Surfing Waves

Hi
I am so stuck with my surfing. Its my paddeling i just cant build up enough speed. My friends are sitting right next to me and all they have to do is 3 simple strokes and there on the wave while I have to paddle so hard to keep up with them. Its the same paddling out the back as well they are paddling so easy and i have to paddle twice as hard just to keep up with them. I think its my paddling skill but it also might be my board. Because I just bought a new board and its a bit bigger and a lot narrower than my last board. So this might also be a problem. On my old board i could catch the waves no problem and do a bottom turn and other stuff. But ever since i got this board i cant catch any waves its anoying.

Any help would be appreciated thanks

Sounds like you were so used to the other boards paddle Could be a number of things position on the board being one.

Getting accustomed to a new board always takes time.

has anyone got any tips on how to paddle faster

What board are you useing now? and how long have you been surfing?
Paddling is just something you will get better at like fitness. Just keep practicing. When you go to catch the wave, dig deep and paddle as hard as you can and dont stop paddling till you feel that the wave has picked you up and your about to drop down.
Also the narrower the board is the harder it is too paddle.

Some tips I've found for general padling.

Keep the board trimed, keep it level & flat & dont rock it no matter how much effort you want to put into moving it.

Find the right spot, foo far back and you'll be pushing way to much board through the water rather than across it.

When paddling out back I paddle relativly shallow (mid forarm) along & under each side of the board, one stroke every second or two, not too fast.

When paddling for a wave I paddle a lot harder/deeper, still along/under the board, still trying to keep the board trimmed.

Supposed to keep your back arched & head up too.

I've still not 'got it' I think, long time surfer mate takes of a lot quicker / paddles a lot easier than I still, but I'm getting there.

This is how I do it (take from it what you will)

- Position myself on the board so that the nose is pretty flat in the water.
- Bend my knees to lift my feet (about 45 degrees, but out of the water)
- Arch my back.

The board is now leaning back ever so slightly and as much of me as possible is out of the water or on top of the board's planing surface. My feet are not in the water causing drag.

Next I start to paddle, relatively slowly to get the board moving. Once it's going I accelerate SLOWLY, only paddling slightly faster than the board is already moving.

Once the wave starts to jack up, I give it 2 or 3 really big paddles, then pop & go!

It works for me (has done on my 6'6 and my minimal!)

Cheers

Sinista

I had a simalar problem when i started out. To fix it i started having a couple of little paddles to get some momentum before going for the deep paddles and then give it everything i've got.

Its also quiet good to practice butterfly paddling if you need that little extra when you are nearly on a wave. Its hard work but really helps get that extra bit when you are nearly on the wave.

soops wrote:I had a simalar problem when i started out. To fix it i started having a couple of little paddles to get some momentum before going for the deep paddles and then give it everything i've got.

Its also quiet good to practice butterfly paddling if you need that little extra when you are nearly on a wave. Its hard work but really helps get that extra bit when you are nearly on the wave.

I used to go by that philosophy as well, and then i saw a video of me surfing.

I very quickly realised that by using butterfly strokes I was losing about 1/3rd of the speed I had already built up with no real gain (even though it doesn't feel like that in the water!).

The way I do it now is paddle like my life depends on every wave. If i'm tottering on the lip, double my efforts. My paddling technique has improved a hell of a lot from doing this and my 'paddle-fitness' has got much better also.

So, think of what you're trying to do: propel an object through water. Less drag = more acceleration for less effort.

• Aim to keep the tip of your board 1 inch above the water, mark the spot on your board where your head needs to be with a wax line/decal or marker pen.
• Only paddle early if you need to get further in for a better catching position - i.e. get the wave just as it peaks.
• Use long steady strokes - the smoother your action, the less extra drag you will create and the more forward momentum you will generate.
• If you feel the wave lifting you but not quite enough, bend your legs at the knees, it will reduce you drag and give you a little push over the wave

I like this thread. I was out today with my 7'6" funboard, and I quickly realized that it was a lot harder to paddle than on a 9'0" longboard.

Is there an actual technique of how you shape your hand, strike the water, and bend your arms-----like in perfecting freestyle stroke in swimming? (My freestyle stroke stinks btw.)

For what it's worth, I think the reply from boardatwork sums it up......

Board position is vital - shifting your weight even small amounts makes a big difference - only by trial and error will you find the perfect spot for you on your board - for someone else on the same board it will be different.

Keep it smooth and don't flap at the water or get the board rolling all over the place. In the same way as a long jumper starts his/her runup slowly and then builds their pace as they approach the take off, do the same with paddling - gently to get the baord moving and then smoothly increasing the pace/power as the wave approaches.........

Being a complete newbie without formal surfing lessons, I found this video EXTREMELY helpful:


http://www.videojug.com/film/surfing-the-paddle

Now I understand why I keep falling off the side of the board and keep getting tired easily

Simple solution.

When you see the wave you want, just envision it to be a 14' great white shark. That should help out.

Hey Guys,

I seem to be at the same stage here, you know pearling one wave then standing watching the wave pass me by the next. I have caught a few but miss more than I catch. Then I bust a rib and am sitting helplessly watching and wishing and all of a sudden I noticed something and please correct me if I am completely of the rails here, but when I watch the better guys out there a couple of strokes and the're off and running. What I notice is that they seem to use the wave or swell rather than rely on paddling. Their timing appears to mean they are up on their feet at a point where the wave or swells momentum just takes them pretty much regardless of their speed as a result of their paddling.

I hope you guys understand what I am trying explain and hopefully you'll be able to tell me whether this is the case or not.

Thanks

Your pearling most likely because your sitting far to deep to catch the wave correctly. You need to always have your eye on the waves coming , most of the time they will not pitch in the exact same spot.
Catching a wave within a few strokes takes skill but no matter what , you still need to be in the right place to launch. Ive always said surfing is about 90% paddling and 10% catching waves ....

If you're on a longboard and watching shortboarders for take-off tips...that could be a problem.

Driftingalong wrote:If you're on a longboard and watching shortboarders for take-off tips...that could be a problem.

I am on a 6'6" Spider BigFish.

thank you for all the tips guys.

I will try again tomorrow, I am totally defeated by wave today. The guys in the shop warned me that wave is not for beginner today. but I try any way.

I can't even make it out to the line up the first try, the wave was so dumpy. it took me 20 min of padding but going nowhere.

I did make it out to the line up the second time but I was so tied and falling off the board trying to sit up. this is my third time surfing and first time on the new board I just brought (7'6").

hopefully I will make some progress tomorrow.

keep the good tips coming

thanks

I was out today and it was pumping surfed up past long reef , big fat waves perfect for longboarders or min mal board riders. Just where are you surfing ?.

easty wrote:I was out today and it was pumping surfed up past long reef , big fat waves perfect for longboarders or min mal board riders. Just where are you surfing ?.

Belmar beach at New Jersey. I was able to paddle out on Sunday. I am having problem catch up to the wave and determine which wave to take. I guess this will come with experience.

can't wait til Sat. for another round~~~

Lots of water time will make the whole thing easier. Don't get upset because you're having a hard time, it's a hard thing to learn. Just keep enjoying yourself, keep stoked, keep trying, and it will come.

It's a long time since I was learning all that stuff, but one thing I often notice about people who are learning is that they don't give it enough of the right effort, and give it lots of the wrong effot.

First off, you need to be positioned on your board just right. So that the nose is planing just above the water, so basically, as far forward as you can get on it. You need to keep your back arched and your head up, looking forward - really important I reckon, slouched shoulders and looking down at the board, and you will end up being too far back.

You need to keep your feet together too - minimise drag.

And your paddling needs to be smooth and consistent, and to do this, you need to be balanced on the board - see above. If it's not, you'll be all over the place, and have no chance of catching a wave.

Also, you have to really really want the wave your paddling for. 125% commitment for a few seconds. So many people just slap the water and I think subconciously pull back because they don't want to go over the falls. You can't do it, you have to dig deep and hard with your hands, keep your head up, back arched, and so completely believe that the wave is yours, and give it everything, but smoothly.

That's where getting stoked comes into it, when you know how much you're gonna enjoy that ride, you put the hard work into getting the wave.

Finally, find a good peak, or take off spot, and stick to it, don't float off down the beach and half heartedly paddle for stuff that comes your way. You need to be catching waves at the right time, and in the right place, and you've got to work hard for that too sometimes.

Enjoy Saturday