Getting out to the Line Up

[stoneaxe]

Sano....get a good tail handle on that thing.....when I know I won't make it I'll bail and go for the tail handle and do exactly what you describe....and laugh at how easy the tail handle makes it without the worry of breaking my finger (again) or worse grabbing the rail saver. All it took was a 4' wave to break my finger with a wrong tug. IMO a tail handle is almost as important on a SUP as a leash.

[Badger]

The key to not getting smacked in the face is simply getting your back foot to the tail.

I tried that today and it really works.

I fell almost every time but I could see the potential. I just need to practice.

[JP4]

You have to be careful unweighting the nose on some boards.

Boards with a lot of nose rocker can smack you in the face in a split second.

Some boards seem to handle it better by going straight through the whitewater instead of over it.

I'm no expert though. When it gets over chest high, I just bail.

This was a good thread on the subject from a couple years ago.

http://www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php/topic,23890.msg241062.html#msg241062

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It's funny but the only ding I have in my 8'4" L41 ST is from the board coming up and smacking my forehead trying to get out . I learned a wide nose with a little rocker deserves some respect when going out. I think I'll try the weighting the back foot thing next time I go and see if that works better for me.
One thing I learned that definitely works for me is the "chicken jibe" from my old wave sailing days. When I know I've misjudged my timing completely and I'm about to get creamed by a wall of foam, I'll check over my shoulder to make sure the coast is clear, step on the tail, do a quick pivot, go to the prone position and get ready to be shot out of the cannon. I can then jump to my feet and ride it in and wait for a lull. Not something you want to do in a crowd or shallow reefy or rocky breaks, but works around here (Oregon) quite a bit and saves my energy for another try at getting out.
JP