Today, we’re diving into an essential skill for any paddler: steering your board. I receive many requests to discuss various techniques, and steering is always one of the most popular topics. A skilled paddler is not just one who can paddle straight; being able to maneuver your board effectively is just as important, especially in different conditions.

Why Steering is Important

Being adept at steering your board aids in various scenarios—whether you’re dealing with wind, chop, or you’re trying to maintain your position while drafting behind another paddler. When you improve your ability to steer, you’ll find more comfort in varying conditions and positions.

When we think of paddling, we often focus on going in a straight line. Today, we’ll shift that perspective and explore how to use those same techniques to steer, in essence, the opposite of maintaining a straight trajectory. Understanding how to control your board’s direction enhances your overall paddling experience.

Key Techniques for Steering a SUP Board

• Blade Angle: The angle of your paddle blade is critical in steering. When paddling in a straight line, you want your paddle shaft to be vertical. However, if you slightly angle your blade, it can direct your board either towards or away from the paddle.
•  Angle Away from Your Board: If your blade is angled away while taking a stroke, it will angle the board away, causing a degree of steering.
• Angle Towards Your Board: Conversely, if your blade is angled towards your board, it will pull the board closer, steering it towards the paddle. 

You might not have realized it, but many paddlers unknowingly steer themselves in the direction they want to avoid by paddling with an incorrect paddle angle. By becoming aware of this, and learning the techniques of using your paddle angle to steer AND to go in a straight line, you can turn this into an advantage.

See my Drill and Skill Videos on Steering inside the Seychelle SUP app HERE

1. Body Weight Distribution: Your body weight can also significantly influence steering. If you lean more weight on to one side, your board will naturally tilt a bit in that direction. When trying to paddle in a straight line, we want to maintain equal body weight and a level board. When trying to steer, you want to use your body weight to tilt the board on purpose, burying one side rail and lifting the other.

Here’s the catch: the board will steer in the opposite direction of your weight shift. 

•  Weight to the right – Your board will steer to the left.
•  Weight to the left – Your board will steer to the right. 

Putting more weight on one side can help you navigate conditions like chop or wind. You’ll want to bury the rail that is opposite the direction of the wind to help steer you back up wind. This technique becomes especially useful in combination with your paddle stroke angle. I’ll also mention here, like all paddle skills, these things take time to become proficient at. Practice this skill and it will become easier and more proficient.

2. Combining Techniques: The best practice is to combine both strategies—blade angle and body weight distribution. For instance, if you find yourself battling a headwind coming from your right side, lean onto your left rail and angle your paddle blade towards your board. This combination allows you to navigate effectively, helping your board stay on course without excessive correction.

Practicing Steering a SUP Techniques

To make these steering techniques second nature, practice is essential. Here are some tips:

• Take video of yourself paddling for analysis. This can provide insight into your body mechanics and paddle angles to help refine your technique.
• Have a coach analyze your videos with you and provide feedback. Observing your form can highlight habits you may want to correct.
• Experiment with weather conditions. Try steering techniques in side winds and choppy water to see how your adjustments impact your board’s movement.

HERE is a link to book a Video Analysis Session with me!

Additional Resources

For those interested in learning more about paddle techniques, I highly recommend checking out some of my previous blog posts and videos.

All of my Drill and Skill Videos as well as Free Video Series can be found inside the Seychelle SUP app HERE.

It’s free to download off the google play or app store.

Premium memberships to unlock all video content are now starting at only $7 a month!!! Join the Community and begin your journey toward paddling Faster, Stronger, and in Side-wind like a Pro!

Stoked & Grateful,

Seychelle