Aloha!

New to this forum. Looks like a great place to learn and share.

Question: How do you use the paddle in a bottom turn? I'm interested in hearing different opinions.

In my limited experience, the paddle seems useful mainly in slow waves for a bottom turn, where you can actually generate more speed with the paddle than the wave is giving. Granted, I lean on it a little sometimes on faster waves, but mainly if I overextend myself (so it's for balance and not on purpose). If I lean on it like I've heard some say "like an outrigger" or pivot on a bottom turn, I feel like I'm just losing speed.

I can see using it to stall; that's a pretty cool move backside especially! But otherwise...?

Again, this just concerns bottom turns. I really love using the paddle on cutbacks and off-the-tops on any wave. Just can't figure out using the paddle on bottom turns on anything more than a mushburger. Maybe I'm missing something. But my eyes are open!

Any wisdom and comments would be greatly appeciated.

Aloha!

Iggy460

My husband uses his paddle heaps for his bottom turns. It allows him to really lean out over the rails.

photo by Rob Slater

JB Mel...Hah! I do that "other" bottom turn too.

MyBroSweeper, you got it. That's my main use of the paddle on bottom turns too: When I lean too far over. When I try to lean on it hard on purpose, it feels like it's just causing drag and taking away speed; and it feels like it takes pressure off of "cranking" the turn.

Iggy460

Mahaloz, Robbo. Yup. Got a good paddle - Kialoa Methane. And I have a 9'2 Paddle Surf Hawaii All Arounder. Since I'm new to this sport, I really don't have anything to compare the paddle to. But I do like using a shorter, quicker stroke (easier on the old shoulders), something this paddle is supposed to do well.

And you're sooo right about the learning curve. After 30+ years of surfing, I'm a grom again! I learn so much every session. After I got a bit comfortable catching waves, a couple longtime SUPers pointed out that I was surfing without the paddle; "missing half the fun!" they said.

I'm getting the cutbacks down with the paddle. But the bottom turn...Hmmm...

Thanks again for the nice welcome.

Ken