Hey girl, let’s paddleboard!

Feet hip-width, centred on the handle

Stand parallel to the rails with the carry handle between your feet, knees soft like you're on a bus. Too far forward and the nose ploughs, too far back and you spin in circles.

Start on your knees, every time

Paddle a few strokes kneeling to feel the board move, then stand one foot at a time while the board has momentum. A moving board is far more stable than a parked one.

Paddle with your core, not your arms

Top hand stacked over the bottom, arms fairly straight, and rotate from the torso. If your shoulders are burning after twenty minutes, you're arm-paddling — hinge at the hips and let the big muscles work.

The blade angles away from you

It looks backwards and it is the single most common beginner mistake. The bend in the shaft should tilt forward, away from your body, so the blade stays vertical through the power phase.

Fall flat and away from the board

When you go in — and you will, it's part of it — push yourself sideways into the water rather than down onto the board. Then climb back on from the middle, belly first, like getting out of a pool.

Your leash is your life jacket's best friend

The board floats better than you do. Wear the leash on flat water so a gust can't take your board fifty yards downwind while you're swimming after it.

Paddle into the wind first

Head out against the breeze while you're fresh so the ride home is the easy half. If it picks up mid-session, drop to your knees — you'll cut your wind profile in half instantly.

One sweep beats ten little corrections

To turn, reach the paddle out toward the nose and sweep a wide arc back to the tail on the opposite side of where you want to go. Stepping your back foot toward the tail turns it even faster.

Dress for the water, not the parking lot

San Diego bay water sits in the low 60s a good chunk of the year. Leggings and a rash guard beat a swimsuit for sun and chafe, and nobody has ever regretted a hat with a strap.