Connor Baxter's signature "Choke Stroke"

Check out this awesome blog post in SUP racer Connor Baxter's FAQ  section on his blog:

My “Signature” paddling technique is for sure one of a kind. Not having participated in any of the paddling sports, I had no background or training on how to paddle. One day I just started using my technique – and it stuck.

Photo by: Michel Terrien

It is super useful for short sprints to buoys, for upwind, for the starts and coming into the finish line. What I do for this paddle stroke is I slide my hands down the paddle and bend over a little and then paddle my brains out. It is very simple and really allows me to go faster.

Photo by: Michel Terrien

For a race, I normally start out with my paddle stroke to get ahead of the racers and then I put my hand back to the top. I will do my stroke whenever I feel it is needed.  My hands can be like 4 – 12 inches down the paddle shaft. It’s all in the feel of what I need at the time. 

Does the choke stroke make a difference to others? I hear from people who try my “choke stroke.” For instance, I recently got this comment from Cody W:  

"Wanted to pass along thanks for making the choke up stroke more accepted. I was paddling the SEAPaddleNYC on Fri and with a headwind of 17mph with gusts to 30 the only thing that worked for me was choking up and getting down. After the race a paddler came up to me to thank me for showing him the technique. I guess he was behind me and wasn’t going anywhere until he choked up too. Just passin along the cheers since I picked it up mainly from watching you and Annabel kill it. Thanks!” -Cody W

Check out more awesome blog post & tips from Connor Baxter's blog http://blog.connorbaxter.com/faq-talk/

Photos by: Michel Terrien