Caught in the big stuff - how to deal

[Fog City Rider]

Great thread, full of useful information & ideas worth testing.  I'd like to ditto the request for more tail handle pics - this sounds like what I could successfully use at crowded, medium-sized breaks in SF Bay area.  As a semi-newb, I get so nervous about losing my board I usually steer clear of the lineup & settle for lesser waves.   

Especially interested in seeing this Dakine heel strap photo - the link earlier in this thread (circa 2010) no longer works. 

Thanks! 

[StandinDan]

Who says you can't duckdive a sup?

[river]

Been watching the Sunset Pro SUP event over last few days and I have yet to seeANY handles on the rear of boards.  I do however see a pretty consistent technique of kicking the board forward up and over the whitewash while falling off the back fliking board out to sea and then falling into the whitewash.  If successful most of the time the rider will come up mush closer to an Upright board pointed in the proper direction.  Of course when you come up its a good idea to use the old "hand helmet' technique and be careful as you resurface.  I have used this with the best of luck in anything punchy and from medium to large surf.  There is NO WAY I'm hanging onto a handle connected to my board.  If I have to I will shove it with my hand into the oncoming wave if I'm swimming, but I try to at least get up before each whitewash and keep kicking it over so I can make some head way.  Knee paddling over big whitewash is great way to faceplant your board or cross check the deck of your board and break a paddle.  Tough conditions to deal with but watching the the best in the World they are all consistently kicking the board up and over the whitewash which also lessens the chance of it hitting someone riding the wave.

[surfcowboy]

River, I agree totally.

But I hope everyone here understands the difference between big Sunset and what I was talking about. My concept of big was not "superman" sized.

When I started posting this, this was focused on general techniques. It's devolved into a discussion of one, limited solution, which is why I took my handle off to another thread.

The bottom line for really big surf, after talking for a few years about it with all sorts of people is all the same... relax and take the beating. Relax being the keyword. Holding something is not relaxed.

I am pretty sure I'll never be in 20 ft. Sunset but it's good to keep the discussion relevant for those who will.

My solution has proven great in small waves at a crowded local break to get me back on my board quickly and back into that position of control and safety, on my board, standing. I really thank the guys on this forum for helping me learn and stay safe in the water.

[surfniels]

I am totally onboard with  surfcowboy, the conditions at sunset give BIG a whole new  meaning to me. No way I would go out there.  I often struggle in beach break waves with lots current and a short period, making it hard to get up on your board before the next wave gets you..  In these conditions i can see the meaning of a tail handle..

[surfinJ]

It's good to bring up the difference here.  Up to probably 4-5', rolling not
just broken waves and the handle is a good way to control your board. 
You gotta be squared off, back to the wave ready for impact.  If you start
to get into +6' waves be careful as the energy through the handle could
cause injury.

And River, you are completely right.  By getting the nose up and launching
the board up and over you get all the benefits you mention.  Another big
plus is avoiding the leash drag.  The board didn't get grabbed by the wave,
so after the tumble its closer to get back on to and it hasn't pulled you in.

If you get caught in the wrong place by a set, do a quick look around. 
Then paddle away from any other surfers near you to get some safe area
around yourself before impact.  You might paddle sideways or even
towards the beach to get clear of other surfers.

And older Hawaiian surfer once advised me, if you open your eyes as the
wave rolls you and it's black, you're deep so just relax and wait for the
light to start swimming, and if you start to feel weak or in trouble, don't
dive under the white water, relax floating on the surface, and let the waves
push you in.

[Cardiff Sweeper]

A tail-handle in Sunset conditions (this weekend) would probably pull your arm off.  You want to dive deep down under that mountain of whitewater. When you surface, kick your leg back, or give a quick tug on the leash to get your board coming to you as reach for it.

[Vik]

are you saying those little stick-on plugs hold?  wow!  did you do anything special to em to give em extra grip?

Ya - just wanted to confirm this would work:

http://www.surfcohawaii.com/EZ-Plug-handles-p/a-ez_handles.htm

I'm riding modest surf - head high max and I'm still learning lots. I live/ride on Vancouver Island. Surfing here in the winter isn't crowded so I've been fine just staying in an empty part of the beach so there is nobody behind me to take out when I bail.

Anyways the handle sounds like a good idea. I like the idea of having more control of the board if I am somewhere with more folks around. Plus as other posters mentioned crawlers get freaked out by a renegade SUP even if they are way far away from it.

As I am frequently the only SUPer I want to be a good ambassador.

I've tried grabbing the board, but that usually doesn't work unless I have a lot of time to get setup well for the wave or I grab the leash near the board on the wider cordura part, but I know that's dangerous and I ant to stop.

A stick on handle would be super easy. My brain wants to say that glue won't be strong enough to work.

One of my boards would have a good spot for the stick on tail handle, but my other board [below] has an EVA deck pad almost right to the end of the board. So it may not work, but I'm a kook so I may be wrong!

[surfcowboy]

Used my handle in waist to chest high waves this weekend.

The knot got pulled out on a hard one but the stick-ons stuck. For those following, the thick padded handle works. I love it in mid sized waves and when a longboarder paddled under me while waiting out a set, I was able to keep complete control with no hand hassles.

One note, you guys are right about upside down being even easier, it's like magic how easy it is to manage with a handle when flipped.

Now that my hand doesn't wrap around and the handle releases cleanly I'll be able to experiment in larger stuff.