Surfing Waves

ok- i really need help with my duckdving, do i use my knee to push the tail down or do i use my foot? i just cant get my board to sink low enough

foot

Foot if it's heavy, or a knee will do if it isn't. I do this weird thing (I'm not sure if it's correct), but I shoot my board out from under me while I'm underwater, with my arms extended, and then slide it back under my body as my board rises to the surface.

knee is easyer but foot is supposed to be more effective...make sure you're paddling with enough speed before pushing the nose down otherwise its harder to sink the board.

whatever works best for you. Knee or foot is fine. I always have used the knee and i duck under very sizable waves. Extremely large waves dukdiving becomes void as its not humanly possible to get that deep so that requires a whole different technique in such circamstances i opt for the diving board technique.

Paddle speed will help the momentum of the duck dive so try and paddle hard towards the wave. Also timing is important to...you duck too early you ain't going to push through and if too late well i think you'll know what will happen. When i duck dive i pull the board further down my body (bring the nose closer to my face) and then push the board forward and down (my arms would be extended at this point). When most of the board is submerged I then almost at the same time, duck my top half of my body down so it is with the board and push down with my foot on the tail to help sink the rest of the board. This happens all in one quick movement and then the board and I would be under and the wave would pass over and I'll be shot up to the surface due to the buoyancy of the board. Hope this helps.

Use your foot, your knee will leave more pressure dings on your deck. Also, good advice about paddle speed, if you arent' going forward then you will surface while the wave is still on you and you get dragged back, if you are going foward when you duckdive you will come out on the back of the wave nice and safe