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WHAT SUPPORT STROKES
DO WE HAVE ON A SUP ?
WORDS : JIM MILLER PHOTOS : JIM MILLER , CAMERON TICKNER , ADAM BURNS , JIM GIBSON
& GILL BERROW
SUPPORT STROKES ARE ONE OF THE KEY TECHNIQUES WE USE TO REMAIN ON OUR PADDLEBOARD DURING RAPIDS IF WE LOSE OUR BALANCE OR ARE CROSSING EDDY LINES . BUT WHAT OPTIONS DO WE HAVE , AND WHEN / WHERE MIGHT THEY COME IN HANDY ?
Low brace
This is a stroke whereby your paddle is positioned to the side of your SUP in a horizontal position with your elbows in a downward position . From here , you can choose to either have the paddle just above the water in a reactive position or on the surface of the water in a proactive position . This way , if you lose your balance , you can gently press down on the water with the blade using it to stop you from falling in before slicing the paddle back up to either repeat the move or , if it was successful , return to your original position .
If the paddle is in a reactive position , there is a momentary delay in this move whereby you must first touch the water with the blade . This can come with a downside of slightly more force applied in the stroke , which means that there is a higher risk of a shoulder injury , but it also comes with an upside : because your paddle is above the water , it isn ’ t slowing you down or turning you . This stroke is handy when going down rapids or surfing but is more useful on the first option .
A slight downside to this stroke is we are not paddling and generating momentum ; as such , we either need to generate speed beforehand or accept we are going the same pace as the water , which means we are not controlling our SUP direction very much and as such need to have lined up the board correctly beforehand so that we can drift with the current and relax with our only support being a Low brace if required to do so .
PHOTO : PADDLING FOR SUPPORT . PADDLER JIM MILLER , PHOTOGRAPHER CAMERON TICKNER ,