Paddle-boarding, an offshoot of surfing, can be practice in different ways. In its most traditional version, participants lie or kneel on a paddleboard or surfboard, and propel themselves by means of a swimming motion with their arms. Another version is stand up paddle-boarding, in which the participants maintain an upright stance on their boards. They propel themselves by means of a paddle. Well-trained paddlers can do a 20-mile (32 km) race only as a warm-up.
The just jump move
Well, not exactly, but something like that. You may perhaps have tried to jump over a paddle back and forth when you are on land. That can be tricky sometimes, but probably you have succeeded with no great effort on your side. Now try to do the same on a paddleboard on the water, and you will find that things get much more complicated, but much more exciting and fun at the same time. If you enjoy the difficulty of keeping your balance standing on a board, you will love the experience of jumping over your paddle back and forth, at least before you fall down into the water.
As also happens in life, sometimes you want to go neither forward nor backward in paddle-boarding. You just want to spin around because, well, because it is a lot of fun to revolve around one's own axis on the water sometimes. This move usually takes place on whitewater. First of all, you set up at the top of a wave. Once you are sure that you can keep your balance there, you start paddling on backside. Then you establish forward momentum, plant the paddle across your nose, and pull hard, making sure to keep the board flat. You will see that this move will impress everyone, and that you will become the hero for the day in that way.
The blender
This move introduces a new element in the 360° move, but with the difference that it does not need to take place in whitewater. In fact, it probably works better in still water. You start by standing on the back of the board, holding your paddle firmly on your right or left side, depending on whether you are right- or left-handed. Then you start paddling on backside vigorously, and you will see that your board immediately turns into a furious blender machine in the middle of the water. Although well... in fact you will not be able to blend anything with this move, but you will quickly realize how much fun it is to do it.
This move combines the previous ones in a way that will make everyone clap after you do it. In this case, you start by standing around the middle of the board, holding your paddle firmly again. Then you move forward, do a 180 degree turn, keeping always your balance, and still holding it firmly, get your paddle behind you. At this moment, you paddle once, but vigorously, and you will see that your board immediately becomes a blender machine even more powerful than the previous one. A move that you will surely enjoy in a sunny day.
With your feet on the air
Finally, if you want to feel more adventurous, try something that may appear harder for many. One option is simply to modify your whole experience, and start doing handstands on your paddle-board. This sort of move may even become the beginning of a different way to enjoy paddle-boarding. It will prepare you for other activities, such as the practice of yoga on a paddle-board.