Help with my turtle roll troubleshoot

[oldmansurfer]

I found the video on armpit duck here at 2mins.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ol7_263urLg

Awesome video. I skipped all those steps when I learned and therefore maybe I am not the best to tell people how to learn to surf

[Alex44]

Yes that's sort of what I meant !

Except that they use it in shallow water and it can be extended when you can't put your feet on the ground. But as it's been said before, you need to grab the board around the nose for a better result.

[dtc]

If you are on a 7ft board then you will need to be further in than the longboarders - you are 2ft shorter (you wouldn't expect a 5ft board to take off from the same place as you). So you are moving into the later takeoff zone (ie a bit of a drop) - but you still need to paddle. Sit maybe 10ft closer in than the longboarders and see what happens, adjust as needed - if you are missing waves, move further in.

Or sit with them but start paddling earlier and for longer (if the waves let you have this much time).

A longer board will be easier but you have to surf what you have.

[Laviz]

I usually sit with the shortboarders...who will sometimes tell me when to start paddle. Probably explains my late drop? (Sometimes I don't even see longboarder)

I have actually tried a mini Simmons think 5'10 and big shortboard 6'4 (when I was boardless) and it seems to pearl less than my foamie hmm?

I probably should sit closer to longboarder and start paddling earlier like you say to compensate my slow engine. Will try it again next session !

[oldmansurfer]

I use an 8 foot board and find myself between the longboarders and shortboarders in the lineup. I could probably lineup just to the inside of the longboarders or just to the outside of the shortboarders and sometimes do this but usually prefer a further distance away but depends on the waves. Mostly I surf alone

[RinkyDink]

I think this is one of the better turtle roll videos.

[dtc]

I have actually tried a mini Simmons think 5'10 and big shortboard 6'4 (when I was boardless) and it seems to pearl less than my foamie hmm?

It's entirely possible that your foamie is slower than the other boards (despite being bigger) due to being less streamlined; it's probably also more of an oil tanker than a speed boat ie harder to accelerate as it's heavier etc. Or it may have a fatter tail and gets a faster acceleration from the wave. Or has less rocker. Or all of the above - in no way saying it's impossible, just that the other boards may have some benefits in terms of perling

[Laviz]

I see i see...my foamie is very light as compare to those I rent in bali. It have this suddenly flat area at the bottom of the nose. I'll see if i can borrow someone else board to play with lol

[waikikikichan]

I probably should sit closer to longboarder and start paddling earlier like you say to compensate my slow engine. Will try it again next session !

I worried your train is going to run out of steam before it reaches it's destination. After so many paddles you'll rpm will slow down, right about the time you come up on the shortboarders area, where the wave goes vertical and stands up. Then you'll be even in a worse position.
1) Paddle correctly. It's better to move a lot of water a short distance versus a little bit of water a far distance.
2) Get a proper board
3) Set up in the proper place
Power, Position and Timing. You need at least 2 of the three to catch the wave. Good at two of them can make up for weakness in the third.

[Laviz]

waikikikichan

Power, Position and Timing...yea something I know I am lacking and trying to learn and get fitter.

You mention that I should get a proper board...I always thought foam board is better for beginner? Which actually I was excited to find in my country with no surf! I am heading to bali in March I can probably get a board there but transporting back will be a problem. The limitation of the airline I am flying is 190cm / 6'2 max - which is shortboard and I know it's not good for beginner - that's actually the reason I stop surfing cause I can't find a longboard or minimal here and the only board available was a spare shortboard. Which of cause didn't end well.

Thus, I asked before in the forum if a high volume + rounded nose in 6'0 would work but response wasn't positive so I didn't get it. And all this stop me from surfing. And well the limited of transporting it in a car is also a problem.

I am saving up to take another trip to bali with another airline that allows longer board and probably have to buy a car rack ($$$ ) if it is longer than 7'0.

What should I get and do? I don't mind a 2nd hand board with okay condition not sure how much it will cost. + bag fins leash...

[Laviz]

I forgot to mention I'm 5'2 / 160cm 110lb / 50kg.

[waikikikichan]

Not too long ago, there wasn't such a thing as "soft boards". ( thank, Costco ) so beginners had to learn on hard boards. ( longer ago there weren't leashes either )
Getting a "proper" board not only depends on your level but also the race course. 4x4 truck for off-road. F1 racer for the track. One could ride a Mountain bike on the road, most do. A long boarder could sit with the shortboaders, but his timing to take off will change. A shortboarder will have to get in front of the longboarders when the wave comes, and most likely block them.
Your situation of the airline rules and car size prevents you from getting the proper board, so you'll have to make do. Better a board than no board. Try find/bring a wide and thick 6'0" to Bali. Maybe you can find a 8'0" soft board there, if not, just use the 6'0".
I'm 5'2 / 158cm 120lbs. 55kg. Yesterday I was using a 4'0" semi-sponge with twin fins and had a great time in beach break. I normall ride a 9'0", but it wouldn't have been "proper" for the conditions that day.

[dtc]

You can get soft racks for the car, not too expensive.

Our Bali people may chime in but I suspect you should be able to buy/rent a longer board in Bali. That said, there are benefits in sticking to one board and learning that board

[Laviz]

Okay.

Yea I plan to rent in bali that's why I got the only board that I can find and transport in my country just for monsoon purpose.

I'll just keep trying with my current board till my bali trip and try rent different board. And see how things goes. Thanks guys!

[jferreira]

Hi, I'm a newbie too (I have been surfing since last month) and on dec 26th I took the board (9'0) for a spin and had the same issues as you (could get past the small white water just fine, but then found myself facing a behemoth). I tried to turtle roll and failed big time. The waves were big that day (excuse me, but 4-6 ft is still big for me), so I just gave up (the turtle roll) and held the nose of the board so it wouldn't hurt anyone, then I got up on the board and paddled like hell.

That same day I was introduced to the world of pearling. It was not fun. I talked to a friend that is a hell of a surfer and she told me that I am pearling because I already caught the wave and I tried a late pop up.

So, the next day I just went back there - took another beating when paddling out - and instead of waiting for the wave at the same spot, I paddled out a little farther. This way I could build more speed before the wave started to lift the tail of the board and pop up early, before the wave got too steep. It usually takes 6~8 STRONG paddles for me to catch the wave, then 3 extra paddles before popping up. I guess one of the benefits of riding a long board is that we can sit a bit farther than people riding short boards (people will still get mad at you if you catch every wave).

Today I can turtle roll just fine (took me like 5 days of paddling and turtle roll drills).

[jferreira]

ps: When popping up, don't look down, don't look at the board, look at where you wanna go.
When paddling for the wave, well, look over your shoulder so you can see the wave. Keep an eye at that wave from time to time.

[BoMan]

I'm going to try this "duck dive" my next time out. (To get my 9 footer down, I'll slide toward the nose at the start.) By staying mostly on top of the board you are not underwater long and can continue padding faster. That said I wonder how well it works in bigger surf.

What say you?

[oldmansurfer]

I do my half duck dive in bigger stuff and it works for me

[oldmansurfer]

On waves that size I would probably just push up on the board and let the wave go between me and the board. The board is duck diving but my body is going over the top of the whitewater.