This study aimed to explore the perspectives of elite surfing athletes, coaches, and performance support practitioners regarding sprint paddling technique, a critical aspect of high-performance surfing. Thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews revealed four major themes: (a) the paddle stroke, (b) the kick, (c) strength and mobility, and (d) body position on the surfboard. Concerning the paddle stroke, participants advocated for longer strokes to enhance forward propulsion, emphasising the importance of reach, hand entry, catch, pull and push phases, and hand exit, aligning with established front crawl swimming principles. The benefits of a forward-weighted body position and minimal trunk movement to optimise paddling efficiency were also highlighted. Moreover, participants unanimously stressed the significance of an explosive kick for generating speed, improving pitch, and enhancing confidence in challenging conditions. Perspectives also underscored the pivotal role of shoulder and core strength, back mobility, and their impact on stroke efficiency. These findings provide novel insights into paddling technique conceptualization within the high-performance surfing community and offer a valuable framework for enhancing surfing performance, advancing knowledge, and providing future applied research endeavours.
MacDonald et al. (Wed,) studied this question.