Riding the nose of my Longboard

[Richy Rich]

Hi,

I've been riding my 9ft board for over a year now and would like to know the technique for getting forward to ride the nose like what those experts do.
I have tried numerous times and just seem to end up with the board going up in the air behind me. :?

Any good advice appreciated

[Jake]

well how big are the waves?

[Richy Rich]

Jake,

Your question is pretty loaded. Rather than answer it directly I would like to know what size waves I should be catching to get on the nose?

I'm guessing the bigger they are the harder it is to get to the nose, and that I need slow breaking long waves to allow enough time?

[jonny]

wave height around waist to chest high is ideal (assuming you are average height!)

the first thing to do is get used to taking small cross steps back and forth up the board - a step forwards, then maybe one or two back. At all times you should be aiming to keep your board in perfect trim in the wave.

Once you have mastered this it's just a matter really of venturing further and further - being ready to quickly move back down the board as the nose begins to dip in.

A good tip is to go for a really big bottom turn, then as soon as you are just coming out of the turn, so your board is still at the bottom of the wave if you follow - make a dash for the nose. If you're lucky you'll get there. If not you'll be eating sand!

Other things that make a huge difference is the sort of fin you use - you want a big, fat juicy fin ideally. Also have the fin positioned as far back as possible in the fin box.

I guess it's a matter of lots of practice, good balance and and being prepared to wipe-out alot whilst you learn!

[kieran]

Im no expert but i think the technique is as you walk forward the board needs to go backwards into the wave. This helps to keep the back down so you can balance on the end of the board.

To start with its obviously gonna be easier on shallow waves as youll get more time to try things out. Ive had a couple of goes but only managed to get five.

[ianskelley]

When you hear about "keeping your board in perfect trim in the wave" what does that mean?

Sorry if this sounds like a dumb question, but I was wondering if it meant more than what I think it means.

Thanks,

Ian

[jonny]

it just means when the board is perfectly "balanced" in the wave really - not too far forward and accellerating or not too far leaning back so falling off the wave - it just glides along with the wave at the same speed without you really having to do anything but admire the view!

[Richy Rich]

jonny,

Thanks for advice - just got back from SW France and tried the technique you suggested - although didn't invest in big fin. Made some progress towards the nose but like everything else in this sport its practice practice practice.

Ate a lot of sand trying though - you could almost get to like it after a while :D

BTW - If anyone is thinking of going to the SW of France - don't hesitate its brilliant - beaches are good, waves are good (when you're not on the back of a hurricane from the other side of the pond - it was a bit too big - if you're still learning). food is good and night life is good - what else would you want.

[zionboard]

Hi,
though I'm only surfing a couple of years, I don't find noseriding that hard. I never made it to a full "hang ten", but riding my 7'6 NSP on choppy Belgian waves I walk a lot on my board. Doing that, it happens quiet a lot that I need to walk right up to the nose to keep the board into our mushy waves. "Hangin' five" ain't that hard then.
A tip if you want further practice: I noticed that the board keeps more stable while noseriding when accidentally ending up in the whitewater. The pounding shore keeps the tail down and prevents you from experiencing another fine nosedrop.

Zionboard.