One of the easiest ways to redirect your board from the stand-still position is the simple “triangle turn.” I saw Ikaika Kalama do this last summer and it took me months to figure it out. By learning the concepts behind these simple steps, you may figure this out in minutes. I call this a triangle turn because you are simply drawing a triangle in the water with your paddle blade and redirecting yourself.

1 // Start by keeping your feet in the parallel position with your paddle flat to the back of your board, about 12 inches from your feet. Simply push out toward the front of your board as far as you can reach by pushing with your bottom hand forward while pulling with your top hand. The nose of your board will start to pull toward your outreach as the tail of the board spins out.

2 // With your paddle out from your board, pull your bottom hand toward the nose like you are trying to flatten the blade along the rail. Once again, feel your board spin toward your right side.

3 // With your paddle back in the stroke position, push forward and pull back with your top hand. Your board will have turned at
least 270 degrees from the starting point. With more practice in flat water, you should be able to redirect it into a full 360-degree spin.

WITH PRACTICE YOU SHOULD LEARN THIS STROKE IN DAYS, NOT MONTHS.