Kicking the board up over the White stuff

[coldsup]

Back in Bonnie Scotland on our own SUP Facebook page we have been discussing the merits of kicking the board up over the big walls and diving under at the same time so your board meets you close by.....none of the dragging and potentially snapping of leashes. Can anyone put up a link of best practice on this so that I can show folk....finding it hard to locate a really good example. Thanks in advance.

[PonoBill]

I don't have any pictures of kicking a board over, but I do it whenever I'm caught inside and I"m absolutely sure I'm not going to make it. But that's on a pitching wave face, not in whitewater. I try to go over or through whitewater, unless it's huge. I don't see the benefit of kicking the board over, I don't see how it would get over, and it wouldn't be in calm water--just a little less whitewater.

Incidentally, I have broken my leash that way, but only once. Went backwards down the face of a big guy with my board on the other side.  Fortunately it was an isolated set wave as I recall, because I got to the board before the next wave got it.

[surfinJ]

I try to do it over whitewater walls when confronted by one.  Try to practice and improve on a technique that helps me a lot.  A last paddle charge straight at it then just before impact back on the tail and with the other foot a bit forward to block the kickback.  I don't try to stay on the board, just get it up and over as I fall back into the foam. White water approaching head high and bigger.  For bigger waves I only try it if the whitewater is steadily rolling, not near the impact zone.

The board stays close, you won't lose as much ground and you can save from wacking anyone on the inside of you.

[timchandler]

The board stays close, you won't lose as much ground and you can save from wacking anyone on the inside of you.

+1 this answer.  I've not seen any video or imagery 'showing' best practices of how to do this, but this works.  Much rather see this  nearby than a board out of control/wacking someone

[stoneaxe]

If I do it its for the same reason....people inside of me. If I don't think I'm going to make it over though I usually go for the tail if there is time.

[coldsup]

Seen the pros do it on live comps but can't find a vid....will keep searching guys.

[yugi]

^
Just watch the La Torche Pro - Waterman League on now. Some of their live feeds are also available after. They are all doing it.

[beached]

The board stays close, you won't lose as much ground and you can save from wacking anyone on the inside of you.

but it sounds like the chances of the board hitting you are fairly high, yes?

[coldsup]

Was watching the pros do it and it works well.... But they are pros and do this for a living. I think with a bit of practice it looks pretty good thing to do....better with smaller boards as less flying about.

[Board Stiff]

I've taken a beating the few times I've tried this. More often I'll start out in the water next to my board,  and as the whitewater approaches,  I'll push down and forward on the tail to shove it over the whitewater before diving under myself. If I time it right, my board and I end up next to each other on the other side. I'll repeat this until a lull between sets or until I've moved past the  impact zone between waves.

[surfinJ]

I'm up on my board. Paddling at the whitewater.  I do it with big boards on big waves. The trick is a little lean back, get the nose up, guarding for a kick back with your forward foot. Start on the little stuff and practice. It's a very handy skill.

[coldsup]

It obviously works well for Sean P ....he was lying prone on his SUP heading towards the White stuff then last minute got up and flipped the board over....made it look soooooo easy. Practice definitely.

[yugi]

^
saw that. He got up just to do that rather than turtle or dive.

[Off-Shore]

Coldsup, Here is a vid showing the various techniques of getting over the white stuff as discussed above... Hope it helps explain things, and apologies I could not find one without the ads..

[coldsup]

Hi Offshore...thanks for taking the time to post the link......but it isn't any of those techniques. It is similar to the third technique but as you hit the White stuff you sky rocket the the board up as high as you can into the air as far as the leash can go whilst at the same time falling sideways/backwards under the foam.

Yugi, I saw Sean P get up especially to do it....effective if you can it!