Ever tried to pull up alongside a dock and just kept going forward? Learning the draw stroke, which moves the board sideways bit by bit, makes situations like this much easier. Start by practicing in open water with no obstacles.
01. Look toward the side you want to go
The original starts by turning your feet and body slightly toward where you want to go. Keeping your balance in the center of the board, line up your gaze, hips and toes in the same direction.
There's no need to suddenly move your feet a lot or lean your body out over the water. Bend your knees comfortably, hold the paddle with both hands and start small; that makes the movement easier to feel.
02. Set the blade face parallel to the rail
Reach the paddle out into the water on the side you want to go and fully submerge the blade. Check that its wide face is parallel to the rail, the edge of the board.
The big arrow at the top of the picture shows the direction the board moves sideways. Looking at it separately from the black arrow beside the paddle makes it easier to understand how the board and the paddle each move.
03. Pull toward the rail, slice out toward the tail
Pull the paddle toward the rail, gradually carrying it toward the tail, the back of the board. Find the feeling of this pull bringing the board sideways.
Finish the move by slicing out toward the tail before the paddle touches the rail. Don't hook the paddle on the board and pull it like a lever; just return to a comfortable starting position.
04. Practice in open water before the dock
At first, repeat short strokes on flat water away from people, boats and structures. Your first goal is to check that the board moves the way you want, even if only a little.
When approaching a dock, slow down and leave some space so your hands and feet don't get caught between the board and the structure. If the move doesn't feel natural yet, it's good to practice with feedback on your form from an instructor on site.
Sources and scope
The artwork is Starboard's original Draw Stroke infographic, keeping its five steps, board-movement arrows and paddle-motion arrows; the explanation is Starboard Korea's commentary. The point about slicing out toward the tail before the paddle touches the rail was checked against Starboard HQ's original text. Practicing away from structures and avoiding getting caught are editorial tips for beginners.
The illustration is Starboard's original artwork; the explanation is Starboard Korea's editorial guide, translated into English here. Sources checked: 2026-09-08.
