups - wooo!

Dont really want to get out there and paddle around on my own but figured this might be the best way to go about it - anyone else do it?

[southwestsurfer]

https://surfing-waves.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6491

[Matt Waterman]

me and my mate are going paddling tomorrow waves are 1ft and nasty, plus that so he can get used to his board and build up his muscles

i think its cool
you may look rather stupid
but so will we

[IdRatherBeSurfing]

if its been flat for a while and i get bored then i go out and paddle up and down the bay a bit its about a mile each way. sounds a long way but its quite easy when its flat, and its easier comin back down cos of the rip from the estuary hehehehe

[gdude335]

i whent when the waves were 1 to 2 feet and paddled and learned how to duckdive!
I was in the water for 2 hours trying to duckdive. Im proud of myself because i can do it now even though im not really good yet and sometimes mess up (board goes underwater but not my head.)

[stoke]

Nope, either go cliff jumping or to the pub.


Suppose there's nothing wrong with goin for a paddle when its flat, but I reckon your time could be better spent.
If its flat, all you can really do is work on fitness; swimming/running/circuit training would be the best way to go.

Try going for a jog on the beach, followed by a swim of some set distance parallel to the shore (or to a buoy or something). Swimming has the advantage over paddling that it will really help to develop the lungs (-as well as the arms) - which you'll need on bigger days.
As for the balance, that'll come mate, just get out there as often as you can in anything more than a ripple, (so you at least have something to paddle for)

That's just me, but I hope it helps,
happy surfing

[Sar]

Thanks guys.

Im working on the strength and fitness training outside of the water already and am going swimming at little more.

Im going to get out a little more when there is much in the way of waves even if I do look stupid being the only one in the water paddling from pier to pier.

[IdRatherBeSurfing]

i whent when the waves were 1 to 2 feet and paddled and learned how to duckdive!
I was in the water for 2 hours trying to duckdive. Im proud of myself because i can do it now even though im not really good yet and sometimes mess up (board goes underwater but not my head.)

ditto that, i went out pathetic surf and lerned how to get the front half of my board (its a minimal/funshape) underwater . cant seem to get the back half under yet tho.. but even getting the front bit under helps with gettin outback

[Swifty]

hi

I am in weymouth. I try surf as much as possible even in the crappy onshore sloppy days. And yes when I am desperate I take my shortboard for a paddle around a few bouys in Weymouth bay. Nothing will quite prepare you for paddling like paddling.

[cj]

I paddled on flat water when I first started surfing to build up my paddle'n muscles, but now I just go scuba diving when its flat, and when I am surfing I don't come out of the water unless it feels like my shoulders and arms got a good work out in.

Besides, we have a pier (actually a really long Jetti) that we jump off so we don't have to paddle out, Laziness!!! Got'a love it!