How to turn in a stand up paddle?

It’s not hard to know how to turn into an inflatable stand-up paddle board once you get the hang of the basics. After reading this article, you will know the different techniques to make your turns with ease, whether you are on an inflatable or rigid paddle.

Prerequisites: how to balance on your paddle and how to paddle well?

Before learning how to turn and turn around in SUP, it is essential to know how to balance on your paddle and how to paddle correctly. To begin with, we advise you to train on a flat body of water without too much wind or currents. The right position for maximum balance is to place your feet on either side of the carrying handle. Bend your knees slightly and keep your eyes straight. For more balance, you can start on your knees. In order to be stable as quickly as possible, it is best to start paddling directly.

How to paddle a SUP?
To begin, place one hand on the end of the paddle and the other about halfway through the handle. Be careful to hold your paddle in the right direction, i.e. with the angle forward. To paddle, all you have to do is plunge the paddle far in front of you and bring it back towards you. Let it slide along the board, making sure to keep your arms straight. When the blade of your paddle reaches the level of your feet, you can take it out of the water and start the movement again. The farther you paddle from your board to the sides, the more you’ll turn.

→ Our tips for learning stand up paddle boarding

How do you turn and turn around in stand-up paddle boarding?

To turn and turn around in a paddle the technique is rather simple, whether you are on an inflatable SUP or a rigid SUP. Just paddle on the opposite side to where you want to go. For example, if you want to go right, you will have to row to the left and vice versa. The farther away you are from your paddle arc with your paddle, the faster you will turn. To make a complete U-turn, you just need to repeat the operation several times.

This is not the only technique for turning in stand-up paddle. Depending on your stand-up paddle level and your board, you can use three different techniques to turn in SUP : the classic turn, the reverse drive turn and the surf turn.

1 - How to turn in stand-up paddle: the classic turn

As we explained earlier, the classic turn in stand-up paddle boarding is quite simple. It doesn’t matter if you’re on an inflatable or rigid SUP. All you have to do is paddle on the opposite side to the one you want to go on by arcing through the water with your paddle. Repeat as many times as necessary.
To be more stable during this maneuver, we advise you to bend your knees slightly and keep your gaze straight, pointed in the direction you want to go. If you are not yet very comfortable, avoid looking at your paddle during the movement, as this may throw you off balance.

If this technique is the simplest, you should know that it is not suitable for touring paddles which are much larger and therefore much longer to turn. For touring or purebred SUPs, the following techniques are preferred.

2 - How to turn quickly on a paddle: the turn in reverse propulsion

The second technique for turning and turning around in stand-up paddle boarding is rear-wheel drive. Behind this name, which may seem complicated, hides a rather simple technique. This time you will have to paddle on the side where you want to turn but in the opposite direction, that is, from the back of the board to the front. This way, the front of your board will head towards where you want to turn. It is a technique
very suitable for long
race and touring boards such as the Alpha 12’6×31, the Easy 12’6×32 or the Girly 12’6×28.

3 - How to turn on a paddle for the most resourceful: the "surf" turn

This last technique is the most difficult to master, but it allows you to make quick turns and U-turns on an inflatable or rigid paddle. This technique is used by competitors who need to turn quickly during a paddle race. To make this turn, you will have to move your feet back towards the back of the board, while being careful to keep them in the central axis (see photo above). Once your feet are in position, shift your weight to your back foot and bend your front leg to put your paddle into the surf position. This position will create a rotation point at the aileron. All you have to do is draw an arc with your paddle on the opposite side to the one you want to go to. To turn effectively, you’ll need to send your paddle as far back as possible.
Once you have made the turn, you just have to return to the initial position with a light step by following the central axis of the paddle. Be careful, this is a technique that leads to a strong instability, to keep your balance it is advisable to row throughout the maneuver.

→ How to choose your stand-up paddle board?

Learn to paddle and progress quickly: the best boards

To progress easily and quickly, it is essential to have a good paddle board. At Sroka we have been experts in the design of inflatable paddles since 2013. We work hard to develop one of the best products on the market. Our goal is to allow everyone to benefit from the best equipment, at the best value for money.
Nature is our playground, which is why we make it a point of honour to develop quality, ultra-strong and durable paddles that will limit the use of new resources.