Turtling, Getting Thru

[Johnson]

Ok, so I'm a beginner with a 7'5" funboard. Everyone says it's easier to learn to stand up on a bigger board (agreed), but getting THROUGH the waves is that much harder. It's too buoyant to duckdive.. am I really supposed to turtle under EVERY wave? Since the waves come in sets, I'd be turtling 4-5 times in a row???

I'm getting frustrated fast and I live across the street from the beach!! Help!

[Ryder]

About Turtling in General...
I'll reply to the question with a more general question...

Can you duck-dive longboards?

[leolivi]

I dont know how to duckdive. Never even realy tried, as my board is 7'2 and when i try to push it down i dont get much result. One thing i can answer for sure: you can duckdive a longboard. I am not sure how well, but I have seen a guy do it and go through the breaking waves.

As for the turtle roll, i think ir is better for big waves. For small waves you should duckdive or use other techniques. A good look around the forum will help as there are some topics n it.

Seems like the real trouble to beginners is realy getting to the outside. For me it is certainly the worse part.

[sinistapenguin]

Getting out back without having to duckdive too much etc. involves one of the hardest elements of surfing - when you arrive at the beach, don't paddle straight out.

Take 10-20 minutes out to watch the waves, you should be able to establish from this how many waves are in a set and how long the lull between sets is.

What you then need to do is walk out to your depth and wait - jump/ duck under the waves until the end of a set, then get on your board and paddle like crazy to get out before the next set comes in.

As for duckdiving a 7'5 board - yes you can. I duckdive my 7'5 mini-mal easily - my friend can duckdive his 9'6 longboard. The thing is it's all about technique. If you try and push straight down on a buoyant board it's going to be hard. Try this:

Paddle at the approaching wave at a slight angle. As it approaches, push down on one rail, to get it under the water, then shift your weight to the other hand and the board will be under, the rest of the duckdive is as normal.

Hope this helps

Cheers

Sinista

[freaky_welsh_chick]

keep persevering with the duck dive. i have a bic 7'3" and its a b*tch to duckdive, but i am keeping on trying and i am gettin there. just be prepared to get mashed while learning, hehe.

Kylie x

[gzinga]

also.....look around you if closest person is more than 20-30 feet away dump your board and duck yourself into the water.....but most important don't be there when the wave breakes!