fastest way to catch a wave

[PonoBill]

For one relatively brief period last year I saw Robby Naish and Dave Kalama at Kanaha a lot. No idea why. It's pretty interesting to see these guys catching waves. Robby is hard into it, paddling hard early and getting the wave exactly where he wants it. Dave seems to make no effort, giving a kind of listless little shove and taking the wave in the pocket, usually already turning and slashing. Once they get into the waves, Robby is up and down the face, doing smooth turns. Kalama rips the wave into foam chunks--any wave, even little ones. I've never seen anything like it. You can tell it's him from a mile away. On several occasions while I was paddling out I'd think "Who the f*&k is that!!--Oh, got to be Kalama".

[outcast]

guess its a style thing, right now, i just dont have the finess for a one paddle drop.........more practice!

[Pierre]

I think- according to my level and experience, that i catched waves as early and easily on a big 10ft+ longboard- knee paddling- that on a short SUP 10ft -
after that this is a matter of technique, fitness and motivation.
Also depends on condition: When offshore wind blows, SUP gets disadvantage!

But on a SUP it's quite easy for me to give a Big torque at the right time and give the paddle strike whick makes the difference!

[diesel]

For one relatively brief period last year I saw Robby Naish and Dave Kalama at Kanaha a lot. No idea why. It's pretty interesting to see these guys catching waves. Robby is hard into it, paddling hard early and getting the wave exactly where he wants it. Dave seems to make no effort, giving a kind of listless little shove and taking the wave in the pocket, usually already turning and slashing. Once they get into the waves, Robby is up and down the face, doing smooth turns. Kalama rips the wave into foam chunks--any wave, even little ones. I've never seen anything like it. You can tell it's him from a mile away. On several occasions while I was paddling out I'd think "Who the f*&k is that!!--Oh, got to be Kalama".

Ponobill, That is pretty cool that you got to watch those guys surf one of your homebreaks a lot.  What boards were they mainly using if you remember back to when you saw them?