Not making the take off

[Nomadicfootsteps]

Hi,

Interesting in hearing what ppl have to say about my situation, I have been surfing rented boards, for the last 7-8mths on and off, anywhere from 8 foot to 9 foot. I have recently been surfing 7" 10' and a 7" 4' (today), at 7" 10' I make the take off most of the time but not always (75%-80% of the time). At 7" 4' I've been having trouble making the take the take off spent all day today (3hrs) in the water, with reasonable surf (Tel Aviv, Hof Marvian, 2-4ft) I couldn't even catch a single wave.

So, my question is should I keep trying or should I go back up in size?

Cheers,
James

[oldmansurfer]

Probably you need to move over to a steeper area for the shorter board. Shorter boards need steeper waves to take off on.

[dtc]

When you say 'missing the takeoff', do you mean unable to catch the wave at all, or not being able to pop up (without falling off)?

If you are missing the wave, is it just passing you by or are you nose diving?

There are different 'causes' for each of them - that said, assuming you mean missing the wave as it passes by you, then as oldman says - you need to change your positioning and start closer in. Every wave you miss, move in a metre or two. The shorter board will mean less time between the wave catching the board and when you have to pop up

[Nomadicfootsteps]

I am missing the wave completely so I see the wave coming I start paddling and the wave is just passing me by. I am going over the falls or anything like that.

[jaffa1949]

Is the construction of the boards in any different? Ie soft foamies as opposed to PU boards. Is the shorter board thicker/ wider, these to effect paddling power, is the rocker different there are many things that cause a board to paddle differently!

I imagine too that your positioning on the shorter board sounds wrong, not by much but on a shorter board the paddle power drops off dramatically if any of those things are not right.
I'd go back to the longer boards that worked for you, why pursue something that is obviously not working .

[nottyR6]

It could have just been a crap day as well. I would give it more than one day. Take more than one board with you next time and compare them on the same day.