Intermediate SUP Lessons – Part 3: Bracing, Footwork, and Draw Strokes

When going from being a beginner to an intermediate paddleboarder, there are many small skills you can learn that will make all the difference. They aren’t show-stopping or eye-catching, but having them in your arsenal will help you progress to the next level. In this third installment of Intermediate SUP Lessons, we’ll be focusing on some of those small skills, namely bracing, footwork, and draw strokes.

Intermediate Paddleboard Lessons – List of Posts

Intermediate Paddleboard Lessons – Part 1: Paddleboard Gear
Intermediate Paddleboard Lessons – Part 2: Efficient Paddle Board Stroke
Intermediate Paddleboard Lessons – Part 3: Bracing, Footwork, and Draw Strokes – You’re reading it now!
Intermediate Paddleboard Lessons – Part 4: Crossbow and Pivot Turns
Intermediate Paddleboard Lessons – Part 5: Paddling Through Chop and Waves

Woman demonstrating intermediate SUP techniques on a stand up paddleboard

Robin uses the paddle to brace on the water

Bracing

Feeling shaky on board? Our immediate reaction may be to freeze up and grip the paddle out of the water. But let’s try to unlearn this and pick up a better habit. Bracing is a simple movement you can do when you’re off balance. Just having your paddle in the water and leaning on it is a form of bracing. Give it a shot! You’ll be surprised at how much it can help.

There is another type of brace that you can use to catch yourself if you are falling backwards or to the side. SUP surfers use this all the time to keep themselves upright in the waves. Robin, a certified SUP instructor and year-round SUP surfer, is demonstrating this move. She is slapping the water with the non-power face (front face) of the blade. See how she’s really leaning into her paddle for support? Hitting the water with the blade will give you a surprisingly solid surface on which to catch yourself. You’ll find bracing useful as we move onto the next skill: footwork.

Drag the slider to see Robin complete the brace

Robin gets into position and then completes the brace

Footwork and SUP Stances

As a novice paddler, you probably keep your feet in the same parallel position on the board. But did you know that there are different stances which can be useful in a variety of situations? Let’s try them out! It’ll require a bit of footwork and bravery on your part, but you’ve got this. Remember to brace for extra support.

Paddling away in the neutral stance

The Four Different SUP Stances

1. Neutral

Neutral is the default, go-to stance. This is the most commonly used SUP position, as it allows you to face forward and easily paddle on both sides.

The neutral stance is fairly straightforward; you’re standing about hip distance apart, with the carry handle between your feet, and a slight bend to your knees. Easy-peasy.

Robin is getting into her staggered stance

2. Staggered

A staggered stance provides extra stability and is used for certain maneuvers like draw strokes (more on those coming up). It’s also useful if you have to paddle on one side because of a headwind or side wind.

To get into the staggered stance, take a step back with your leashed foot and turn both toes at 45 degree angles to the rail on the side you are facing. Staggering your feet provides a more stable base, while opening yourself up for strokes done on one side only.

See how the nose of the board pops up in a hybrid stance

3. Hybrid

A hybrid stance can be used to paddle over chop, whitewater, and waves. This stance allows you to tilt your board slightly upwards, so you can get over any obstacles. Like the staggered stance, it also provides some extra stability.

Get into the hybrid stance by taking a big step back with your leashed foot. Leave your front foot facing forward while turning your back toes forty-five degrees towards the closest rail. The more weight you put on your backfoot, the more the nose of your board will come up, making it easier to angle your board over chop, waves, or boat wake.

Surf’s up when you’re in surf stance

4. Surf

Surf stance is used mainly in, you guessed it, the waves! SUP surfers get into this position to ride a wave. It can also be used for the pivot turn, which we’ll learn about in part four of our Intermediate SUP Lessons.

Start off your surf stance by pivoting your front foot inward towards the carry handle. Then, imagine a center line running down the middle of your board, from the nose to the tail. Take a big step back with your leashed foot. Both feet should be on this imaginary center line, with the toes pointed towards the rail of your board. Surf’s up!

Draw Strokes

Finally, we get into draw strokes. A draw stroke is used to move your board sideways. This can be useful when pulling up to a dock or bringing yourself alongside another paddleboarder. There are two different draw strokes: regular and sculling. Give them a shot and see which you prefer.

Regular Draw Stroke

Step 1: Get into your staggered stance (see above)

Step 2: Reach out on your open side. Your paddle blade should be parallel to the rail of your board, with the power face of the blade facing you

Robin demonstrates step 2 of the draw stroke

Step 3: Submerge your blade in the water. It should line up slightly behind your feet. Bring the blade to the rail.

Step 4: Take your blade out of the water and repeat steps 1-3.

Bring your paddle towards your board

Sculling Draw Stroke

Step 1: Get into your staggered stance (see above)

Step 2: Plant the blade in the water, away from your board, slightly behind your feet. Your blade should be facing away from you, at a forty-five degree angle

Hold your paddle away and slightly behind you

Step 3: Sweep your blade forward, change the angle of your blade, then sweep it backward. This is done in a continuous motion, almost like spreading butter on bread. The blade does not exit the water while doing this.

Both the Regular Draw Stroke and the Sculling Draw Stroke will get your board moving sideways. It’s a subtle, smooth motion, almost undetectable. When practicing, pick a landmark to focus on so you can notice the movement.

Use a sweeping motion to bring your board closer to a dock

Conclusion

There’s more to SUP than just going forward and turning! Working on your bracing, footwork, and draw strokes will make you a well-rounded paddler, with an array of useful skills to draw on in any situation. Keep on practicing; you might find that they come in handy for our upcoming Intermediate SUP Lessons. Happy paddling!