Morning all,
Just onto my new Mana 10', and seeking any advice on minimising yawing during paddle strokes on a shorter (for me...) SUP.
I had previously only been on much longer boards (12'ers+) and didn't really experience it. Got onto the Mana with a lot of advice, and the fact that I don't want to 'outgrow' it any time soon. It's amazing, and can't wait to get it onto some smallish waves, but only flat-water so far. Love it...
Any tips on paddle technique to keep the '2 strokes then switch' effect would be very much appreciated!
Cheers!
PS my better half is already calling herself a SUP widow... :o)
I know this board well and there are a few things that will help with paddling without so much yawing..
IMO the biggest thing to help is to stand slightly more forward on the board.. Most people I see paddling stand at the handle or slightly behind the center of the handle.. Try standing slightly ahead of the center of the handle.. You might think the nose of the board is a bit low but you will get used to that and you should notice a big difference paddling.. Try paddling with the paddle as vertical as you can and doing this requires a slight twist in your upper body to get your top left hand over the right rail and visa-versa with your right hand.. Try not to paddle past your feet.. Short strokes tend to cause less yawing than long strokes.. Another tip is to weight the same rail of the board that you're paddling on.. So if you're paddling on the right side you need to put more weight on your right foot.. I found that if you lifting your left foot heel slightly will help.. and visa-versa paddling on the other side.. You can also controle yawing with a change of fins to a slightly bigger one.. or by moving the fin further back in the box.. Hope these tips help.. 
Select to expand quoteDavidJohn said...
I know this board well and there are a few things that will help with paddling without so much yawing..
IMO the biggest thing to help is to stand slightly more forward on the board.. Most people I see paddling stand at the handle or slightly behind the center of the handle.. Try standing slightly ahead of the center of the handle.. You might think the nose of the board is a bit low but you will get used to that and you should notice a big difference paddling.. Try paddling with the paddle as vertical as you can and doing this requires a slight twist in your upper body to get your top left hand over the right rail and visa-versa with your right hand.. Try not to paddle past your feet.. Short strokes tend to cause less yawing than long strokes.. Another tip is to weight the same rail of the board that you're paddling on.. So if you're paddling on the right side you need to put more weight on your right foot.. I found that if you lifting your left foot heel slightly will help.. and visa-versa paddling on the other side.. You can also controle yawing with a change of fins to a slightly bigger one.. or by moving the fin further back in the box.. Hope these tips help..
Thank you very much DJ Much appreciated!!
Someone once said to me to paddle like you're trying to push the water under the back of the board - seems to work in that it forces your paddle vertical...
Select to expand quoteTodzilla said..
Someone once said to me to paddle like you're trying to push the water under the back of the board - seems to work in that it forces your paddle vertical...
I'll give that a burl as well Todzilla - thanks 
Select to expand quoteDavidJohn said...
I know this board well and there are a few things that will help with paddling without so much yawing..
IMO the biggest thing to help is to stand slightly more forward on the board.. Most people I see paddling stand at the handle or slightly behind the center of the handle.. Try standing slightly ahead of the center of the handle.. You might think the nose of the board is a bit low but you will get used to that and you should notice a big difference paddling.. Try paddling with the paddle as vertical as you can and doing this requires a slight twist in your upper body to get your top left hand over the right rail and visa-versa with your right hand.. Try not to paddle past your feet.. Short strokes tend to cause less yawing than long strokes.. Another tip is to weight the same rail of the board that you're paddling on.. So if you're paddling on the right side you need to put more weight on your right foot.. I found that if you lifting your left foot heel slightly will help.. and visa-versa paddling on the other side.. You can also controle yawing with a change of fins to a slightly bigger one.. or by moving the fin further back in the box.. Hope these tips help..
Much appreciated here too.
Are there any Youtube vids that you suggest for extra paddle technique advice DavidJohn?
Thanks again.
To paddle straight, there are 2 tricks:
[1] have the shaft in a vertical plane. This is the main issue.
Row:
No row:
[2] enter the water with the blade rotated rear face turned to the rail. Note that this reduce the paddling efficiency and is not really needed for 10' + boards. It is more a technique for very short SUPs, and to create "anti row", for instance to aim for a mellow section of whitewater without having to change paddle side.
Of course, you must also apply the general paddling techniques: catch as far froward as possible, apply effort in the 1rst foot of paddle travel, get the paddle out of the water at the feet, not beyond.
Note that visualizing a "nail" near the fin cluster may make you better understand what is happening www.gong-galaxy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=43629 
As for vids, I found that Halie Harrison has the perfect technique, in this video at 47s and 1mn. Short and compact, and see how she steer the board by angling more or less the shaft:
Well, had a chance to put all of the above into practice today - thank you guys, it works like a charm! Having the font of knowledge available on here is such a great resource. Thank you to the much more experienced paddlers willing to help out us plebs to get better
Select to expand quoteDavidJohn said..
I forgot what we were talking about after those first two pictures..
Thursday!
