best practices for a new guy and some observations

[Guest]

Username:
Password:
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever

Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

[TiltPilot]

Ok i did fine my first time out on the waves (calm wind and waist high in NC).  I started out paddling on my knees to get into the lineup.  I stood and faced out to sea just fine.  i found it hard to turn.  When I would go to a surf stance (to bring the nose up and turn like I see on youtube) I would get incredibly shaky.  Overall not bad.  I was even able to paddle parallel to the beach without falling. 

Here is my problem: when I'm pushed by the wave (when I'm used to being prone and paddling like hell with my arms) i fall backwards!!  I'm just not used t the forward acceleration while standing.  I have a hard time dealing with waves from the back too.  like when i was paddling back from well beyond the lineup (just goofing off).  I was knocked off two or three times by swells from the back (as I'm paddling into the beach).  did fine going into the wave standing up (getting out of the impact zone) after a ride towards the end.  I tried setting my feet to a surf stance sooner as I'm catching a wave and getting lower sooner (I was getting tire by the time I started this).  any other suggestions out there? 

I know just more time on the water will help.  just looking for tips.  Thanks.

I did have some observations - everything is slow motion, you just have to make your decisions sooner I guess with such a big board.  Keep the paddle and let go the board (lost my paddle once  ).  don't worry about what you look like and enjoy it right!!??  That thing gets heavy after a 2 hr session and you have to walk back to the car!!

[stoneaxe]

1st...Please don't take offense to this but you shouldn't be in a lineup yet from the sound of it. No one should be going into a lineup without being able to fully control their board. I still avoid lineups for the most part myself and for the conditions I'm comfortable in (overhead+) I have probably 90% control. That still leaves a 10% chance of hurting someone. Not a chance I'm willing to take.

Like you said...these boards are big. If you aren't in control and fall and your board smacks someone they aren't going to be happy. You'll be doing yourself and everyone else a favor if you do your practicing in spots where you are alone on waves you can handle.

You always want to know whats coming at you. You shouldn't have your back to the waves when you are getting ready to catch one but be parallel to them and ready to start a hard turn. You want to be in a deep staggered stance (at least thats how I do it) and start paddling hard for the wave. Weighting the tail will let you turn faster and you want to use wide sweeps of the paddle to initiate the turn. Once you've got the turn almost fully made bring the paddle in along the rail for speed. Once on the wave get into your surf stance.

Its natural to be able to handle the waves coming at you better because you can see them easier and be ready. When you're paddling straight into the beach get into a staggered stance for better balance and keep looking over your shoulder so you know where the waves are. Situational awareness is an absolute on the water, especially when there are waves. The only times when I've found myself in trouble is when I've foolishly let my guard down. Waves don't care if you're paying attention or not.

Have fun but please be safe. Consider the safety of those around you as well as your own.

[Sam Pa'e]

Well said Bob......I couldn't have said it better myself

Aloha T-pilot,
I would like to add something......If I may......Do you find yourself looking down at the nose of your board?

I always tell my friends "look up"......."never look down or you will go down"....Let me explain

Keep in mind.......that your "body" will take over the balance & your mind "needs to concentrate" on what coming forward. If you decide to look down at the nose of your board, then your "mind" is telling your "body" to compensate for correction.

Now your body is already trying to do its correction. It doesn't need a second opinion or having someone else telling him to do its job. When two people argue over something....the out come is usually not good and your mission has failed......

This works for me.......

Bob,

Have fun but please be safe. Consider the safety of those around you as well as your own.

I like this saying........I'll add a little twist, if I may?

Heres quote from the "Bible Zone":
Have fun but please be safe. Consider the safety of those around you as well as your own.....Stoneaxe 3:16

Aloha...Sam

[1tuberider]

Hey TP it does not sound like you have much experience.  Both Bob and Sam are correct.  I would suggest the following for consideration.

Are you pulling hard enough with your paddle?  That adds stability. When you feel the lift of the wave or before are you stepping into a surfing stance?  The surfing stance is like a back stance if you are a martial artist and should prepare you for the fore/aft movement. 

In the surfing stance someone should be able to push you forward or  back and you should be able to resist without a step.  If you are in a weak position or in a paddle stance you will take a step which leads to a fall if you can't correct.

When you feel the drop you should be setting up for your next phase, and often that is finding the sweet spot on the board and cutting a nice bottom turn but this sport is reactionary and your wave reading skills and surfing skills will tell you what to do.

Good luck, surfing takes years to get out of the kook phases and yet it is a great journey. 

[PonoBill]

Time in the water fixes most things. lots of good advice from these guys. one thing I didn't see mentioned is keep your paddle strokes short and in front of your feet. i see beginners making long strokes when they get excited. the part of the stroke past your feet doesn't help that much, and it pulls you off to the side. Reach out toward the nose, bend your knees, and pull just to your feet.

When you are turning, put the paddle in the water next to the nose and sweep outwards. Agai9n, don't make long strokes. The stroke past the line of your foot is going to be pushing against the fin, and won't do much.

And stay out of the lineup until you can control your board at all times. Please.

[TiltPilot]

Thanks for the advice all.  I surf on a military base.  I was the ONLY person in sight on this stretch of the beach with the exception of a fisherman down a ways.  I guess I should have mentioned that I skipped the usual spot and left everyone alone.  I wasn't about to go out among people with a barn door that i can't control.

The short strokes makes sense.  I'll continue to work on that one.

I definitely looked at the board a few times and I bit it afterward.  Look out... good one.

Still having trouble turning the board for the wave.  I was picking a wave one out (short period waves) so that i could get turned in time.  the one between me and the one I wanted was the one tossing me most of the time.  I still have to work on turning quickly.  I'll continue to work on the types of strokes i take.  that was a good one as well.

Thanks all.  I'll stay away from everyone.  Didn't mean to stir up anything.  just looking for tips.



P.S.  Have I had a misunderstanding about the word lineup all my life?  I'm new to SUP but not surfing.  I know it implies people but isn't it the zone just beyond the break?

[PonoBill]

I thought that might be the case, but everyone is pretty sensitive these days to newbies in a crowded lineup. I know I was guilty of that when I was first learning. I'm still not comfortable (and don't belong) in a crowded lineup, but I think I'm okay in a sparse one.

As bob said, you want to be parallel to the wave you're looking to take. I see people get into position and then paddling like crazy without changing their position on the board. Practice taking a BIG step backwards while you keep your weight on the front foot, then lean back and start paddling to turn. you can pivot in one or two sweeps if you're doing it right. It's hard to turn if you're in the middle of the board with your feet in a parallel stance.

Some very good SUP surfers take a lot of quick paddles to turn. Randy (bolt upright)) is a good example--I aspire to surf like he does, and he makes about any wave he goes after, and when he makes his turn he flails like crazy. Works for him. Sol Morey can spin his board 180 with a single paddle plant.

It's all good, and whatever works for you, works for you. I've started doing nose turns again. i like it pretty well, but you might want to wait on that.

[stoneaxe]

Happy to hear that Tilt. You're right we did misunderstand.. As Bill mentioned, everyone is pretty sensitive...maybe too much so.

I struggled mightily for the first 3 months. The tough part about taking that big step back and weighting the rear of the board to bring the nose up is that it destabilizes the board. Its a pain at first because you will fall. But time on the water will have you turning like a champ. As you move on you'll find that moving around on your board is one of the keys to success on a SUP. Catching a wave, staying on it, surfing it, all require a bit of walking around.

You mentioned that the short period wave in between was the one that is tossing you. Let the board roll, get loose, and use the paddle to stabilize yourself. Don't try and force the board flat over the wave. You'll usually overcompensate and fall off the backside. You can also use that wave to help push the nose around a bit for you. Time a long sweeping stroke while the wave is passing under you, it will give you some stability and the wave energy will help push the nose around and put you where you want to be for the wave following it.

Have fun, Good luck!

[TiltPilot]

Great advice guys.  short strokes and looking out were key today.  i'll keep at it.  thanks.

[NCBA]

Welcome to SUP! Every time you go out you will accomplish something you haven't done before, that's the stoke of SUP!

[flipperade]

When I took up SUP one of the things that threw me (literally) was I was stepping back onto the centerline of my board but my front foot was on the outside rail, you need to step back straight.

Adrian

[river]

My one word on advice is BEND YOUR KNEES:)

[joelcr]

It's funny, but one thing that I would like to add is different from the rest. When you are paddling for the wave, and you start to feel it push you forward, you actually want your weight more on  your front foot, not your back foot. Leaning forward this way will help you catch the wave, without falling backwards. But as you reach the bottom of the wave you must shift your weight to your back foot to keep from pearling. This allows you to unweigh the front of the board, and set-up a heel or toe side bottom turn. Using your  paddle  as a pivot then helps too!

Hope that helps.

[surfpainter]

My one word on advice is BEND YOUR KNEES:)

I was wonderin when someone would mention this. Right on River.

[TiltPilot]

good stuff.  I was able to go out today in waist high with occasional shoulder high waves catch lots more stay on for the ride and turn out (once or twice) by using these techniques.  I was even able to turn the thing!! I thought that was my most noteable accomplishment (especially in the impact zone).  it was a blast.  Thanks all for the advice.  hope to see you out there sometime.