Physics for Efficient Paddleboarding

September 07, 2017

We all know that getting our SUP to go straight takes a lot of practice. We all tend to modify our stroke, change sides more often, paddle on one side more than the other, or find another way to straighten our board while paddling. Did you know that if you consider the physics of paddle boarding it may change the way you approach your stroke? None of this may be new to you, but using a physics model explaining torque and velocity may help you understand what is really happening when you paddle.

HOW TO USE PHYSICS TO PADDLE BOARD LIKE A PRO

DOT-PHYSICS
08.29.16
10:00 AM

QUESTION: How do you make a stand up paddle board go straight if you only paddle on one side? Of course, I'm not an expert paddler so my usual propulsion method means I paddle on one side then switch the paddle to the other side. Alternating left-right sides of the paddle board would mean I would mostly go straight. But it looks uncool to continually switch hands on the paddle. If there's one thing I want to do on a stand up paddle board is to look cool—why else would I do it?
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