Improver SUP Racing
Ready to take your racing to the next level? This pathway is designed for paddlers who want to refine their race technique, improve efficiency and deepen their understanding of performance equipment. Follow each section in order to develop faster, more confident paddling and make better-informed equipment choices on and off the race course.
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Section 1: Developing Race Skills & Technique
Build confidence and versatility on a raceboard. Develop the skills to handle narrower boards, surf, paddle efficiently and understand the practical choices that can help you progress as a racer.
Ready to take your raceboard into the waves? Learn some key techniques and considerations that will help make your first raceboard surf sessions more controlled, successful and enjoyable.
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First time tips for surfing a SUP race board / How to video
Ready to take your raceboard into the waves? Learn some key techniques and considerations that will help make your first raceboard surf sessions more controlled, successful and enjoyable.
Preview VideoNarrower boards can feel challenging at first. Learn how effective bracing and a few changes to your technique can help you stay balanced, relaxed and in control on smaller SUPs.
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How to paddle small SUPs / Brace, brace,brace
Narrower boards can feel challenging at first. Learn how effective bracing and a few changes to your technique can help you stay balanced, relaxed and in control on smaller SUPs.
Preview VideoCould team racing add another dimension to SUP competition? Explore how the format could work and some of the ideas that could make racing more tactical, varied and exciting.
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Team racing in SUP / Race Dr Bryce Dyer talks about how it could be done
Could team racing add another dimension to SUP competition? Explore how the format could work and some of the ideas that could make racing more tactical, varied and exciting.
View VideoYour connection with the board matters. Explore the differences between paddling barefoot and in wetsuit boots, and how each can affect grip, feel, balance and control.
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Getting the most grip & control / Wetsuit boots or barefoot?
Your connection with the board matters. Explore the differences between paddling barefoot and in wetsuit boots, and how each can affect grip, feel, balance and control.
Preview VideoBoard width has a huge influence on stability and speed. Understand the compromises involved and how to choose a width that suits your ability, ambitions and the paddling you want to do.
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Want to paddle further or faster? / Choosing the best board width for you
Board width has a huge influence on stability and speed. Understand the compromises involved and how to choose a width that suits your ability, ambitions and the paddling you want to do.
Preview VideoTake a closer look at inflatable raceboard design. Understand how different nose profiles and rocker lines influence the way an iSUP interacts with the water and performs in different conditions.
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iSUP Nose Profile & Rocker Line Explained
Take a closer look at inflatable raceboard design. Understand how different nose profiles and rocker lines influence the way an iSUP interacts with the water and performs in different conditions.
Preview VideoProgress isn’t always about buying faster equipment. Explore the compromises between your gear, ability, conditions and goals, and learn how making better choices can ultimately make you a better paddler.
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Considerations and compromises to ‘become a better SUPer’
Progress isn’t always about buying faster equipment. Explore the compromises between your gear, ability, conditions and goals, and learn how making better choices can ultimately make you a better paddler.
Preview VideoSection 2: Understanding Race Board Performance
Look beneath the surface of raceboard design. Learn how fins, bottom shape, rocker, rails and other design features influence tracking, stability, speed and the way a board feels on the water.
Fins do far more than simply keep your board going straight. Discover how fin choice can influence tracking, speed and the overall feel of your raceboard.
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Fins Do Make A Difference #1 / Tracking and Speed
Fins do far more than simply keep your board going straight. Discover how fin choice can influence tracking, speed and the overall feel of your raceboard.
Preview VideoCan you go smaller with your fin? Explore how smaller fins affect board performance and why your paddle technique becomes increasingly important as you reduce fin size.
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Fins Do Make A Difference #2 / Small Fins & Paddle Technique
Can you go smaller with your fin? Explore how smaller fins affect board performance and why your paddle technique becomes increasingly important as you reduce fin size.
Preview VideoThere’s no single fin that works best everywhere. Learn how changing conditions can influence your fin choice and why different setups can help you get more from your raceboard.
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Fins Do Make A Difference #4 / SUP Fins For Different Conditions
There’s no single fin that works best everywhere. Learn how changing conditions can influence your fin choice and why different setups can help you get more from your raceboard.
Preview VideoStart looking beneath the board to understand how different bottom shapes interact with the water and influence stability, glide, manoeuvrability and overall performance.
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SUP Shapes Explained / SUP bottom shapes
Start looking beneath the board to understand how different bottom shapes interact with the water and influence stability, glide, manoeuvrability and overall performance.
Preview VideoRocker has a major influence on how a board performs. Learn what rocker line is and how different profiles can affect glide, turning and performance across different water conditions.
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SUP rocker-lines explained / How to Video
Rocker has a major influence on how a board performs. Learn what rocker line is and how different profiles can affect glide, turning and performance across different water conditions.
More InfoSmall design details can make a noticeable difference. Explore how rail thickness around the tail influences the way water releases from the board and how the board performs.
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SUP Rail thickness at the tail / Design & Performance
Small design details can make a noticeable difference. Explore how rail thickness around the tail influences the way water releases from the board and how the board performs.
Preview VideoContinue exploring board design by looking at rail shape. Understand how different rails interact with the water and contribute to stability, control and overall board performance.
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SUP SHAPES EXPLAINED / SUP RAIL SHAPES
Continue exploring board design by looking at rail shape. Understand how different rails interact with the water and contribute to stability, control and overall board performance.
Preview VideoSquare, pin, rounded and more — discover why SUPs have different tail shapes and how this part of the board can influence stability, turning and water release.
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SUP Shapes Explained / SUP tail shapes
Square, pin, rounded and more — discover why SUPs have different tail shapes and how this part of the board can influence stability, turning and water release.
Preview VideoTake a closer look at the front of the board. Compare different nose bottom shapes and understand why certain designs work better in particular conditions and styles of paddling.
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Which SUP nose bottom shape is best for you? Reuben explains all…
Take a closer look at the front of the board. Compare different nose bottom shapes and understand why certain designs work better in particular conditions and styles of paddling.
View VideoFin shape is only part of the story. Learn how race fins are constructed and how different materials and construction methods can influence weight, stiffness and performance.
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Basics on race fin constructions / How to SUP video with Ben Pye
Fin shape is only part of the story. Learn how race fins are constructed and how different materials and construction methods can influence weight, stiffness and performance.
View VideoSection 3: READERS’ RACE TECHNIQUE BREAKDOWNS
Learn from real paddlers and real technique. These detailed video breakdowns identify strengths, weaknesses and practical improvements across paddle stroke, tracking, power, efficiency and long-distance racing.
See how one paddler can improve straight-line tracking without sacrificing power. We analyse the technique and highlight practical changes that can help produce a cleaner, more effective stroke.
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Readers Video Breakdown ‘Paddle straight with power’
See how one paddler can improve straight-line tracking without sacrificing power. We analyse the technique and highlight practical changes that can help produce a cleaner, more effective stroke.
Preview VideoBreak the paddle stroke into five key phases and see how each contributes to efficient paddling. Use the analysis to identify areas you could improve in your own technique.
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Readers Video Breakdown ‘5 Phases of the Paddle Stroke’ – SUP Racing
Break the paddle stroke into five key phases and see how each contributes to efficient paddling. Use the analysis to identify areas you could improve in your own technique.
Preview VideoGoing faster isn’t simply about paddling harder. See how technique can be refined to improve speed and efficiency, whether you’re racing, training or trying to cover distance more effectively.
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Readers Video Breakdown / Speed & Efficiency
Going faster isn’t simply about paddling harder. See how technique can be refined to improve speed and efficiency, whether you’re racing, training or trying to cover distance more effectively.
Preview VideoTake a detailed look at race technique, from the paddle stroke to body movement and tracking. Discover the small changes that can add up to more efficient paddling.
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Readers Video Breakdown ‘SUP Race Technique’
Take a detailed look at race technique, from the paddle stroke to body movement and tracking. Discover the small changes that can add up to more efficient paddling.
Preview VideoMore power is only useful if your body can produce it efficiently. Explore technique changes designed to increase performance while reducing unnecessary strain and helping protect against injury.
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Readers Video Breakdown ‘Increase Power & Prevent Injury’ / SUP Race Technique
More power is only useful if your body can produce it efficiently. Explore technique changes designed to increase performance while reducing unnecessary strain and helping protect against injury.
Preview VideoLong-distance racing demands more than outright speed. Explore how technique and pacing can be adapted to conserve energy, maintain efficiency and keep you paddling effectively over longer distances.
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Readers Video Breakdown ‘Long Distance SUP Racing’
Long-distance racing demands more than outright speed. Explore how technique and pacing can be adapted to conserve energy, maintain efficiency and keep you paddling effectively over longer distances.
Preview VideoTake a look at the race setup used by one of the sport’s top paddlers. Discover Seychelle Webster’s equipment choices and what you can learn from the way an elite racer sets up.
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Who’s Riding What? – Seychelle Webster / SUP Race
Take a look at the race setup used by one of the sport’s top paddlers. Discover Seychelle Webster’s equipment choices and what you can learn from the way an elite racer sets up.
View VideoExplore the race equipment and setup choices of Terrene Black, gaining another insight into how an elite paddler selects and configures equipment to suit their racing.
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Who’s Riding What? – Terrene Black
Explore the race equipment and setup choices of Terrene Black, gaining another insight into how an elite paddler selects and configures equipment to suit their racing.
View VideoSection 4: CHOOSING & REFINING YOUR RACE EQUIPMENT
Bring your understanding together and refine your race setup. Explore paddles, board construction and performance features, while learning how experienced racers choose and modify equipment to suit their needs.
Paddle blade size isn’t simply determined by how big you are. Learn what else you should consider when choosing a blade that suits your technique, power, cadence and style of paddling.
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How to choose the size of your paddle blade – there’s more to it than just body weight!
Paddle blade size isn’t simply determined by how big you are. Learn what else you should consider when choosing a blade that suits your technique, power, cadence and style of paddling.
View VideoThinking about moving from an inflatable to a hard raceboard? Discover the differences you’re likely to notice in feel, stiffness, glide and performance, and whether making the switch is right for you.
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What can I expect from a ‘real’ raceboard! / iSUP vs Hard
Thinking about moving from an inflatable to a hard raceboard? Discover the differences you’re likely to notice in feel, stiffness, glide and performance, and whether making the switch is right for you.
Preview VideoWhat are you really getting when you spend more on a paddle? Explore the materials, weight and performance differences to understand where the extra money goes — and whether you’ll benefit.
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Are expensive SUP paddles worth it? – Race Dr Bryce Dyer
What are you really getting when you spend more on a paddle? Explore the materials, weight and performance differences to understand where the extra money goes — and whether you’ll benefit.
View VideoConstruction affects far more than price. Compare common composite board constructions and understand the compromises between weight, stiffness, durability, performance and cost.
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What composite SUP board construction should I buy? Full carbon or wood/glass?
Construction affects far more than price. Compare common composite board constructions and understand the compromises between weight, stiffness, durability, performance and cost.
Preview VideoCan adding a rigid nose really improve an inflatable SUP? Explore what hard nose cones are designed to achieve and whether the potential performance gains make a noticeable difference on the water.
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Hard Nose cones on iSUP’s… Do they work? Jonny tells all / SUPboarder Pro
Can adding a rigid nose really improve an inflatable SUP? Explore what hard nose cones are designed to achieve and whether the potential performance gains make a noticeable difference on the water.
Preview VideoThose small edges at the back of an iSUP have an important job. Learn how tail runners help water release more cleanly and why that can improve inflatable board performance.
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We talk about tail runners / edge releases on your iSUP / What do they do & why?
Those small edges at the back of an iSUP have an important job. Learn how tail runners help water release more cleanly and why that can improve inflatable board performance.
Preview VideoWhy does adding length generally increase speed? Explore the science behind waterline length, drag and efficiency to understand why longer raceboards can achieve greater speeds.
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Why are longer boards faster? / SUP Tech talk
Why does adding length generally increase speed? Explore the science behind waterline length, drag and efficiency to understand why longer raceboards can achieve greater speeds.
Preview VideoNarrower usually means faster — but only if you can paddle it effectively. Explore where the balance between reduced width, stability and real-world performance starts to become a compromise.
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“Are narrow race boards nuts?” Race Dr Bryce Dyer
Narrower usually means faster — but only if you can paddle it effectively. Explore where the balance between reduced width, stability and real-world performance starts to become a compromise.
View VideoFinish by seeing how an experienced racer fine-tunes his equipment. Pete Holliday talks through his raceboard modifications and the thinking behind adapting a board to better suit the paddler.
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Top SUP racer Pete Holliday talks about his SUP race board modifications
Finish by seeing how an experienced racer fine-tunes his equipment. Pete Holliday talks through his raceboard modifications and the thinking behind adapting a board to better suit the paddler.
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