Takeoff with the foam

[surfinJ]

This is something that has had me stymied. You're a little to far in when the wave comes and it already starts to break before reaching you. The whitewater hits you in the legs from behind washing the board out from under you.

Today I had a break through and pulled it easily off for the first time.  By accident.
I was fully back on the tail with one foot, just finishing a 180deg turn as the whitewater hit.  At that moment I leaned back heavily on my paddle, in the water directly behind me, knees bent, almost sitting on the foam.  In that braced position I was easily able to deal with the sudden push from behind.

Nothing new maybe but for me finally a solution to the cause of many wipeouts.

[Biggreen]

You've got it. Lower your center of gravity and brace. Works good and can get you through a lot.

[southwesterly]

It's easy. It's just basic fundamentals really.

First, tell yourself that you ALWAYS fall off the back of your board taking off in broken whitewater. As the whitewater approaches, tell yourself, "lean forward, lean forward". Make sure your last paddle stroke before it hits is a strong one. Place all your weight on your front foot.

As you fall off the back of your board, tell yourself that next time you paddle for broken whitewater, really (no REALLY) lean forward.

[Califoilia]

It's easy. It's just basic fundamentals really.

First, tell yourself that you ALWAYS fall off the back of your board taking off in broken whitewater. As the whitewater approaches, tell yourself, "lean forward, lean forward". Make sure your last paddle stroke before it hits is a strong one. Place all your weight on your front foot.

As you fall off the back of your board, tell yourself that next time you paddle for broken whitewater, really (no REALLY) lean forward.

That must really depend on the board, because I find myself sitting back on the tail, knowing the whitewater is going to try to shoot the board out from under me, and I'm trying to prevent that....kind of like "surfinj" is describing here, "I leaned back heavily on my paddle, in the water directly behind me, knees bent, almost sitting on the foam.  In that braced position I was easily able to deal with the sudden push from behind." 

If I try to put my weight forward, all it does is lift the tail, and want to throw me over forward, and if I do happen to stay on, I then really have to hustle to get the board on plan, up to speed to hopefully get ahead of, and out run the whitewater I'm attempting to take off in. 

[SUPcheat]

Since I am on whitewater a fair amount, gauche and grommy stinkbug pose or a variant seems to work for me.

[mrbig]

Good stuff boys. Old dog will try new trick. Better than a rebound attempt on take-off - make that splashdown..    

[stoneaxe]

I'm a get low and brace guy too but it's a hybrid move for me. I get low and move my back foot to the stomp but keep my weight flat or slightly to the front. The getting low and foot on the stomp prevents the board from shooting out, the flat or forward weight gets you and the board moving quicker and forward motion is your friend. One last hard stroke and then brace it down into good water. Once stable start paddling to get out ahead of it.

[magentawave]

First, tell yourself that you ALWAYS fall off the back of your board taking off in broken whitewater. As the whitewater approaches, tell yourself, "lean forward, lean forward". Make sure your last paddle stroke before it hits is a strong one. Place all your weight on your front foot.

Yup, that is exactly what works for me too and whenever I blow it it's because I wasn't low enough and wasn't leaning forward enough.