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paddleboard 101

Fall-Winter Paddleboarding Tips

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Paddle with Flare.  Especially if you are paddling alone or with a small group, it is very important to paddle with bright colored clothing.  Also known as the peacock effect, flare is basically another term for standing out.  So why is it important to stand out on the water?  The same way that it is important to stand out on the mountain slopes and especially for back country skiing-  SAFETY.  With low light conditions of fall and winter paddling you will want to be seen on the water by an oncoming boat, your paddle partner or in a rescue situation.  We recommend picking up a bright neon or pink DFW Surf hat for $20 and then you will be safe on the water by day and an attention grabbing peacock at night. (pictured below is national canoe champ Rich Stewart and Dallas Surfer/Socialite Austin McDaniel).

Off-Season paddle boarding tips picture of Rich Stewart and Dallas Socialite Austin McDaniel

Paddle with a Partner or with a Group.  Even more essential for off-season paddling is to paddle with others.  Why?  Because there are significantly less boaters and sailers on the lake in the off-season.  If something goes wrong, who is going to know?  And paddling with others is more enjoyable not to mention more motivating if you are training to be a sup racer.  Pictured below is our die hard first year paddlers who are still making an appearance at Womens Wednesdays week after week.

fall-paddling-in-north-texas-dfw-surf

Gear Up, Dress Up.  If it is cold outside, then wear something warm.  If you are a beginner paddler and have a good possibility of falling in the water then wear a wetsuit.  If you are a confident paddler you will at least need to throw on a pair of booties to keep your feet warm.  If it is an extremely cold day your life will be miserable if you don’t have gloves.  Watch the video of DFW Surf founder Tyler Marshall below try to paddle in the snow with no gloves and see how long he lasts.

Learn more about paddling with flare with top paddle athletes HERE

SUP (Stand Up Paddleboarding)- Frequently Asked Questions

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1.  Is the water cold?  This might be the #1 asked question.

Answer:  Well that depends on how you define “cold.”  In our opinion, cold water is when you have to wear a wetsuit or booties and what is great about Texas is how warm it is year round and how cool and refreshing the water is between the months of April and July.  A lot of times the same people who ask how cold the water is in June will also complain about how hot it is in July.

2.  Are there alligators?

Answer:  Yes, but very rarely and in remote spots of the lake, but in general, the odds of running into an alligator are very slim.  They are just as scared of us as we are of them.  It is interesting to note that our most popular blog post of all time is “Are there Alligators in North Texas?”

3.  How deep is it?

Answer:  At max depths Grapevine and Lewisville Lake average around 50-80 feet.  Closer to shore the depth is anywhere from 2-20 feet.  Average SUP fins are 8 inches in height, so if you fins touches bottom then you know that it’s time to hop off your board.

4.  What do I wear?  And what about shoes or slippers?

Answer:  Swimsuit attire, hat and sunscreen and yes even a speedo if you’d like.  In our Beginner Paddle Classes you will learn how to get back on your board when you fall and in our yoga classes their is a good chance you will fall in while attempting a headstand for your first time.  1 out of 30 people lose their sunglasses, which is why we sell and demo Bomber Floating Sunglasses to wear with some sunscreen and a hat.  SUP is a barefoot activity because, just like surfing, you get more grip from the soles of your feet.  You can opt to wear a thin material slipper or watershoe- these are great for adventure paddles in backwoods and creeks and 3mm booties are ideal for cold water conditions.

5.  Can I paddle with my dog?

Answer:  Yep, absolutely.  A man and his best friend can enjoy the feeling of walking on water together.  Your dog needs to wear a life jacket just like his or her owner.  The bigger the dog, the bigger the board you need for the both of you at once.  Kayaking is always a great option too.

SUP with your PUP at DFW Surf

6.  If I have never paddleboarded before is it okay to rent a board?

Answer:  Nope.  Safety and confidence is our #1 objective on the water besides having fun.  While paddleboarding is easy to do, it is difficult without knowing what and how to do it.  All first time paddlers (first time ever, does not have to be at DFW Surf) are required to either hop in a class or receive private instruction from one of our certified and professional coaches.

7.  Are you open?  What are your hours?  Where are you located?

Answer:  We are open year round by reservation, on any day, at any time.  Check out our new website from your mobile phone for our weekly business hours depending on the time of year.  We are open weekends in May and September and 4 days a week in the summer, June 1- Sept 1.  We have 3 lakeside locations to get on board.

8.  What are the requirements to becoming a member of the DFW Surf Club?

Answer:  Check out more info and membership pre-requisites on our website- http://dfwsurf.com/dfwsurfclub/.  We require that you take a class and coaches approval.  Once you become a member you need to take another class or private wakesurfing lesson to be able to surf in one of our weekly meetups.

Paddles: How to Choose Your SUP Paddle

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  1. Paddle Height – How Big Is Yo Stick?

This is the most important part of your whole SUP experience! If your paddle is too tall, or too short you will be working harder than necessary. This can even causing shoulder and back injuries. If you buy a solid shaft paddle (non adjustable)  always cut it taller at first. You can cut it shorter if necessary, but you can’t make it taller! There’s a few guides and charts on the inter-webs you can reference. Your best bet Is your local sup specific shop (not a sporting goods store) or find a PaddleFit certified instructor.

  1. Paddle Weight – How Heavy is Yo Paddle?

The materials, size, and design will dictate how much your paddle will weigh. How heavy your paddle is will effect how you perform. A lighter paddle will put less strain on your body allowing you to get more STROKES PER MINUTE, keep proper form avoiding injury, and being more efficient.

  1. Purpose – What Kind of Paddling Do You Do?

There are many different styles of paddleboarding; racing, surf, white water, AND SUP POLO??? There’s all kinds of “activity” specific paddles out in the market: you name it someone makes it. So that being said, what is practical for you? Be smart do your research and consult your local sup shop.

In Racing: You’ll want a lighter paddle allowing for less swing weight. Resulting in a higher stroke rate and less fatigue.

Surf: You’ll want a small flat blade with a shorter shaft allowing you to place your blade in the face of the wave with more ease.

Whitewater: Weight mostly goes out the window as you are looking for durability to with stand the blows it will take from rocks and other hard objects in the shallow waters.

Flat Water/Recreational: A longer shaft, medium size blade will accommodate easy cruising and very little strain on the body.

SUP POLO?: Some of you are wondering what this even is… Just watch the video below and you can come to your own conclusion on what paddle will be best for it.

  1. Blade Size – Is Bigger really always better?

Bigger isn’t always better. Blade size is measured in surface area (sq/in or sq/cm ) and just like the height of your paddle and your pants there is a size for you . The inter-webs has charts and recommendations for you. Don’t just listen to your buddy who says you need a 120 sq/in blade, it might not be best for YOU. A bigger blade is heavier and harder to recover at the end of your stroke, therefore less efficient. You want a blade that grabs just enough water to pull you and your board forward. No one cares how big it is, its how you use it!

Rule of thumb: Typically your paddle blade is going to follow your body type.

  1. Materials – What’s it REALLY made of?

What your paddle could be made of: plastic, carbon, fiberglass, aluminum, kevlar, or even (the same thing we have been using for 100’s of years….) Wood. Each of these have attributes that match your needs, and your budget.   That being said be cautious of fakes such as a carbon paddle for cheap that are actually fiberglass inside and a very thin carbon finish on the outside. Looks good but heavy and weak. Also, there’s the common fiberglass painted black to look like carbon. Asked questions to make sure if you are wanting to purchase a Carbon paddle, you are getting a true carbon paddle.

If style is what you’re going for, wood is a great option. Just know good care and maintenance is necessary.

Click HERE for more info about paddles and a convenient sizing chart

Yolo Paddleboarding Paddles

By Coach Cody

Paddleboarding: What is an A-Frame?

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One of the most used terms in the SUP world is the “A-Frame.” Paddleboarding: What is an A-Frame? And why is it so important?

Well it is pretty simple really, the paddleboard a-frame is the position created by the body and arms while executing a proper paddle stroke. This is created by extending the top hand up above the head and the bottom hand out and away from the body, which creates the shape of an A (as shown in the picture above).

The A-Frame is the foundation for some very important paddle basics like the “reach” and the “catch.” The “reach,” or extending your bottom arm out as far as possible will result in a solid forward stroke and a greater distance per stroke. Imagine a paddleboard stroke without reaching out, a stroke that starts just before your feet and ends two feet passed your heels, is this efficient? Will it generate power? The more efficient part of the stroke is in front of your body, so a good stroke is one that exits at the toes or at the heels and this starts with a good reach, followed by the “catch.” The “catch” is just like it sounds, like catching a baseball. This is the point where the paddle blade catches the water. Be sure that you catch your blade completely in the water first before applying power.

Paddleboard-A-Frame-Nate-Richard

The A Frame, reach, catch and release can be translated into a speed and racing stroke. Notice DFW Surf team rider, Nate Richard, executing a speed stroke wile maintaining an A-Frame foundation. The perfect looking A-shape is tilted here as Nate is generating power by bending at his waist. Notice how his paddle is straight up and down following his catch- this is where power is produced. Lastly, the arms do not have to be completely straight- you will want some bend in your lower arm, especially if you want to increase your stroke rate.