Thanks a lot for having me on!

Great video, good tips! A few comments/clarifications/additions [just coming back from a paddling session on choppy, washing machine like conditions]: Stability- is an ambiguous concept- stability on the water is not the same as that on the ground. On the water is dynamic, not static and it is achieved by using the paddle [bracing skills is paramount for the transition]. Using the paddle means being relaxed [which means, flexibility in hips and shoulders, arms and legs, as Andrew said, but not only that- train the mind to watch the boat what it is doing and learn from it, without forcing it to do what you think it should do, at least for the beginning]. Of course, you need to have the power when power is needed- that means don't go on the ocean in a surfski for sightseeing... you have to have the proper engine power to move the boat/adjust to its movements. An Oscar C. tip- adjust the length of the paddle- when tired/moving slowly in rough conditions, go low gear [like the bicycle going uphill]; when things are good, lengthen it. And last but not least, perhaps it should be first- master the remount on your boat- practice it ever so often in different conditions, and yes, start your session with a remount; it will give you more confidence...

All very good tips. Thank you. Helpful comments too. I like that framing of ‘stability on the water’ being different than stability on the ground.

Dont forget to keep up the leg drive /foot plate pressure. The first thing you hesitate with when the bumps build is you stop rotation leg drive. The footplate is your connection to the boat so if you loose that you loose your stability, Same with the catch keep up a strong catch, hesitate with that and stability goes again.. Its a psychological hesitation thing to overcome, you need to commit to your stroke.

Extremely Good tips. Maybe add: Stay calm & dont get mentally stressed by the surging swell and messy bump.Learn to trust your ski and know where the secondary stability comes in, by letting your ski rock side to side to feel the secondary stability help you.

Great video with lots of very helpful tips. Ocean paddling is so much fun!

Very cool video, many thanks. I stepped up from a beginner boat - Think Ace 3G, a thing of beauty - to an intermediate, Stellar SR Exp, about 6 months ago. Getting more stable in the latter but still learning a lot. Two tips I'm finding helpful: 1) Paddle the boat around in figure 8s. I'm stable up-wind and down-wind, but cross-chop makes me want to put my legs out. Figure-8s give you a better idea about just what kinds of conditions you can handle, and what you can't. 2) Shorten the paddle to the minimum in relatively calm conditions. The short length highlights flaws in your stroke and you can then gradually lengthen it so you're just on the edge of unstable so you can work on those flaws. For me, I didn't know how badly my left-leg drive sucks until I tried this ...

Great advice, thanks for sharing! 👃

Great video all!

Good tips. My foot pedal strap is loose because I figured "why would I need it tight", I will adjust it and see how it goes. Too much backstroke especially with a wing paddle definitely wants to pull you over! Finding the just perfect foot pedal point is tricky .

Hope i get an honorable mention on this. Honorable mention in the struggles i had

You know one thing I notice on all surf ski instruction videos is the one thing I have trouble, with sometimes on the best way to do it, and that is turning in the wind with the waves to go downwind. Do I turn the rudder hard and paddle fast or turn slow and sort of sit with the rudder hard over with minimum paddling and then paddle faster as the ski gets to about 4 o'clock and picks up speed with the waves. I can't make up my mind. I find sometimes if I paddle strongly as I'm turning in means the turn is longer and I'm exposed to the side on waves longer. I paddle alone so I have never seen how experienced paddlers are doing it, not even in all the videos either. The videos always only show someone as they have already turned. I hope this doesn't sound nonsense because I haven't explained what I mean properly .

Great video! 🛶

comfort is key i cant paddle fast or far havent competed or done any lessons but i just go sit in surf now and practise my bracing techniques

I am posing a question for you to ponder. I just logged my first hundred hours in a surfski. That time was spent developing stability, a paddle stroke, and finding myself in the boat (Foot brace position, leg drive, etc.). What do you propose for the next 100 hours? It seems as if the learning progresses in stages. Or, my mind can only work in stages. I also do much better if I have a goal in mind, My thoughts are open water MAF paddling for 1-2 hour stretches, maintaining posture, and building overall fitness (strength and aerobic). My guess is that I will be ready to progress to a boat under 19" wide at that point. Then I go back to start!