Need speed down the line

Questions and answers for those needing help or advice when learning to surf, improving technique or just comparing notes.

Need speed down the line

Postby stuzzy07 » Wed Jan 23, 2008 8:46 pm

I'm having trouble getting speed down the line. I rode my friends 6'4 lost which is about 2 3/8 inches thick, i'm about 5'6 ft. tall, I had no trouble riding down the line in 2-3 foot chop waves. Then yesterday i got out in about 4 foot clean swell on my board which is a 5'11 and 2 inches thick, and i could come down make a bottom turn but when i got to the lip i lost all speed and couldn't ride down the line cuz i couldn't get and speed. I don't know how to do S turn i just pump.

Do you think my board is the problem or do i just need to work on my technique more? Also how do you get speed down the line as well? thanks for the help.
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Postby O_Danny_Boy » Wed Jan 23, 2008 11:56 pm

try generating power in your bottom turn in your legs

compress at the bottom, lean in, back up the wave face and release near the top half of the wave

the most powerful parts of the wave are near the peak in the top half, if you find your self outrunning the wave cut back inside
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Postby isaluteyou » Thu Jan 24, 2008 4:12 am

O_Danny_Boy wrote:try generating power in your bottom turn in your legs

compress at the bottom, lean in, back up the wave face and release near the top half of the wave

the most powerful parts of the wave are near the peak in the top half, if you find your self outrunning the wave cut back inside


Only thing i can add is that if when you make a bottom turn try to make it as powerfull as possible so that the power in you legs and weight distribution creates a sling shot effect :wink:
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Postby smallwavegrovellerchick » Sat Jan 26, 2008 7:21 am

When you hit the lip you should get a surge of speed when you're coming down with the lip. Staying higher on the wave and keeping close to the curl are some ways to gain speed since those are the fastest parts of the wave. The speed issue might have something to do with your board, but it's hard to say without looking at your board, the waves, and your technique. A slightly longer board with more volume and a flatter tail rocker should provide more drive (sounds like you're riding a potato chip). Larger fins can provide more drive too, but will make your board tighter in the turns.
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Postby The Fafanator » Tue Feb 12, 2008 5:05 pm

smallwavegrovellerchick wrote:(sounds like you're riding a potato chip)..


Funniest surf related one liner I ever read.
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Postby Otter » Wed Feb 13, 2008 3:27 am

You showing your ignorance Faf? A potato chip is slang for a slender shortboard.
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Postby Sillysausage » Wed Feb 13, 2008 12:29 pm

as 'smallwavegrovellerchick' says, stay high on the face of the wave and unless you're wanting to do a big manouver stay fairly close to the whitewater.
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Postby ANZAC » Thu Feb 14, 2008 7:33 am

Yeah... sounds like your turning too deep or too far in front of the wave... Stay high on the face and keep your bottom turns tight and closer to the pocket.
It takes a bit of skill for the big sweeping bottom turn before smacking the lip or moving into a cut back.
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Postby stuzzy07 » Thu Feb 14, 2008 11:56 pm

thanks for the help guys....still waiting on some swell to practice though, ohh the joy of living in florida!
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Postby The Fafanator » Fri Feb 15, 2008 12:30 pm

Otter wrote:You showing your ignorance Faf? A potato chip is slang for a slender shortboard.


I didn't know that when I posted that, but when I found out I tought "oh xxxxx, I am so going to get flamed from indo to hawaii".
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Postby CHarvey » Fri Feb 15, 2008 2:07 pm

The Fafanator wrote:
Otter wrote:You showing your ignorance Faf? A potato chip is slang for a slender shortboard.


I didn't know that when I posted that, but when I found out I tought "oh xxxxx, I am so going to get flamed from indo to hawaii".



Why not Bangcock to London?
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Postby The Fafanator » Fri Feb 15, 2008 5:40 pm

Think of two good surf spots that are on opposite sides of the world, there is your awnser.
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Postby CHarvey » Fri Feb 15, 2008 5:51 pm

indo and hawaii aren't on oposites sides of the planet to my knowledge. Granted i'm not a total map guru
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Postby The Fafanator » Fri Feb 15, 2008 6:44 pm

If you take a map on the one side just north of the equator far on the west side of the world you see hawaii, then if you look at the other side really to the east you will see indo, they are pretty far apart.
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Postby Beachbumhippie » Fri Feb 15, 2008 8:02 pm

After your bottoms turn try to snake it alone the wave, and as you pick up speed you can try kicking of the lip or a 180 and come back on yourself to the breaking part of the wave and start again. If that makes any sense. ENJOY 8)
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Postby The Fafanator » Fri Feb 15, 2008 8:07 pm

Thanks, I hope it helps me, I geuss I can do that with a little practise.
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