How to SUP river surf part 7: paddle strokes and braces for surfing the wave

This is the final post in a multi-post tutorial on how to get started SUP river surfing. Checkout the other posts as well:

Part 1: The Gear
Part 2: Scoping out the wave
Part 3: Plotting a course onto the wave
Part 4: Padding stances to catch the wave
Part 5: Paddle strokes to catch the wave
Part 6: Stances and footwork for surfing the wave
Part 7: Paddle strokes and braces for surfing the wave

The most basic and useful paddling advice when you’re first learning to SUP river surf is: don’t stop paddling! Continuing to paddle once you’re on the wave will provide extra balance and will help keep you from getting flushed off the wave. It may not feel like it’s making any difference, but I can guarantee that it will help you get longer rides.

Once you’ve caught the wave (if necessary) switch the side of the board you’re paddling on so your paddle is in front of your body. For example if you’re surfing with your left foot forward, paddle on the right side of the board. This should feel the most natural and will allow for the most efficient and powerful strokes. If you’ve just caught the wave and your paddle is on the wrong side, that’s ok. Keep paddling on the wrong side until you find your balance and feel able to switch paddling sides without falling.

After awhile, you will start to get tired of the constant paddling. When this happens, try dragging your paddle with the face of the blade up. This will give you a ton of extra stability without requiring much energy. If you find yourself getting flushed off the back of the wave however, you will need to start paddling again and perhaps adjust your stance.

dragging my paddle for extra stability

Dragging your paddle in this fashion is called a “low brace” and can actually be used to save yourself mid-fall. If you’re falling towards you paddle, lean/push against the shaft of your paddle while bending your knees to regain your balance. This type of recovery takes a bit to get used to and might not feel like it’s working at first, but if you keep practicing it will become a saving grace.

If you lose your balance and start falling away from your paddle, you will have to perform an “offside low brace”. This brace is a little tricky but is extremely useful and looks sweet! When you start to feel yourself falling away from your paddle, quickly remove it from the water and do a low brace on the opposite side of your board behind your back. Here’s a video of Bodhi Harrison demonstrating:

These two braces combined with a general approach of keeping your paddle in the water (either by paddling or bracing) will get you surfing almost any river wave. Now get out there and try it! If you discover your own techniques while learning to SUP river surf or have feedback on things I’ve taught here, come back and leave a comment or send me a message. I love to hear about people’s experiences river surfing!