What is sup rocker?
Rocker is the curve of the paddle board from the nose to the tail when viewed from the side. Rocker is a deliberate design characteristic to improve performance.
Paddle boards can run the extremes from almost flat to a banana like shape. Most paddle boards fall in the middle between these two extremes.
1. Flat Rocker
While very few paddle boards are completely flat there are some that are almost flat. Flat rocker will give a paddle board more waterline. A longer waterline makes a paddle board glide faster. That long waterline will also help the board track a straight line better.
Flat Rocker…
- is Fast
- Stays moving in a straight line
- Not very maneuverable
- Good in flat water
2. Banana “continuous” Rocker
The extreme opposite of a flat rocker would be a banana or continuous rocker. The rocker line will always be curving like a banana (but not that extreme of a curve). A sup with a continuous rocker does not track a straight line well but is very easy to turn. Continuous rockers make a board slow but allow it to ride over chop easily.
Banana rocker paddle boards are not common. Inflatable whitewater and some surfing sups have a continuous rocker.
More curve means…
- Very maneuverable
- Poor tracking
- Slower speed
- Good on chop or waves
3. Staged Rocker (Combination of flat and curved)
The most common sup rocker is the staged rocker. The staged rocker is flat in the middle with either the nose or tail curved (or both).
There are certain combinations of nose and tail rocker that work best for certain activities and water conditions.
Surfing and whitewater sups have the greatest curve in the nose and tail.
- Most common rocker type
- Can be made for any activity or water condition
- Very few boards are completely flat or completely banana
Nose and Tail Rocker
Nose Rocker
Nose rocker prevents the nose of the board from going underwater when paddling over waves or chop. Nose rocker will prevent you from nose diving when surfing down a wave face.
Almost all boards have at least some nose rocker.
1. Zero Nose Rocker
Sups with no nose rocker have displacement hulls that are designed to stay submerged and cut through the water. These would be flatwater race and touring boards.
2. Low Nose Rocker
Paddle boards with low nose rocker would be racing and touring boards and work best in flat water. Low nose rocker extends the waterline for a smoother and faster glide.
3. Moderate Nose Rocker
All-around paddle boards typically have moderate nose rocker. Yoga, fishing, surfing, downwinding and whitewater sups can have moderate nose rocker. You can paddle open ocean, chop, flatwater and even sup surf with a moderate amount of nose rocker.
4. High Nose Rocker
High nose rocker is most often seen on whitewater paddle boards and some surfing sups. These are best for riding over and down steep waves without submerging the nose. High nose rocker will slow a paddle board down on flat water.
Tail Rocker (kick)
Most paddle boards only have a little tail rocker. The big exception is surfing and whitewater sups that have the greatest degree of tail curve. Tail rocker or “tail kick” can help make turns fast and reactive when surfing. And tail kick will lift the nose high when you need to go vertical.
But otherwise tail rocker slows a paddle board down. So racing and long distance touring sups have little or no tail rocker. A little tail rocker is beneficial when open-ocean or downwind racing to help lift the nose and maneuver bumps.
Key Points
If you want a faster paddle board get a sup with more flat rocker. Whether you want an all-around paddle board, a fishing sup or a race board more flat rocker means better glide and speed.
Most paddle boards have at least a little nose rocker. Determine the amount of nose rocker you need. Are you going to paddle chop or flatwater? Is speed a priority?
If you want to surf faster look for a surfing sup with more flat rocker. If you want to do dynamic performance maneuverers you need more nose and tail rocker. Tail rocker, in particular, will allow you to make sharp quick turns.
Surf sup rocker
Surf sups will often have staged rocker. The mid-section will have flat rocker for more speed and glide on flats. Tail kick will allow tighter turns when standing on the tail. And nose rocker will prevent nose diving (pearling) when catching a wave and easier paddling in chop.
Other surf sups have continuous rocker. Great for shortboard style performance maneuvers. Advanced surfers often favor continuous rocker as it gives a paddle board more of a surfboard feel.
