Backside Technique

[bledesma]

Just wondering what technique is better backside. Holding the paddle between surfer and shore, or using the paddle on the inside. I found if the waves are steep, this inside technique works good to get a good bottom turn, but I sometimes find the paddle gets almost ripped out of my hand when I plant it after my top turn. Any input on this?

[NCBA]

I believe in letting it happen naturally. Even if your style's weird, I would appreciate it's uniqueness!

[Paddle-Plappe]

Paddle beach side or wave side, both of the techniques may be used by twisting paddle.
Cross bow paddle stroke while a reentry.... respect!

[Bob from Brazil]

Brazilian version of backside technique 

[linter]

nice one, bob.  that's what i call stylin'!

[Paddle-Plappe]

hé hé, bom bom, backside paddle backside, twist and twist, funny funny 

[HarkinBanks]

Hi Guys

I guess this is the place to post this questions given the subject title - hope it's on topic.

I surf right foot foward (been called goofy in other ways too) and surf about 95% lefts, so hardly ever even get to go backside. I live in the "land of lefts" so they say. Ocassionaly when I get on a right hander I find it incredible difficult to even turn that direction at the top? I've been SUP surfing about 8 months and never surfed before. Anyway - I'm comfortable on a left with waves overhead, but freeze up on moderate sized rights. Going frontside seems so natural? I actualy went out and tried to surf a regular board on a right (beach break) just to see if I could do it and could not belive how easy it was! My first time ever surfing from the lay down position and going backside was easy: Just a lean and I was there. On the SUP though I usually move to surf stance quick which is fine frontside to keep paddleing - but backside I can't seem to reach the water without leaning that way and end up riding down low and getting stuck in the white wash. If I wait to get in surf stance I'm down low on wave again and end up bouncing through the white stuff.  Started already headed right seems to give me trouble too as I just don't seem to have the board trimmed properly and I miss the wave.

Is it normal for backside to be that much more difficult than frontside? I'm sure given as much practice as I get on my frontside my backside would imrpove a lot. Regardless - any tips? (my available rights are either way to crowded or usually look like a washing machine).

Just curious to hear some tips for when I get a good day on the right side. Jankie - if you see this don't say it all my head! But you're probaly right - Regardless would like to hear other's experience.

Thanks

Stu

[PonoBill]

Bob,
Good thing you're skinny. I've broken three paddles so far doing that move. I guess I'm not supposed to sit on them.

Stuart--backside leaning hard on the paddle is hard until you get the first one to work, then it's like you have a hammer and all you see is nails. I'm kind of stuck on it.

The first step for me in going backside was learning to move my back foot to the inside rail. I take a big step back and plant my back foot right on the curve of the board. Then I can shift weight to it without being unbalanced. Get low, compress, and lean into the rear foot to make the rail carve. Do that a few times and it feels so good you'll go looking for backside rides (lefts for me, since I'm regular foot).

To engage the paddle, just get it into the same position Bob is showing a few times when you're carving to the backside. Don't push it--surf the wave first, and engage the paddle as you go along. The first time you lean hard into it and the board whips you'll be laughing for ten minutes.

The Ke Nalu article by Tom English has a great step-by-step recipe for doing several kinds of backside cutbacks--a cutback is often a backside turn. http://www.kenalu.com/2009/03/07/advanced-sup-techniques/

[HarkinBanks]

If you're looking for lefts then come to Bali! - Tide and wind are not on my side the next couple of days to try it out though. Thanks for the advice - I've been moving my front foot a lot to make the board turn and my back usually stays pretty solid.  Will be a whole new world since I've finally discoverd I have a back foot! Thanks again!

[1tuberider]

PonoBill are guys riding sup at your local point break.  You know the place, just over the hill for you.

The point will test you regular foots backside drive.  I used to surf it when I lived closer to it. 

You need to commit yourself to riding backside to learn backside riding.  Surfing beach breaks often gives a choice of rights or lefts and you may need to leave your comfort zone to commit to the other direction. Or just go find a point or reef that only offers back side direction.  I was weak on my backside till I made the commitment.  After that I enjoy either direction equally as much, but backside cutbacks and driving bottom turns are fun. 

Back to the point, it is a killer place, probably the best left north of san diego.  The locals are friendly and like to talk surfing in the parking lot while standing by the fire,  At least that was how I remember it.

[PonoBill]

I think you have me in the wrong place, Tube. I live in Maui in the winter and Portland Oregon in the summer. The water over the hill for me right now is the Willamette River, unless by Hill you mean the Cascade Range, and then yeah, it's Manzanita with that nice peeling left and shorty right no one can see from the beach.

The two local guys that surf it daily will give me a nuclear wedgie at the Sand Dune Tavern if I say any more. I know all of you folks are just aching to do a choppy mile paddle in 50 degree F water with no place to exit and nothing but the big white tax collectors for company.

[bledesma]

The problem in backside with a sup is not the bottom turn, but the snap off the top. In a frontside snap, you can use the paddle to push the turn. Cant do that backside! I found that leaning on the paddle backside is great, but the problem was when I did my snap, I put the paddle in the water on the outside and the paddle would get almost ripped out of my hand!. I have been watching videos of Mel PUU who seems to have this technique down. It seems the trick is to lightly touch the water on the outside rail when coming out of your top turn. It seems that finesse is the key, and not try to bury the paddle like a frontside snap.