How to Paddle Board on your Knees How to paddle board on your knees is a useful stand up paddle boarding technique that can help beginners and seasoned SUPers alike. While knee paddling is a useful move for beginners and one which we discuss in this article, it also has its advantages for more experienced paddlers when applied in the right conditions. Therefore even after you progress from paddle boarding on your knees to standing, it’s a valuable ability to have in your paddleboarding ‘toolbox’. Stand up paddle boarding from your knees lowers your centre of gravity, increasing your balance. That makes it easier for you to stabilise your board. As a beginner you may need or want that extra stability to get a feel for paddle boarding before you master standing up. Knee paddling is a useful technique even for the more experienced (we get into that a bit later), so don’t think of it as training wheels. Get a feel for your board and the conditions on the water by starting off on your knees. What you need to do for knee paddling is very easy. When your board is in the water find a nice spot a little way back from the middle of the vessel. From a sitting spot, hold your legs together. Then push yourself up onto your knees. Once you’ve found your balance in a comfortable kneeling position you’ll be ready to paddle. Make sure you ‘re not too far ahead. That’ll decrease the efficiency of your glide (how your stroke propels you across the water). When you ‘re too far back it may impact your tracking (your direction line). Now it’s time to check your posture. You can sit back on your heels to rest or kneel upright. Just make sure you do your best to keep you back straight to start your paddle stroke. If you hunch or slouch you’ll force your arms to do all the work instead of your core and you’ll tyre quickly. In kneeling position most of the pull will come from your arms and shoulders but be sure to engage your torso and core as you reach to get more power out of your stroke. Adjust your paddle to knee paddling height. How to Grip Your Paddle When Knee Paddling Set the Paddle Length Now that you ‘re positioned comfortably in a kneeling position it’s time to concentrate on your paddle stroke. If you ‘re planning to stay on your knees for more than just a few strokes (before you get into standing position), you won’t need or want your paddle to be full length. Whether you have an adjustable paddle, it ‘s time to use it. For example, if you ‘re using a inflatable paddle board, simply unlock the top clip, and slide the T-bar into the shaft. Next, grip the top of the T-bar as you normally would. Then put the other hand a safe distance away from the other, but not so close to the blade that it causes you to bend at the waist so that you feel off balance. Adjust the paddle to your knee paddling height and grasp it like you usually would. Once you have built a good grip, bend over at the waist and dip the blade of the paddle into the water out in front of you, close to the rail (or side) of the boat. Then, pull the paddle back toward you through the water and back up and out until it hits parallel with your body. And repeat. Nothing too tricky there just a quick paddle once you get your grip right. TIP: To hold your board straight while paddle boarding on your knees, it ‘s particularly important to remember to stack your hands. It means your top hand will be immediately above your bottom hand as your paddle hits the water. When they line up vertically, you can say they’re ‘stacked’. When your hands are stacked, that means your paddle is vertical, which translates to a straight board. After several strokes on one side you can then swap your hands over to take a couple on the other. This will further help you build a straight line. Starting from your knees is more secure and it can be a perfect way to get a feel for paddling as a novice or to get familiar with the conditions when you first paddle out. When is the best time to paddle from your knees? We mentioned knee paddling isn’t only a beginner ‘s technique earlier in this post. It’s a great way to get comfortable on your board before you ‘re ready standing up, but it can come in handy in a few other situations as well. Unexpected Changes in Conditions or Big Waves Even more seasoned paddlers will often find themselves in rough waters. Unexpected winds, waves and chop will make standing very difficult. Or maybe you just need a little extra stability to make it through the break before standing up. If that’s the case drop down from a standing spot. In a sitting stance, with a lower centre of gravity, you’ll be good to go. Shallow Waters Often, you may find yourself paddling over shallows or a hazard you don’t want to slip off into. This is especially common when paddling unfamiliar rivers. As always, do your hardest to avoid risky circumstances. If you do find yourself in one, remember knee paddling. Take advantage of the increased stability you have on your knees to navigate the hazard and paddle into deep and safer waters. High Winds Relentless winds can make progress challenging. The taller you stand on your board, the more your body acts as a sail. Taking a kneeling position can help you reduce your profile so you can paddle through the wind or keep you from drifting when you need to take a rest. Heading out beyond the surf or through rougher waters by knee paddling. SUP Surfing and Knee Paddling Some paddlers find SUP surfing made easier by knee paddling to catch the wave. Then they pop up to their feet once they get in front of it. The hope is that the added support at the beginning helps you to paddle hard and concentrate on your stroke. This in turn , helps you to catch the wave where you can then stand up and continue surfing. However, others argue that having to get up from your knees simply makes things more difficult. There’s only one option here … try it yourself and see what you think. Staying on your knees all the way through can be a useful starting point for beginners learning to surf. Also if it’s merely to get the impression of catching a storm. Final Thoughts As you can see knee paddling is more than a step in the learning process of stand up paddle boarding. It’s a great paddle boarding technique and a ability that can support you in a variety of situations. Experiment with knee paddling in various conditions and have fun out there. Always remember that mastering the basics will only help you become a more efficient and effective paddler regardless of your skillset. 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ABOUT USHi I am Amanda Smith, I am 27 years old lives in US. I am a law student. My hobbies are playing Tennis games and love to go to bars and Pubs with my friends. |