No blog can replace the value of in-person lessons, but here are some tips on how to sweep stroke for SUP.
The sweep stroke, a basic base turning skill that applies to flat water paddling, is a building block for river paddleboarding. It is also a part of the pivot turn which is an advanced paddle stroke/skill.
There are four tips on how to sweep stroke for SUP:
- Get Low
- Shorten your hand position (reach)
- Plant and paddle position
- Sweep from nose to tail
Shop AQ Outdoors Inflatable SUP Collection
Get Low
The first part is body positioning.
Have you ever heard of getting into the “ready position” in basketball, volleyball, or skiing?
Bent knees and lowered body position are common among these images. Engaged legs with bent knees add to stability.
A lower centre of gravity that helps with balance. These are both beneficial to this stroke because it requires the paddler to twist and engage the blade in a semi circle along one side of the board.
Get low, “Get ready”
Shorten Your Hand Position
The shaft hand moves closer towards the T-grip. Referencing the proper hand position “box” from all paddling.
We want to change the angle for the shaft hand to approximately 45 degrees.
This allows the paddle to be reached forward further towards the nose of the board. Adjust the shaft hand.
Plant and Paddle Position
“Plant/catch” the blade completely into the water at the nose of the board.
Note that the t-grip hand is brought into the chest, and the power face is facing away from the nose of the board.
The difference compared to the forward stroke is the angle of the paddle to the surface of the water. In a forward stroke the paddle is perpendicular. (See Mastering the Forward Stroke for more details.) In a sweep stroke the paddler is attempting to get the paddle closer to parallel to the water's surface. Plant the blade parallel.
“Sweep” from Nose to Tail
Use the core of your body to perform this stroke by twisting your upper body.
Begin by pushing the water away from the nose of the board. The blade should remain just under the surface of the water as you sweep a C with your paddle blade from nose to tail. Untwist your core.
(looks a little bit like a rainbow right?)
As you sweep into the second half of the C, pull the water towards the tail of the paddleboard. Use your core to twist again for more power. Tip to tail, push then pull.
Pro Tip
Creating as little forward momentum as possible during the stroke will turn the board more effectively.
The key is to let off the power when the paddle stroke is parallel to the board.
Here’s how
Let’s break the C shape into 4 steps:
- First push the water as straight as you can away from the nose during the first ⅓ of the stroke.
- Stop putting energy/ force on the paddle during this second segment.
- Third, pull the water as straight into the rail of the tail as best you can for the last 1/3.
- Push, relax, and then Pull.
Common Misunderstanding
Can we stop to consider the fin?
As the water is “pushed away” from the nose of the board, the fin is acting as a pivot point for the board to turn on. The stroke will feel effective. When the water is pulled toward the tail, the fin causes resistance. This makes the stroke feel ineffective. Don't be discouraged by this, it is simply the mechanics of having a fin on a paddleboard.
How to Sweep Stroke for SUP Summary
The sweep stroke for SUP is the simplest of forward turning paddle strokes.
In comparison a reverse paddle stroke or stopping stroke can still turn you, but you will lose your forward momentum. So don’t slow down your paddling adventure! Learn to turn in a forward direction with an effective sweep stroke.
Shop AQ Outdoors Inflatable SUP Collection
Related SUP Content
How to Launch and Land a Paddleboard
Everything you need to know about whitewater SUP
Mastering the forward SUP stroke
Complete beginner guide to flatwater SUP
AQ Outdoors Contact
Edmonton: (p) 780 463-4892 (e) info@aquabaticsedmonton.com
Calgary: (p) 403 288-9283 (e) info@aqoutdoors.com
