Surfing Waves

hi i was wondering if someone could tell me how to sit on my surfboard in the water. I read on the website how all ready but i still can't get it right. I always lose balance everytime i attempt to sit.

right, lay down on it, grab the rails and gently push up, put your legs either side, and dont let go of the rails. keep n trying, and do it slow until you get used to it, then let go with your hands when u think uv got used to it

Play a little with sliding your hips back and forth too.

-doug

As soon as you sit up, helicopter your legs around. It will help you keep your balance.

Don't get discouraged sitting on a board the first few times isn't that easy. Especially if its choppy, or there is a strong side current. Your also using a lot of different muscles that arnt use to being used for this.

You'll have it down after a few times out.

Seeing surfers siting on their boards (aside from actually watching them surf) is probably one of the most peaceful sights ever.

Question though...I read about people positioning/pivoting their board in the water to angle in a certain direction, right before they lay down to catch the wave.

Is kicking your legs helicopter style supposed to help you do this pivoting while you're sitting on your board?

I wish I didn't have to ask you guys all these dumb questions, rather try it for myself. I was supposed to go this morning but I've been lacking quality sleep. *sniff*

Ive been surfing for about 8 months, and still havent totally nailed sitting on the board

i find it easier if i dont hold onto the board; and you will have to find the 'sweet' spot on the board so it balances in the water. I tend to sit too far back and have too much nose poking up!

if i need to spin the board quickly round for a wave i use my knee on the tail and pivot around that

Just make sure that the nose is above the water by atleast a few inches, maybe more, and you are somewhere around the middle of the board when sitting on it. You wil get use to it in time

GowerCharger wrote:if i need to spin the board quickly round for a wave i use my knee on the tail and pivot around that

mmm..could you break that down for me again? sorry..i can't seem to visualize how that works.. ehehe

IdRatherBeSurfing wrote: I tend to sit too far back and have too much nose poking up!

Thats often the best way!
It depends on the type/shape of board where you sit too. A shortboard is gonna sink when you sit on it, so theres no point sitting in the middle of it trying to balance like an underwater indoboard

Sit at the back, let your bum sink, and let the nose sit high and proud




And occasionally everyone falls off when sitting on their board.
Phil watched me fall off mine last week - and laughed his head off.
But then, very satisfyingly, he did exactly the same thing an hour later

surfishlife wrote:

GowerCharger wrote:if i need to spin the board quickly round for a wave i use my knee on the tail and pivot around that

mmm..could you break that down for me again? sorry..i can't seem to visualize how that works.. ehehe

simple, see a set coming - lie down and paddle to where it is - then turn around while paddling using your knee on the deckpad to push the tail and pivot faster so your in position and already paddling ready to take the wave.

thanks, makes sense GC. =)

the only turning i learned as far as paddling goes is to paddle the arms in opposite directions, using the same arm as the direction you want to turn towards and paddling it forwards. (i haven't seen any other people use that way though )

thats what you do if your sitting on your board, but its lazy a better habit to get into is looking for the waves and paddling to them to catch them at the best position rather than just sitting there hoping a wave will come and break where you are.

Best to turn your board with your feet. When you are sitting up on your board circle/rotate your feet in opposite diretcions and the board will swivel around. Practice this and play with exactly where you sit on your board. get good at it and you'll be able to do it without thinking... You'll be looking out to sea and see a set coming and think "ah, I want this one". Then you'll just turn around and paddle for it. Autopilot.

You have all that time between sets, right? :D

-doug

surfishlife wrote:Question though...I read about people positioning/pivoting their board in the water to angle in a certain direction, right before they lay down to catch the wave.

I'll lean back and grab onto the nose and pull it into the air (not quite up and down, but at an angle). Then I'll push the board down into the water. Then I let it pop back up. As it pops back up I lay in the right position and start paddling. The force of the board coming back up gives you some starting momentum for your paddling.

I wasn't sure if that was what you were talking about, but I thought I'd add it anyway.