Dude, Don't Waste It!

Transitions, switching from one side to another while paddling, are often one of the most overlooked elements of paddling technique and efficiency. Whether you change sides while paddling after three strokes, five, or ten, moving the paddle to the opposite side of the board and stroking still represents a significant amount of paddling time. And if you aren't making the most of it, you're wasting it.

The transfer itself, or moving the paddle from one hand to another, is itself critical. Unlike a quick paddle stroke, such as the Tahitian, moving the paddle from one side of the board to the other takes more time and allows the board to slow. So practicing to improve the speed of the side-to-side transfer is key to minimizing your board's stall.

The second important part of the transition is getting as much out of your first 'set and pull' as possible. If, for instance, you typically tend to switch back and forth between paddling sides after five strokes and your first stroke (the one in your transition to that side) is sloppy and ineffective, then you are wasting roughly one-fifth of your paddling potential.

When I try transfer to a paddling side, I try to reach as far as possible without upsetting my balance, while setting the paddling as cleanly as possible for a strong pull. My recovery then sets me for multiple effective, strong pulls. Those first strokes on each side aren't the full length of my reach, but fairly close, and allow me to get as much from those efforts as possible.

To maximize your full potential, don't waste side-to-side transfers with a weak first pull. Like all aspects of paddling technique, it requires concentration, but practice and focus on quick and efficient hand transfers.  Follow this with a stable, relatively long reach and clean paddle set before pulling. After a few thousand times, this will imprint into your biomechanics and feel as natural as the rest of your stroke.