Surfing Waves

my 7"4 board broke and the only board I could get was a 6"2 while it is getting repaired, was pretty fun today but I see mixed results when looking up paddling techniques for short boards. People say

Keep the nose 2 inches above water when paddling, some say 6 inches, and then there are some people who say the nose should be just under the water by 1 inch while paddling.

Can any1 clear up this confusion for me?

Just over

Any of those might work but an inch above the water or an inch below are probably the easiest to take off with. If the nose is too far out of the water or too far under water the drag will be greater. 6 inches out of the water and you will probably be pushing a lot of water below the board when you paddle. 6 inches underwater and you will have drag from the top surface of the board and your body and the board may want to go deeper underwater as you paddle. I think it all boils down to what works for you on the board you are using. I generally paddle with an inch out of the water or more if it is choppy when paddling out but paddling for a wave I keep the nose down and on occasion it might be underwater and I can still catch a wave if I am in the right position. I may also catch waves when the nose is more than an inch out of the water but I try to push it back down by pressing my chest down more on the front of the board. Shorter boards are more difficult to paddle and you have to be more closely in the right position in the lineup to catch a wave so positioning and wave selection are more critical.

I second the Just Over. But you should be Feeling not Looking. If your staring at the nose to see whats happening, then you're not concentrating on catching the wave. Feel the board planing over the water. Try paddling around outside of the break to see what position on the board feels the least resistant. 6 inches above the water ? , who gave you that advice ?

waikikikichan wrote: 6 inches above the water ? , who gave you that advice ?

The great Freddie Missenemall, inventor of the snowplough technique of purposeful but unsuccessful paddle techniques. .
Just above.