catching waves

[taz man]

i have read all the tips and have tried them. i can pop up and get out to back line now (3 weeks) i can get foamies but can not catch unbroken waves, ipaddle hard and take similar waves to every1 else but i just go down the back of the wave help me please cos i am hooked on surfing.
thanx.
taylor

[PapaW]

Try siting and watching the way the waves work where u are surfing... learn them!
Perhaps you are paddling too early or try shifting your weight a bit firther up the board.

[taz man]

hey i took the advice and it works but i do noes dive even quite far back. what happens is that i catch the wave and just b4 i pop up i drop down the face nose first and then take a beating. must i turn or lift my head or move along the wave (pull in). thanks
taylor.

[H2ODog]

Sounds like you may be doing a late takeoff (the wave is about to brake on you). As soon as you pop-up make a turn along the face of the wave, it will cut the angle of the drop (not so steep) and keep you from digging your nose at the bottom of the wave. Hope it helps.

[Rasmascasbash!]

It sounds like you are taking off a tad too late. If the wave is about to break on you then half way up the face when you are paddling, start to push up with your arms and lift chest. Pop up so then you wont take the board in the face (ouch).