Surfing Waves

Many times I go down the face of the wave, I pearl. Especially on waves 4 foot or bigger (hawaiian scale). The nose of the board just go straight down into the water and I flip like hell in the wave. What can I do to not pearl??? I really hate that...

your to forward on your board, go a few inches back (not to much or you wont be able to paddle properly) you have to find that "sweet" spot, where you feel the most comfortable.

I pearled yesterday on a 3-4 foot wave and it is bad lol. Headfirst into the water, the wave just flips you. Ye it is because ypu are to far forward, its sometimes hard to always get the perfect position on you board, its gotta be just right.

you could be too far back, actually.

there are TONS of posts on this, do a search you'll find a lotta stuff.

but anyways, if you are too far back, the board will not plane till late, making it that it is not planed, you are on your stomach heading straight towards the beach when the wave is breaking, instead of going down the line.

so, move up, move back, just feel around for it. and also try taking an angle on the wave, kinda cheating but I do it alot on bigger boards.

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..........\

so like the "\" is the board, and the ----'s is the wave (ignore the dots, just for spacing)

maybe you are not to far forward on your board, if it's a shortboard you could be getting up to late. if you are on a shortboard you need to get up befor you go down the face of the wave. what are you riding?

but for the most part people who are pearling are becaus they are to far forward.

Hi,
I was out @ newgale s.wales this weekend surfing in about 4ft+ and every timei connected with greenwater i was launched off my board (so badly 1 time that i just went back to the white stuff), is it all about positioning or is it ambitious taking out a 7'6" minimal into these conditions? Wheres the best place for advice about this? as I can surf no problem in whitewater but find it boring and slow!

surf n snow wrote:what are you riding?

I have a 7'0 fun board.

I think I'm too far forward and pop up too late. If I only pop up earlier, my weight will be more on the rear of the board to keep the nose up.

I tried to move back a little bit but I lost a lot of paddling power.

WishKid Wales wrote: I can surf no problem in whitewater but find it boring and slow!

White water is the easiest to catch and will not pearl, but boring and slow.

When do you pearl?
Before you try to get up...
When you're trying to pop-up...
After you've popped-up...
More details may help isolate the problem.

Since you have a 7'0 board you can catch it way before it breaks (unlike shortboarders)
make sure your on a comfortable spot on your board (not to forward and not to backwards) catch the wave before it breaks (make sure the waves arent to big for you to handle, 2-3 foot sounds right) and practice, practice, practice. Writing your problems on the forum wont help much unless you practice ALOT, and by alot means everyday till you cant feel your arms.

Driftingalong wrote:When do you pearl?
Before you try to get up...
When you're trying to pop-up...
After you've popped-up...

I pearled before I got up when I was still laying down. It was so fast and I didn't have a chance to get up.

I have been going surfing 5 times a week now. My arms are so sore. Actually my whole body is kinda sore.