Sam Pa'e Paddling Thru Whitewater Vid

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[Byronmaui]

Aloha,

Since Sam sent me all this footage I thought I would make another vid about different feet, body positions, paddle positions, etc. going through the whitewater. Maybe this might be helpful to someone or maybe not. I do not claim to be an expert in this field so please ask Sam, Blaine, Frank or whoever for advice...................
My only expertise is making babies and having funnnnnnn. Please remember this is an amateur that complied and put this video together and it may suck to some but for others I hope you enjoy....
Lates............

Mahalo

Byron

http://vimeo.com/2418553

[stoneaxe]

Smooth....nice job Byron. You make it look easy Sam.

Sam..do you think big guys have an easier time punching whitewater than smaller folk? I'm not the greatest surfer but for some reason (maybe size and strength?) I'm pretty good at getting through whitewater. I've seen guys that are a lot better surfers than I am struggle in whitewater that I have fun playing in. I'm not sure if that makes sense though, it's mostly about getting up and over clean. I frequently slice through the top 3rd or so of the wash. Seems like that helps keep the board from kicking up too high.

[Russell]

Great Byron.

If you have it in the footage can you do another one on:- Kick turn to catch a wave and kicking off a wave. Or anything else that you might think is interesting technique.

Thanks for posting the video.

Sam thanks for taking the video. Also can you think about taking more focused on technique and giving Byron a description.

This could be a very useful set of videos.

Had a great fun session yesterday on our home spot.

Have fun on the water.

Russell.

[linter]

great video, byron, and great technique, sam.  thanks, both of you, for making it happen!

[1tuberider]

Nice video Sam.  I like your footwork display.  It would be nice to see the beach perspective also, so folks can see the big picture of you.

The surf looked small in the video.  How big of whitewaters are you challenging?  With your channels and reefs many of Hawaiian spots have easy paddles out.  So when it is 10' Hawaiian you don't have to punch waves. 

The perspective of size is important as many don't understand their big limits.  I usually draw the line around 8' faces if the swell is short duration and if longer duration maybe bigger, but around here bigger is not better.  I also surf a beach break so you need to paddle thru it not around it.  When do you consider that it is to big to be safe for punching whitewater?  I feel 8' is plenty and that anything bigger is just bigger beatings with greater harm potential unless there is a channel.

Sea ya

[Sam Pa'e]

Aloha Everyone,
Once again.......Byron has done it "again". He share's to the world his amazing computer skills & talent when it comes to cropping/editing of video. I can do the stunt.......but without Byron's knowledge "we" won't be able to show the world our beautiful "aina" (the land we live in). Mahalo Byron  

My only expertise is making babies and having funnnnnnn.

Byron...I believe your expertise goes "way beyond" your quote. You already proved it. Give yourself more credit....Buddy!

Aloha Bob,

Sam..do you think big guys have an easier time punching whitewater than smaller folk?

Oh most definitely.....its an advantage over the guy that weights less the us. The smaller the wave (has less power) will it take less effort for us punch through versus 130lb guy. Now "big" white water knows no limit.....knowledge now come into play........"Experience is key".

I'm not the greatest surfer but for some reason (maybe size and strength?) I'm pretty good at getting through whitewater. I've seen guys that are a lot better surfers than I am struggle in whitewater that I have fun playing in.

I can almost bet that once they "try to bunch through" theirs eye's are looking down at the nose of the board. This is something I see all the time. It's only natural & everyone does it. (You look down, your going down).
Your suggestion to them.....Keep your eye's up and look at the horizon. (let you body feel out the balance)

I'm not sure if that makes sense though, it's mostly about getting up and over clean. I frequently slice through the top 3rd or so of the wash. Seems like that helps keep the board from kicking up too high.

It makes perfect sense and I do it all the time. Keep in mind try to meet white water "power for power" with your nose just under lip or "top 3rd" of the wash........If you take notice to the video, a split second before I get hit, my paddle is in the water meeting "power with power"

Aloha Russell,

If you have it in the footage can you do another one on:- Kick turn to catch a wave and kicking off a wave. Or anything else that you might think is interesting technique.

Check out the video.....1:44 & 4:14 will show my "kick turn". If there anything in that footage to learn from, focus on keeping your "back feet" on one side of the board, making sure your feet never crosses over the stringer. My feet maybe on the string........but my center of balance stay over the center of the board.

Here the link: http://www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php?topic=2603.0

As far as kicking off a wave......I only have pic's to view. My favorite is a "backside" kick out. Just look at it as if your making a backside bottom turn, but follow through with your turn and just as your going over the wave switch your stance to "parallel"

Sam thanks for taking the video. Also can you think about taking more focused on technique and giving Byron a description.

I need to work on this one......No promises through. But I'll try

Nevertheless thanks again Byron posting the video. Thank you everyone for viewing and this is just my two cent based only upon four years of SUP......Humbly speaking "I'm no expert", just someone that's willing to share "Mana'o" 

Aloha.......Sam
P.S.....1tuberider......I'll answer your question later tonight.

[Russell]

Thanks Sam.

Yes my favorite kick out is the back side, well its my only successful one but maybe it's because I mainly ride lefts and I'm regular.

I am having problems with the front side kick out. I seam to loose to much speed coming out of the bottom turn when I decide I need to make it a kick out.

Do you have any pics on the front side. Or Byron any video.

Russell

[Sam Pa'e]

The surf looked small in the video.  How big of whitewaters are you challenging?   

Yes, that day was small. The wall was probably 2'-3'ft high. That day I was messing around with the video camera, trying to get the right photo angle.

With your channels and reefs many of Hawaiian spots have easy paddles out.  So when it is 10' Hawaiian you don't have to punch waves.

True, if the wave are that big I prefer to go through a channel. I'll avoid all white waters much as possible.

The perspective of size is important as many don't understand their big limits.  I usually draw the line around 8' faces if the swell is short duration and if longer duration maybe bigger, but around here bigger is not better.  I also surf a beach break so you need to paddle thru it not around it. When do you consider that it is to big to be safe for punching whitewater?  I feel 8' is plenty and that anything bigger is just bigger beatings with greater harm potential unless there is a channel.

It will depend on the conditions, but in most cases 8'ft faces will be my limit. I try to avoid whitewater at all means by searching for a channel or looking for that one opportunity were there's a break/opening to punch through. However if there's no "window of opportunity" then I'll get myself pushed in and out of harms way. Wait for things to settle down and head out.

Just for kicks I tried to climb a wash that was "way" out of my limit/ability and succeeded. I tried it again and failed miserably and never did it again.

I am having problems with the front side kick out. I seam to loose to much speed coming out of the bottom turn when I decide I need to make it a kick out.

I like to draw a high line, look ahead, build some speed, and if there's nothing to play with I'll just turn/kick off the wave being that I'm already high and have the momentum.

Doing front side bottom turns (kick out) don't work for me unless I have forward momentum. Now this may cause you to "air borne" off the lip. You may want to use your paddle to slow you down, instead of an olympic ariel dismount. 

Aloha........Sam

[ECSUP]

Sam and Byronmaui-

Just want to say thanks for the vids and for all your input, thoughts and insights. Personally, I find them all really helpful, fun to watch,  interesting, and I really appreciate your taking the time to do all of this.

ECSUP

[1tuberider]

Thanks for the reply Sam! I really appreciate your input and comments and find you pass good info.
 
I see it the same as you.  I surf a beach break so I always have to go thru it.  But it is challenging, fun, humiliating but also a blast.

In regards to the kick outs, I love them over prone surfing.  Once done gliding, a few direction strokes and you are on your way.  No getting wet or kicking out then falling off, just paddle back out and get the next one.  I use my paddle a lot for turning and find that when kicking out my paddle is also part of the balancing act. It maintains your stability when things get tippy. 

Your paddle is so important in this sport.  It can get you to speed quickly, help pivot either front side or back side, helps track while rounding white water with additional speed and stability, even recovering after falling off and gives stability while kicking out, stability and power while punching thru waves.  I guess you could even hold it over your head for a statement or twirl it.  Sometimes I find myself not using the paddle for surfing at all, but I get more drive and speed and crisper cutbacks with the paddle.

So I am recommending you use your paddle more than less.

[Ferg]

Sam is a great teacher. I still draw on the things he taught me in our one session. As a matter of fact, he was "in my ear" while I surfed today. And that's no lie. I thought about him several times and it mde me better.

"Meet power with power"

"Don't look at your board, look at the horizon"

"Bend at the knees, not forward at the waist"

I owe a lot of great surf days to him. http://www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php?topic=2624.0

[Sam Pa'e]

Aloha "V",

Sam is a great teacher. I still draw on the things he taught me in our one session. As a matter of fact, he was "in my ear" while I surfed today. And that's no lie. I thought about him several times and it made me better.

When your ready to tackle some small/big surf.......Look me up. We can meet at "whiteplaines" again and go through some fundamentals.

Congratulation on your new addition to the family...

Aloha......Sam

[flipperade]

All great stuff, the tip about not looking down when punching through is excellent I think I am often guilty of this and will work on this when i get in my local break in a few hours.

As for channels the only channel I have by me is the Bristol Channel 

Adrian.

[Sam Pa'e]

Aloha Adrian,

All great stuff, the tip about not looking down when punching through is excellent I think I am often guilty of this and will work on this when i get in my local break in a few hours.

Adrian.

Don't feel guilty.......Everybody goes through this process, it's only natural. Trying to correct this habit may take sometime to correct.

To be honest, I still on occasions find myself looking down.

Aloha........Sam

[HaleiwaBill]

Wow, GREAT info from Sam and excellent video from Byron! Well done guys! I feel like I learn something new every time I talk with Sam!

I hate to admit this but I am spoiled from surfing the NS, because the vast majority of waves I surf has channels. So I am rarely forced to push through the white water, unless I make a point to do so. But it certainly takes WORK and TIME on the proper technique. This video sure helps! Thanks Sam!

BTW- it was great seeing you again yesterday!