Been searching for any tips on long surf swims with your paddle - any body know of any
Cheers
(400Mish swim in rippy conditions after a leggie snap on a set - the surf rescue crew were training as a unmanned SUP went past and came out and gave us a ride for the last 100m - must say thanks to the rubber duckie crew for the lift for the last - I was stuffed and thinking about ditching the paddle)
I find it easy as to just side stroke in hanging on to the paddle with the other hand by the end of the handle. You can also swap over if you get tired. Had the misfortune of breaking a couple of leggies in the solid stuff. Only downside to bigger swell......
I've had he misfortune, like many others. of bobbing around a few hundreds meters offshore in sizeable conditions. Looped the paddle through the cuff of my legrope. Uncomfortable for a swim but it worked. Now in anything 6ft and over I wear a PFD. At least it helps me keep my head out of the water while I doggy paddle in.
can swim faster with paddle then without.
Takes some practise but...
lay paddle along back with andle between shoulder blades, flip one foot over the bottem of shaft with blade trailing. Kick with other foot.
Hi Guys,
Haven't had the pleasure of a long swim whilst boardless but was wondering if you couldn't hold the paddle at the base of the blade and use it a bit like the old hand surfers body surfers used to use in the 80's and side stroke it with the paddle out front in the other hand.
Just a thought! 
DM
Some good ideas - I tried most things I'd read in the past, the Harry potter, side stroke, trying to get my head around putting the paddle between shoulderblades and wrapping a leg - a light weight pfd would be helpful. Funny you have it in your mind how you'll get yourself out of a long swim but when in the posi it's harder than you thought. Fkn leggies!!!!! As far as my swimming goes - I don't swim regularly anymore but once swam in long distance tri's and did a lot of pool k's - time to get back ino it
Reckon I might spend a few summer evenings swimming in the surf with my paddle
So if your out there today have a go at a swim with your paddle and get ready for the inevitable - need a new leggie - any tips on a good surf sup leggie - got a spare creatures - the da kine was good - till yesterday!!
Hey Russh, you second post bought something to mind, and as i used to do long swims in a prior life not sure how it would work, but what about doing kick with the paddle as a kick board? you would have to hold it cross ways and make sure you dont push to much water with the blade?
No exactly the same situation, but I broke a paddle (lost the blade) on an outer reef. I put the paddle shaft inside my leash velcro along my leg, could use the same mehod for swimming with a paddle...
I was swimming in one day after snapping a leggy, I had a guy on an outrigger come past and told me to put the handle of my paddle between my legs and swim as normal. Problem solved, worked a treat
Thanks, i did suspect that it was probably just advertising hype that they were unbreakable. 
I'll remember that Bondie - but I was out by myself so kinda with all me mates!!
No one wanted to come down and it was an ugly looking white water washing machine low tide dribbleton paddle - the ones where you paddle your arse off for 20 mins and then the waves are fat gutless ****e and you only go out cause you've just driven 45 minutes and dont want to tel, the missus you went all that way and didnt surf - everyone was heading out at the point - I didnt see anyone except the SLSavers
Any way thanks crew I think this is well and truely done - I have a few things I am gonna do to be more prepared for the next one!!!!
