Surfing Waves

Just wanted to ask if anyone knows how to improve your paddeling without actually surfing....

I swim 3 times a week and have a good general fitness, and i find paddeling out not much of a problem like i dont get that tired and stuff.

But when i go to paddel for a wave i can never quite manage to get it....i will miss it but only just and i think its because im not paddeling strong enough.

Any tips, i would be gratefull

Top paddling tip...

Keep your head down!!

Lots of people arch their back way too early and dont catch the wave. Your head is a really heavy thing (not just yours, Im not accusing you of a massive head or anything...) and your board reacts to wherever the weight is - so when you're paddling, stretch out with your neck/head until you've caught the wave

I used to get that all the time, it's so frustrating... but I found that if you lie just a tiny bit too far forward on the board and arch your back to shift your weight backwards you can control where your weight is on the board much easier - so if you feel like you're gonna slide off the back of the wave, lean forward and tip the nose down the face; if you feel like you're about to nose-dive arch your back harder so your weight isn't so far forward. Works for me

Just noticed that that is completely the opposite of DBBB's advice... ... I guess you have to get in the water and find out what works for you. Practice makes perfick

moncho wrote:Just noticed that that is completely the opposite of DBBB's advice... ... I guess you have to get in the water and find out what works for you. Practice makes perfick

No, no, no... we're saying kinda the same thing....

Get your head down and forward to paddle before the wave takes you, and then arch your back so you dont end up pearling.
So, arch your back, but not too soon! Lots of people seem to arch their back as soon as they start paddling but all that does is stall the board

moncho wrote: so if you feel like you're gonna slide off the back of the wave, lean forward and tip the nose down the face; if you feel like you're about to nose-dive arch your back harder so your weight isn't so far forward.

Yup, thats what I was saying! But you put it better!

hi, don't think any other training would make any difference, think it's just down to technique in the water. If you are already swimming 3 times per week you could on one of the sessions do more short speed swimming rather than going for distance.(this would help with fast bursts whilst surfing)or maybe a little gym work.

Jennie,

One thing I do when I"m a bit out of shape is lay on a bench a bench press bench is ideal and hold a dumb bell in each hand and do a paddling motion. Tones ya up pretty quick and depending on how much weight you use strengthens your arms, shoulders and back and gives you an edge when paddling.

Cheers
Ghost

I can't reallly add anything to this thread, but I wanted to congratulate Jennie on being a relative newcomer and already using the word 'FLESHING' in her posts.

Gotta respect that!!

Sinista

cheers guys thats well good advice......

i know what im doing wrong now, i have always been told when paddeling out to arch ur back, i must have just kept on doing it when paddelling for waves

and i had real trouble with nose diving and pearling, straight to the bottom as well, i guess i just have to find a balance and practice.....

and to sinista......i know you are not allowed to swear in this forum and considering i have a mouth like i trucker i was in deperate need of finding a word to replace f**k!!!

Who came up with it, its a fleshing good word!

i've nearly completed my HGV licence...when i've passed does that mean i can swear like you Jennie