There are many ways to enjoy your stand up paddleboard. You can take a leisurely drift down a calm inlet, or go all out racing through the ocean waves towards the finish line against a slew of other paddlers. Wherever your paddling adventures take you, sooner or later you’re going to have to turn around, so you’ll need to learn how to pivot turn on a stand up paddleboard.
In order to execute a pivot turn, you’ll need to move towards the rear end of your board. Using a hybrid stance (one foot in front of the other, your back foot at a 45 degree angle), scoot back towards to end of the board so that the nose tips up out of the water as the tail drops down below the surface. Don’t go so far backwards that you are at the very end of the board. Then, dig in with your paddle execute a tight turn.
You’ll definitely want to practice this technique. When trying this method for the first time, you can practice your pivot turn on a stand up paddleboard by sitting down, scooting backwards, then practicing turning left and right. Once you feel comfortable maneuvering your board, stand up again and give it a try from an upright position.
You should note that the exact position on the board will vary from person to person, and from board to board. Precisely where you should stand when pivot turning on a SUP can depend on the length and width of your board, as well as your own height and weight. You need to find the “sweet spot,” or the place on the board where you have the nose of the board out of the water but are still comfortably balanced.
Take a look at this video that demonstrates how to pivot turn on a stand up paddleboard, as well as how your paddle can help you keep your balance on the board.
Featured Image from Nick Linnen/Unsplash
