Welcome, and thank you so much for being here. Today I want to talk about a deceptively simple skill that can completely change your paddling efficiency, speed, and confidence on the water: paddling straighter.

This topic comes up constantly in my coaching, and for good reason. Most paddlers know they’re zigzagging. They can see it on their GPS. Their paddling buddies tell them. Or they feel it in the frustration of constantly switching sides just to keep the board on course.

So let’s break it down.

A Quick Story: Why Distance Matters

If you’ve ever heard of the Chattajack 31, you know it’s one of the most popular paddle races in the world. Registration fills instantly, and there are hundreds on the waitlist every year.

Here’s the interesting part: although it’s called the Chattajack 31, almost everyone’s GPS reads closer to 32 miles. Some paddlers finish at 31.9 miles. Others at 32.9 miles — on the exact same course.

Why?

Because well, no one paddles perfectly straight and some paddlers snake and zigzag their way all down the river.

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. And in low-conditional paddling — light wind, light chop, no current — it’s also the most efficient and often the fastest way to paddle.

That’s what we’re focusing on today.

Why Zigzagging Happens

If you’re here, you probably recognize yourself in at least one of these situations:

• You notice your board wandering left and right
• You switch sides constantly to “fix” your direction
• You feel rushed and sloppy when changing sides
• You know you should be faster, but can’t seem to hold a straight line

Many paddlers try to solve this by taking fewer strokes per side. The logic sounds reasonable:
“If I switch sides sooner, I won’t drift as far.”

In reality, this slows you down more than you realize. It disrupts rhythm, and can lead to sloppier technique.

I did the math. If you paddle at 45 strokes per minute, and it takes you 1 second to switch sides, and you change sides every 6 strokes, that’s 450 side changes in a 60 minute paddle, almost 8 minutes! Cut that in ½ or even in 1/4 by learning to stay on one side longer, (15-25 strokes per side) and you’ve just decreased your 10k time by 4,5 or even 6 minutes with one single skill shift!

Here’s the deal:

You should not be changing sides to steer your board.

You should be changing sides when you need a fresh side of your body.

In winds up to about 10 mph, you should be able to paddle equally on both sides without using side changes to control direction. Even in stronger winds (up to 15++ mph), you should still be able to paddle on both sides — with some compensation, yes, but without being stuck on one side the entire time.

Today, we’re staying focused on low-condition paddling. Steering and heavy-wind technique are important, but they’re separate conversations. See my blog post on steering your board HERE.

The 3 Keys to Paddling Straighter

Everything I teach about paddling straight in calm conditions comes down to three connected principles.

1. Look Up and Look Where You’re Going

This is the most overlooked — and powerful — fix.

So many paddlers paddle with their heads down, occasionally glancing up. Your body follows your eyes. If your gaze is wandering, your board will wander too.

What to do instead:

Keep your head up
Pick a clear focal point in the distance
Glance down only briefly (paddle, feet, GPS), then immediately look back up
Whenever possible, choose a fixed object:

A buoy
A tower
A tree
A specific point on land
Avoid using another paddler as your reference — especially if they’re zigzagging too.

2. Straighten Your Paddle (Vertical Shaft)

The angle of your paddle is one of the primary ways you steer a board.

• Vertical paddle = straight stroke
• Diagonal paddle = turning stroke

If your paddle is angled, even slightly, your board will follow that angle.

To achieve a vertical paddle:

• Stack your hands (top hand directly over bottom hand)
• Keep both hands just outside the rail of the board
• Aim for a straight vertical line from top hand → bottom hand → blade

How do you actually get there?

Rotation.

As your paddling side reaches forward:

• Rotate through your upper body (thoracic spine)
• Let the paddling shoulder lead
• Open your chest away from the board

For some paddlers, the hips may rotate forward as well — and that’s okay — as long as:

• The knee and hip stay pointing forward
• They don’t collapse inward toward the board

Rotation is what turns a diagonal reach into a vertical paddle shaft.

See my SUP DRILL video demonstrating this technique HERE.

3. Maintain Equal Body Weight

This one is critical — and often missed.

You don’t just steer with your paddle.
You also steer with your body weight.

If you lean heavily onto your paddling side:

• You steer the board away from that side
• You’re forced to switch sides sooner
• You increase drag and reduce glide

When paddling straight:

• Keep equal weight through both sides of the body
• Avoid side-to-side leaning
• Stay centered and balanced over the board

Leaning increases friction and steers the board. Staying centered improves glide and keeps the board tracking smoothly.

Why Rotation Is the Key That Connects Everything

Looking up, straightening the paddle, and maintaining equal body weight all rely on one fundamental skill:

Rotation.

Rotation happens before the stroke even begins — which is why it’s so often rushed or skipped entirely.

And here’s the reality:
There is too much happening in a single stroke to consciously think about everything while paddling.

That’s why technique has to be trained — not just understood.

How to Practice This (Without Overthinking)

The fastest way to improve is through drills.

Drills break the stroke into individual pieces so you can:

• Focus on one skill at a time
• Build body awareness
• Create motor memory
• Make proper technique automatic

Most paddlers see an immediate speed increase of 0.5 to 1 mph, simply from improving stroke technique!

Want to learn more about using drills to improve your stroke technique as well as my standup paddle coaching programs?