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How to get into downwinding
Everyone has enjoyed paddling with the wind on their back . It might be tempting to believe that is all there is to downwinding . But nothing could be further from the truth .
The first thing anyone looking to get better at downwinding should do ( if possible ) is find a mentor . Someone better and more skilled than they are , who will go out with them on some windy days . There is a saying that you don ’ t know what you don ’ t know . I have been lucky to train with one of the best paddlers in Spain over the last few years . On the flat , I can stay in his draft . On a downwind , I might average 10km / hr and still end up kilometres behind him . If he was not with me , I might delude myself into believing I knew what I was doing . But watching how he dances on the board , plots his route , selects the waves to catch and remains in total control informs me of how much I still have to learn .
Paddling downwind with someone else is not only safer but also more enjoyable . There is a feeling of camaraderie when you are taking on a challenge together . It gives you additional confidence and helps instil a feeling of playfulness into the whole process .
If you cannot find anyone to paddle with , developing your skills alone is still perfectly feasible . But this should be done incrementally to prevent placing yourself in conditions that exceed your skill level .
What to practice
1 . Moving around the board You need to move around the board to keep the board on the water and not in the water . This requires the ability to shift your feet into different locations on the board quickly and smoothly . Practising step back turns is an excellent way to tune into how the board changes how it sits on the water with shifts of your positioning .
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2 . Power stroke You need to match the speed of a wave to catch it . If there are only wind waves , then short , frequent strokes will help you take advantage of these . If a swell and faster waves are coming from behind , these must be caught using a more powerful stroke at the point where the nose drops and the board sits on the front face of the wave . You need to engage the feet to inject pace into the board . Once on the wave , keep the nose trimmed and relax . Let the wave take you . Don ’ t stiffen up or panic because your board is suddenly moving faster than ever !
Both these paddle strokes should be practised on the flat , preferably using drills that build awareness and muscle memory .
3 . Surf stance and offset stance You need to adopt different stances when downwinding . You can practice this on the flat . This helps to tune you into the board dynamics and makes you more confident when paddling in these positions . As already noted , when you catch the swell , you must ensure the nose does not pitch into the water . ( If the nose pitches , it slows the board down , and the wave will slide under you ). To do this , you need to move back on the board . How far and quickly to go depends on the height of the wave and its speed . Step back too far , and you will slow the board and lose the wave . Don ’ t step back enough ; the nose will bury itself in the water , and you will stall , or worse , get catapulted over the front ! Quite often , subtle adjustments need to be made to keep the nose moving quickly over the water ahead .
4 . Paddling into the wind If you paddle out to come back , you may be paddling against a 25 to 30-knot wind . This requires its own set of skills and a level of dedication . Maintaining momentum is critical , so the stroke needs a fast recovery and a lower bottom hand to maximise leverage and get the whole body lower to wind .
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Where to practice
You can practice downwind skills anywhere .
If you don ’ t have a partner , or the logistics prevent a one-way run , there are still options to gain a downwinding experience . 1 . Onshore wind . Paddle out into the wind for one or 2kms , then turn and head back to shore , practising the skills . This can be great fun .
2 . Plot a route that incorporates an element of downwinding into it . I always try to do this when I go out . I ’ ll check the Windy app , note the direction and strength of the wind and how the swell is predicted to behave and plan a route accordingly .
3 . The sea is the classic place to experience true downwinding ( in my opinion ), but it is not the easiest . Rivers and lakes offer exciting and easier opportunities to gain downwinding experience . When I paddle in Scotland , I will study Windy , and if the wind is above 15 knots , I will see if I can find a loch that will give me the best downwind run . For example , Loch Tummel runs 11km from east to west . The wind direction is predominantly from the west , so this loch often gets fantastic wind funnels running straight down it . If you want to , you can stand on your board at one end and find yourself at the other in less than two hours . If you bother to paddle and catch the lovely even waves on offer , you can do it in just over an hour .
Things to watch out for
When you paddle on the sea , things are never straightforward . There are many variables at work . The swell may be coming from a different direction to the wind . There may be at least two swell directions . There may be geological features such as high cliffs which create rebounds to contend with . So , these factors all affect the downwind . As you progress , you will get more and more tuned in to how to handle them .
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