Reverse steering during wave rides on raceboard

[FloridaWindSUP]

I have a fanatic falcon 14' that I mostly paddle in flat water, but sometimes in ocean chop and small waves. I'm trying to learn better tuning and technique for waves and ocean conditions so I can be more competitive in some of Florida's ocean races.

Although the board is pretty fast in rough water, as per the design intent, it's definitely tougher to ride than a surf style board. One thing I notice when catching a small bump is that it has reverse steering- I tilt it one way and it steers the other way. On a larger wave where I get further back on the board I might expect it to surf more normally, but in those conditions it seems to just not steer at all, except by my dragging a paddle. Are there any particular fin setups or techniques I should be using to get better directional control on waves and rough water?

[DavidJohn]

It's pretty normal.. and happens for lots of different reasons..

Like.. board shape.. outline, rails, rocker, fins.. and water pushing on the rail..

Also the conditions, your speed, and your position on the board..

Also planing and non planing makes the biggest difference..

Some times you think you're planing but not actually fully planing..

We actually use the opposite rail turning on downwinders at times..

So it's worth mastering it so you don't feel like you're getting high-sided when it happens..

I often make it happen on purpose.. 

[DavidJohn]

Just saw this on another thread.. There's more to it than this.. but it pretty much says it all.. 

'' Opposite rail when forward and same rail when on the tail ''

[SUPJorge]

I wish someone had told me '' Opposite rail when forward and same rail when on the tail '' before I had to learn "reverse steering", "high-sided," and "death-roll", especially the last one, on my own.

[TallDude]

In racing "foot steering" is the act of tilting the board on one side to get it to turn the other. You lean right, the board goes left. It has to do with the foil developed on a displacement type of hull. The softer the bottom rail, and the more displaced the nose, the more 'foot steer' or 'reverse steer' or 'opposite steer' you get.
Using a displaced race type of board in the surf is tricky. You got to move forward and back a lot more than with an actual surf type of SUP. If the nose grabs while you are 'say leaning right to go right on a wave', that nose is going to go left unless you get back and get it out of the water. I take off on a wave on my race board the same way I do on my surf sup. I'm usually a little forward with my left foot forward (regular foot). As soon as I feel the board getting pulled, I'll start moving back on the board while keeping an I on the nose. I want to leave the nose down long enough to develop more speed, but not long enough to let the nose 'pitch' or reverse steer.
Part of the speed generating particularly on less steep rollers, is to let the nose pearl just a little. When it does, you have to sort of flatten the board to a neutral angle so the nose doesn't go right or left. At that point, it's critical to get back enough to get the nose up and start your turn.
If the wave is steeper, then your going to want to start out on an angle in the direct you want to go. You shouldn't need to be that forward, just enough to catch the wave. You're going to have to keep the nose up the whole time on this type of wave. If the nose touches, your done.
Another component to surfing a race board is the lack of rocker, rail shape and the boards are narrow. They want to go straight. Your natural instinct is to lean and make a bottom turn.
This is where your paddle comes in. You need to drop down and lean on the paddle a little till the board comes around. It's a super slow motion bottom turn.
When you are standing in the line-up, stand back far enough to get the nose and front 3' or so just barely out of the water. Almost a pivot turn, but not quite. You should be able to freely paddle the board in a tight circle. That's where you will be standing when you're on the wave. If you move back to the pivot turn position you will stall the board on a wave.
It's good to practice stalling too. If you're surfing a big board you are putting others at more of a risk. Like being a truck driver, you got to leave your self room to brake or you might hurt someone. The stall is your only brake. On a race board, it's a big stall. I also use it when I hit the shore at the end of and ocean paddle or race. If it's a shore break, I'll paddle like I'm trying to catch it. Just before it breaks, I'll stall, then immediately paddle on the back of the wave all the way to shore.           

[madmax]

Racing canoes was the same.  The lean was counterintuitive.

[Off-Shore]

+1 on this. Similar to a windsurfer with and without a daggerboard if my memory serves me correctly..

[FloridaWindSUP]

Thanks for the responses, everybody. There's a lot of helpful stuff here that I can start working on getting the feel for.