Paddle problem or fin problem? Advice please

[BB-GLACK]

Hey everyone,

Came across some posts here today and once again have been further educated by this forum!! Just hoping to get some clarity on this: so I read a post that mention the effect wrong fins can have on paddling speed.,.I have never heard this and never tought of it before and I'm kind of hoping now that it maybe partially responsible for some of the difficulties ive been having of late..so Ive been doing alright lately, I find I may get one good session in four, on a good day I will be going down the line pretty much every attempt...on a not so good day I will struggle to catch one wave, get fustrated paddling and paddling watching wave after wave go beneath me so gradually moving closer an closer to the peak until it gets too steep and I get battered!.. I know myself my paddling needs to improve too and I'm working on this but just wondering if my fins could be contributing to my troubles? I'm 6'ft 75kg and I use a 7'10 hybrid, the fins on it are the ones that came with it so I think there fairly cheap bulky ones, can anyone advise what sort or size of fins I should be using with this? I dont find stability a problem really at the moment just bad days paddling so just hoping someone could shed some light on this or if fins would have a noticable effect on paddling speed? Thanks a million for any advice, really appreciate all!!

BB

[drowningbitbybit]

While a fin could theoretically make all the difference to your paddling speed, its much more likely to be your technique and the type of wave. If you can catch the waves 'one session in four' then look at the kind of waves you are catching and compare them to the ones you're not. Then concentrate on technique and fitness - watch a pro in the surf and they can catch pretty much any wave on any board. it's all about experience and technique, and I wouldnt go wasting on money on new fins until you can catch waves pretty much every time.


But we all miss them once in a while

[jaffa1949]

While a fin could theoretically make all the difference to your paddling speed, its much more likely to be your technique and the type of wave. If you can catch the waves 'one session in four' then look at the kind of waves you are catching and compare them to the ones you're not. Then concentrate on technique and fitness - watch a pro in the surf and they can catch pretty much any wave on any board. it's all about experience and technique, and I wouldnt go wasting on money on new fins until you can catch waves pretty much every time.


But we all miss them once in a while

All of what DBbyB says, I think that what you need is burst fitness , the ability to produce a burst of strength, positioning, technique and speed to be able to successfully paddle onto more waves. until you are at an an elite level or unless your fins are turned inwards with a massive toe in, most people wouldn't notice fin differences.
The same however is not true once the board is on a wave, fin quality and placement will effect turning and speed down the line and that is usually noticeable by anyone.

To get burst fitness, paddle easily around, do a burst of intense paddling say 30 strokes, light paddle for 60 strokes hit up another burst,repeat, increase the number of bursts and the number of strokes in each burst.
Do as often as you can, use some to catch waves.
Paddle out the full distance whenever you can.
Swim around dragging your board on its legrope.

If your shoulders are good, do intense paddles in flat water of say 200 strokes.
If any of these are too hard at this stage, your paddling is the problem so start a little less than I've suggested and work up>

BTW all the really successful pros do aerobic gym work to enhance their paddle power and their office is as often as possible the surf, so mere mortals are several lengths behind them in the water!
The more you surf the better your timing and the rest gets, but unfortunately most of us have another life to hold down

[BB-GLACK]

Thanks a million for replies guys, I figured as much, was kinda just hoping that I could blame fins instead of fitness, how sweet and easy would that be to fix hehe!! Cheers for replies though, I know I have to get my paddling right, Ill have to work on my fitness out of the water though because I only get to surf once a week on the weekends, like Jaffa said have to keep the rest of the SH!T ticking over too!!Any extra advice for improving paddling strenght out of the water would be hugely appreciated too,... Thanks for the tips, I'm goin to start training hard during the week out of the water and hopfully see some improvements, will keep posting, Thanks again.. BB

[Ed McDead]

Reading the waves is as important as fitness. I assume you are surfing beach breaks and generally the peak will move move around a bit with each set - if you watch the surfers who get loads of waves they will be paddling sideways as much as straight in to get right on the peak. Taking off on the peak is generally much easier as the wave is at its most critical - and you have priority on the wave. Once you gain experience you will get a feeling for where the wave will peak and get yourself in position early - once you get this cracked you will be sorted. Also you will see good surfers only seem to need to take a handful of strokes to catch the wave once they are in position.