Can I duck dive this board?

[Smsmsm]

Hello,

So I’m on a trip in Central America and decided to buy a board here since I’ll be here for 3 months. I used to use a 8 foot board back home but have traveled to places like Bali and Portugal and have tried other boards of various sizes in the last 2-3 months.

I bought a shorterish board at 5-11 inches but it’s a bit wider than other short boards, almost like a hybrid I think? The volume is 30 liters.

I’m a fairly light girl at around 110 pounds- should I be able to duck dive this board? I’m not good at it all but just wanted to know if it’s possible or if the board is too buoyant because it’s quite hard for me right now it does not seem to want to stay submerged.

[Big H]

Better question is can you surf it? Who cares about duck diving anyway? Really not an important part of surfing at all for a beginner. Not an important part for me; I can't duck dive several of the boards I own yet I still get out back and surf good size waves.

Answer is that if you have good technique and timing, yes, that board can be duck dived by someone at your weight though not deep. The width will be an issue though since to effectively duck dive you need to keep the board level while doing so and the wider the board the more muscle and technique is needed to keep the board on a clean plane when duck diving.

I routinely surf in crowds of beginner/intermediates on boards that they duck dive through surf that locals just paddle through. But yes, they can duck dive their boards and make it out back only to miss 75% or more of the waves they paddle for. Don't fall into the trap of thinking you need a small board to get out back; timing and reading the break will yield those results on a larger board without having to repeatedly turtle roll....maybe a duck dip or two but on most days if I have to turtle more than once then I messed up and am out of position.

Buying a board based on it's duck diving potential is really putting the carriage in front of the horse; should not be the overriding priority since you CAN get out back in solid surf on a bigger board, often is even easier depending on the break.

[Big H]

Point is moot anyway....you already bought the board. Look at youtube for technique videos and use your foot and not your knee. Time it right and load your shoulders up with all your weight and push with your foot you should be able to duck it some.

[Smsmsm]

Yup can get out back I’ve been managing fine, and can get up and ride it fine. Was just curious that’s all- it’s a skill I’d like to practice while out back or in a pool and it’s hard right now. I don’t necessarily need since I’m not going out in crazy advanced areas with fast barrels or anything but it’s a skill I’d like to practice. I mainly got this size so I can travel around with it on buses and stuff- I don’t want to haul around a longer/heavier board on public transit.

[Big H]

Perfect....all set then. Wouldn't practice in a pool unless it was big since one of the elements is paddling with purpose....good times.

[dtc]

whether you can/should be able to duck dive a board is not a simple question, because its not only dependent on board volume but on board design and, of course, surfer skill

For example, i used to have a board with a really fat thick tail. I could get the nose down full arms length but for the life of me could never get the tail under water without virtually standing directly on top of it. Which meant most of my body was out of the water and .... thats not much use for a duck dive. But a similar volume board with a different volume distribution, probably could get the nose not quite as far down but the tail would be doable.

Ive read people saying you can duck dive if your board volume is half your weight in kg (or others saying its 60% volume to weight), but I dont know how deep that means and never tested it myself. That would put your board right on the limit just looking at volume and utilising a standard duck dive technique (as there are longboard techniques).

Anyway, as a starting point, if your board goes underwater while you are sitting on it, then you can get it underwater through duck diving it. That might not mean very far underwater, but you can keep experimenting until you know which waves/size/type of whitewater it works and where it doesnt work.

The trouble with learning to duck dive is that its easier on a small board, but most people arent surfing small boards when they start out and hence have to learn to duck dive using big boards which are harder to duck dive.

I agree with Big H, just practice and experiment, its not a futile exercise,, but it may not be a board that you can duck dive in all situations

[waikikikichan]

This past weekend at a contest, I used my 6’4” NSP Fish that has a volume of over 40 liters. I’m only 5’2” 125lbs. So you should be able to duck dive a hybrid 5’11”.

What technique are you using to duck dive ? Are you using your knee or the ball of the foot to push the tail down ?

What do you mean by “ it does not want to stay submerged “ ? How long do you expect to travel underwater and for how long of a time ? When and what part of the wave do you initiate the slide up of the body ?

[Smsmsm]

Ok thanks for the replies everyone. Looks like lll just keep practicing- this board might just be too bouyant for someone of my skill level to duckdive right now- I’ve just recently learned to do it and it’s still difficult on lower volume boards for me (tried a friends shortboard in Bali just for fun). Im definitely not entering surfing contests or anything lol. Also my board doesn’t really go underwater when I’m sitting on it. I think ive even lost some weight since traveling so who knows maybe I’m even lighter than back home and board is just really bouyant for someone my size. I’m in Central America for 3 months so I’ll just keep practicing and I’m sure muscle conditioning will just keep getting better everyday, so I’ll keep at it. If I ever go shorter/less volume I’m sure the practice with the current board will help duckdive deeper.

In any case I’m having so much fun going out all the time, I like this board because I can travel around with it and it’s not that hard to paddle and stand up for me. Thanks for all the info guys!

[waikikikichan]

Ok thanks for the replies everyone. Looks like lll just keep practicing- this board might just be too bouyant for someone of my skill level to duckdive right now-

Practicing in an improper form/technique will not help. Practice doesn't make Perfect, practice makes Permanent. If you do not know the right way to duckdive, the more you do it the "wrong" way, the better at "wrong" you'll be. If you have questions on how to duckdive, you should ask.