A Deliberate Approach to Paddle Surfing
Erik Antonson of the Progression Project
Hi, I’m Erik. I’m obsessed with paddle surfing. I’ve interviewed 35 top pros, written 70+ blogs, won 2 Costa Rica Championships and coached many passionate paddle surfers. My knowledge is open source – free for you to enjoy and share.
Start Here –
Watch the Progression Project Film – We hosted 9 of the world’s best paddle surfers for 13 days to document the current state of our sport. All footage is within 45 minutes from our compound.
Listen to the podcast – Learn from Dave Kalama, Kai Lenny, Connor Baxter, Mo Freitas and over 30 others in long form, detailed technical conversations focused on paddle surfing. A free valuable resource!
Read the Progression Journal – I’m not a pro, but through consistent deliberate practice I’ve come a long way and won 2 Costa Rica National Championships. The Progression Journal is a compilation of what I’ve learned along the way. Enjoy.
Coaching and Training Resource – I’ve moved coaching questions from email to a public forum so everyone benefits. Post/Answer Questions and contribute other learning resources (books, articles, inspiration), and best mental models
Train in Costa Rica – Come to the Progression Project Headquarters in Nosara, Costa Rica to train with me and our crew! We offer All-Inclusive Camps and private coaching. Book now, 2017 is filling up.
The Archive – Podcasts, Journals, Videos
- Mick Slattery of SureFire Surfboards – Technical surf and sup design and construction discussion.
- Hans Wagner, Head of ESSC Contest Series, On the Podcast
- Mo Freitas Podcast 2018
- Paddlewoo Returns!
- Thoughts on Race to the Bottom, Volume and where the industry missed
- Some Background on the Design Process of the Barra model by Portal
- Quick update on life –
- Chase Kosterlitz Podcast – Chase Joins Blue Zone SUP!!!
- Raw Video Breakdown #3 – Ryan
- Anders Ericsson on Becoming Great
- The Future of SUP with Erik Logan, SUP’s Biggest Fan and Advisor
- Raw Video Breakdown #2
- It only takes one…
- Creating a coaching platform? Your feedback requested…
- Raw Footage Video Breakdown 1
- Getting Technical with JP’s Shaper Werner Gnigler
- Notes on foot position for speed and turn placement
- Hello Jacksonville Beach! – Some big life changes…
- Session Breakdown – April 1st
- Session Breakdown – March 29th
- Norm Hann – Following Passion to Paddling and Protecting a Coastline
- G Love on Creative Inspiration, Practice and Cultivation of Flow
- Evelyn O’Doherty – Standup Journal’s new Online Editor talks Paddle Surfing, Coaching and Giving Back
- On the Art of Learning with Josh Waitzkin
- On Buying Surfboards
- Tristan Boxford, CEO of the Standup World Tour, on the 2017 Season
- Summer Glide – My Thoughts on the Popdart and Video
- The Rebuild – Style and Flow
- Stress Test Your Paddle Surfing, Surf your SUP without a Paddle!
- Your Paddle isn’t a Rudder!
- Why I Paddle Surf 90% of the Time
- Dropping Volume – Better have some solid processes!
- Gorilla Butt – Immediately Improve Your Style!
- Tennis and a great coaching moment
- Underestimating The Race to the Bottom
- Choosing the right mental models
- Embracing Change and Age – Robert Sapolsky keynote as it pertains to paddle surfing
- Hobie and L-41 – Stability on 83L boards at 85kg
- Back in Paradise! – First Reactions to the Hobie
- Zane and Matty Schweitzer Podcast – Technical Skills Discussion
- Good morning, San Clemente!
- 7.2 JP thoughts, Larry Cain Stoke Drilling and Charleston Film notes
- Progression Project feedback
- Designing a Board with Kirk McGinty – Part 5, Shaped and frothing!
- Ramble from the road
- Breaking Down Stroke with Larry Cain, Podcast
- Examining Mental Models and the Beliefs they Create
- Designing a Board with Kirk McGinty – Part 4, The Decision
- Designing a Board with Kirk McGinty – Part 3, 6.8 TVD
- Designing a Board with Kirk McGinty – Part 2, Initial Designs
- Designing a Board with Kirk McGinty – Part 1, Podcast
- Release Dates in FL, SC and GA
- Fear and Risk
- Cycling Back Through Your Quiver
- Progression Project Release, States Trip and Pacific Paddle Self Challenge
- My Out of the Water Practices
- Random Session Notes
- Why we need to get hydrofoils out of lineups now.
- Coaching Jason Podcast
- A visual of paddle effect
- The Most Fun
- Coaching Jason – Part 1
- Hydrofoil, Different Sports of SUP and Chinese Crap Boards
- Growth. Do we care?
- Long-form surf film?
- On Paddles
- F-One 7.5 x 26 Review and Sponsoring Paddlewoo
- JP Australia 8.0 Session Notes
- Big Surf for Costa Rica
- Social Contracts – Making a Movie
- Eric Goodman Interview – Diving Deeper into Foundation Training
- Building Confidence in the Water
- Tips to Avoid Breaking Leashes when SUP Surfing
- Advantages of Paddle Surfing in Bigger Surf
- Breaking down an Intermediate SUP Surfing Turn
- From Intermediate to Advanced – Breaking down Turns
- State of Paddle Surfing in Costa Rica
- Session Notes – Paddling Straight and the Board Dilemma
- Fins, The Guide – Video Podcast with Tyler Callaway of FCS
- Stability, Floaters and Late Drops
- Reframing Balance
- Micro-Adjustments for Balance
- The Value of Bad Conditions
- Fernando Stalla on the Podcast
- FCS Fin Test 2 – XL Performer Front, S Performer Quad Rear
- The Squat – Stability on Smaller Boards
- FCS Fin Test – Performer XL Front and GL Center
- Has John John been SUP Surfing to Train???
- How to break down video. Barrels and Turns
- Seated Whitewater Climb – He who learns the most is having the most fun
- Defining Paddle Surfing – Creating a Lexicon
- Day 3 on the Race to the Bottom – Flatwater Drill
- Prone Pop Up -Steps plus Video. More on Volume.
- Day 1 – Popping up on a Small Paddle Board
- The Race Begins!!! – 7 Days to paddling smaller boards
- Turn Breakdown – Backside Cutback to Foam Rebound
- Session Notes – Infinity and Starboard Observations
- Breakdown – Colin McPhillips Frontside Cutback
- Look Back to Get More Waves!
- Kai Lenny – A Candid Interview into the Mindset of Kai
- Pumping surf, Unconscious Foot Awareness…
- Setting Trim Line Frontside from Surf Stance
- Different Paddling Stances and When I Use Them (with photos)
- Will Taylor – Editor of SUP the Mag talks Paddle Surfing
- Deeper Surf Stance and Foot Position While Surfing
- Backside Paddle Technique and Why to Switch Boards
- No, you’re still not on your tail…
- Surf Stance vs. Race Stance… Efficient wave catching and surfing on a SUP
- SUP Surfing in Crowds – Strategies and Tactics to get more waves and make surfers happy
- Lazy Surf Day – Stroke Focus, Mindless Paddling
- Kai Lenny’s Stoke and Mo Freitas’ Swing Cutback
- Inside the Mind of a True Competitor – Jamie Mitchell
- Strategies for Dealing with Whitewater and Breaking Waves
- The Zen of Paddle Surfing and Paddling Underwater Tip
- Slingshot Cutback and Surfing Paddle Stroke Notes
- Progression Journal – Your front arm and Style, Breaking down Mo Freitas
- The Progression Journal 2 – Bottom Turning & Getting Out
- The Progression Journal
- 3 Legends and the Kook – Kalama, Boehne and Colin McPhillips from Blue Zone
- Tyler Callaway – President FCS and SUPIA
- Erik Logan – The man who advises the best in our sport.
- Clay Feeter – Founder, Editor and Publisher of the Standup Journal
- Colin and Zane on the Video Contest 2.0 Wrap-Up Show
- Zane, Matty and Connor’s Jaws Adventure
- Connor Baxter – World’s Best Paddler tells us how to Paddle, Plus all sorts of other good stuff…
- Keahi de Aboitiz – Aussie Prodigy talks Barrels, Airs, Videos and Travels
- The Vaz Brothers – Caio and Ian record from the Blue Zone in Costa Rica
- Dave Boehne – Shaper, Surfer, Stylemaster
- Justin Bing and Tarryn and Tom King – Team South Africa from Huntington Beach
- ***2nd Video Contest Due Date Change***
- Zane and Matty Schweitzer – Aloha Spirit meets Competitive Drive
- Shakira Westdorp – Top Aussie Woman tells some great stories
- Giorgio Gomez has a very real discussion about the SUP Industry
- PaddleWoo Presents: The Grant Boys with Steven McLean
- Congratulations Mo Freitas!!!!! Mo Wins the 1st PaddleWoo Video Contest
- PaddleWoo’s $3,000 Video Contest – VOTE NOW
- Fisher Grant’s PaddleWoo Video Contest Entry
- Justin Holland’s PaddleWoo Video Contest Entry
- Noa Ginella’s PaddleWoo Video Contest Entry
- Kieran Grant’s PaddleWoo Video Contest Entry
- Dave Kalama talks Big Waves and His Vision for SUP Surfing
- PaddleWoo Guide: Backside Slingshot Bottom Turn
- Noa Ginella – SUP’s first freesurfer???
- PaddleWoo Guide: SlingShot
- PaddleWoo Guide: Frontside Bottom Turn
- Video Contest Instructions
- Mike McGann – 27 North Paddle’s Founder Talks All Things Paddle
- Justin Holland’s Horrific Wipeout In His Words!
- Kieran Grant
- Episode 9 – The Rules of Surfing and Fan Questions
- Mo Freitas
- Fisher Grant
- It was a great day here in Costa Rica
- The perfect marriage of power and style
- $3,000 Video Contest Update
- Colin McPhillips comes back for a BIG Announcement! We talk how to get out in big beach breaks and Best Videos
- Eric Goodman – Kelly Slater and Dane Reynolds listen to him… You should too
- Sean Poynter – Starboard’s star opens up…
- Justin Holland – Passionate Positivity with a side of Froth
- Colin McPhillips on the PaddleWoo Podcast
- Pat Rawson joins Paddlewoo to discuss SUP design, Mo Freitas and the future of the sport…
- Talks/Lectures/Keynotes on Learning/Training/Inspiration
- Articles on Learning/Training/Inspiration
- Books on Learning/Training/Inspiration
- Questions on Paddle Surf Boards
- Questions on Paddles
- Advanced Paddle Surfing Questions
- Intermediate Paddle Surfing Questions
- Beginner Paddle Surfing Questions