Surfing Waves

obviously cant duck dive a longboard, having got the confidence to start going out back ive found it quite hard to get past the on coming waves with out geting hammered, only way ive mandaged to get out is to paddle out between sets but some times this is not possable

I usually jump of the board and duck under the wave, then get your leash pull your board back to you and go again. (my beach is not that crowded however) You dont seem to lose to much ground. Its also useful when a huge wave is coming down and you cant duck dive

I usually jump of the board and duck under the wave, then get your leash pull your board back to you and go again. (my beach is not that crowded however) You dont seem to lose to much ground. Its also useful when a huge wave is coming down and you cant duck dive

Turtle roll! Just before the wave hits you, reach forward to the nose of the board, roll over with it, pulling the nose down above you (if that makes sense) wait for the wave to pass, and roll the board back over and scramble on...

Singlefin is right. Turtle is one method. You can also (if the whitewater is small) lift your upper body and let the whitewater pass under your chest. If you do a turtle roll make sure you brace the board away from you, if you get slammed by a large enough wave the board can hit your face, not a good thing!

How big waves are we talking?

I've found a good trick a few years back - I kneel on my board to paddle out quite often and have found that if you aim directly at the wave whilst kneeling, paddle like a bugger and then kind of kneel up - the breaking wave wave goes straight under/through your legs and the board without the need to turtle roll.

I have only been sucessful in up to about 4 to 5 foot faces doing this. It won't work with bagger waves I'm sure!

worth a try though - makes getting out there much faster.