amazing what you can deal with by letting go and going with it .
As for paddling , the fundamentals work the same , so don ’ t try to do something different . Trust your instincts and paddle normally but in a more upright stance . If you watch a good open water paddler , you will see they look effortless and going with it is key to that .
Knowing when to go low
Whilst staying upright will keep you balanced when paddling in rough water , there are times when getting low will be needed . In rough water , staying loose will often work best , so going low should also be a dynamic movement , not just bending and locking your legs in a squat position . You will react naturally to bumps or when you need to stall the board , and your legs will change direction and position as needed . Trust your instincts again and combine going low with a brace stroke to help your stability .
Stalling the board
You will often need to slow the board down in rough water , especially if you ’ re approaching the shore or a bigger wave comes through . In these situations moving towards the tail and putting pressure on your back foot will stall the board and stop your forward momentum . Getting into a low crouch position at the end of the stall will allow you to regain your balance , transition back to a standing position , and move forward on your board . Again your paddle is a vital tool , so keep it engaged with the water through brace or paddling strokes .
Timing your paddle strokes
Paddling in rough water will also mean being dynamic in timing your paddle strokes . A rhythmic cadence that you might use on flatwater will often put you in sync with what ’ s happening on rough water . Instead , match your paddle strokes with what ’ s happening around you , and you will find more stability and the ability to generate speed by using the conditions .
Paddle in the troughs
A simple way to know when to time your paddle strokes are by paddling in the trough of waves and chop . This will allow you to generate speed for the upcoming wave and be in your recovery phase as the bump passes you . Especially when paddling through bumps , you will then be able to brace as you go over a wave and then be ready to paddle as you transition into the next trough .
Lauren Newman-Warren and Simon Nash look comfortable in choppy conditions
Sara Maxey dealt with the waves by getting low and getting ready to use a brace stroke .
Stalling the board through pressure on the back foot – in this case , to turn off a wave in control
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