Many beginning surfers overlook the importance of paddling when it comes to catching waves.
Don’t hold back and just lay on your surfboard waiting for the wave to push you along. Be aggressive and paddle to catch the wave as if your life depended on it. Do this and I guarantee you will catch more waves, and with the speed you build up prior to catching the wave, you will pearl less often.
What is pearling? Pearling is the dreaded moment the nose of your surfboard bites into the water, causing it to dig in, slow down and whip the tail up in the air flipping you off the surfboard. The way to avoid pearling is to paddle hard so that you aren’t getting into the wave too late. This will have you entering the wave with more speed, the wave will start to propel your surfboard sooner and you will be on your feet before the wave gets too steep.
To paddle most efficiently and get the most speed up you need to concentrate on your form. First you need to be positioned properly on your surfboard so that it will be moving through the water at the correct angle. Surfboards have a wooden stringer that runs down the center line of the board. Use the stringer to position your body exactly in the center line of the board, not to the left or the right. Now you are centered, you need to adjust your body either forward or back on the surfboard so that the nose of the board is about an inch above the water. Too far forward on the surfboard and the nose will dig in causing the surfboard to plow through the water, slowing it down. If you are too far back the nose will be high up in the air and the surfboard will be slow to paddle. Most new surfers make the mistake of being too far back on the surfboard.
Now that you are positioned correctly, let’s focus on your paddling form. You will want to cup your hands and keep your fingers together. Extend your arm all the way forward toward the nose of the surfboard. Keeping your fingers together and hand cupped, dig deep into the water and paddle down the length of the surfboard. Don’t let your arms drift out to the side. As you are paddling keep your back arched and your chest up off of the board. Keep your head up and your eyes forward. Don’t focus on the nose of the surfboard, keep your eyes trained on the water ahead and any potential danger. The danger could be in the form of an oncoming surfer, large wave or large wall of whitewater.

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