Question re: turtle rolls and short period surf

[tonylamont]

Question for all:

The beaches I surf tend to have fairly short period waves. I have turtling down, but it always seems like I'm not able to get back on my board as fast as I'd like and I waste a lot of valuable paddling time just getting back on the board. So it's usually more effective for me to do the push-up method and let the waves pass between me and the board. But of course, this only works on very small waves.

Most of the turtling discussions I've encountered on the web are pretty brief on how to get back on the board after the wave passes. I've tried rolling back over the same way I came and trying to stay on the board, but that seems physically impossible (for me at least). Any tips?

[billie_morini]

When i have to "turtle" in short period waves, i come up paddling like a mad man. Although, i much rather push over the top. Will share some other things. You may find you need to become more fit so you can really blast to the outback. I used to need to do this, especially at a shark infesoted river mouth in Sonoma County California. My surfing Sensi helped me there one day. He coached me through faster than i'd ever made it. Problem was, i was so winded once we got outback that i half-blacked out and slid off my board as the sky was spinning & went black. Clearly, i needed more aerobic exercise. I also found i needed to be smarter about how & when to padle out. Sometimes i always battled waves ane took on lots of water. I was beat when i got out. Then i started watching this highly experienced surfer. He began at different times than me. He get part way out and rest between breakers. Then he'd paddle when clear. He was in the troughs between breakers. He'd paddle. Then rest. He looked like a lizard scaling a boulder. You know, scurry. Then stop & rest. Then scurry when all clear. I crudely imitated him with some success and less tiring. Hang back and watch the others. Then try the different things above. And remain stoked!

[tonylamont]

Thanks - appreciate the pointers. I'm definitely not where I want to be yet in terms of aerobic fitness and upper body strength, but am working on it. I seem to do better in getting out when I surf cleaner, longer-period surf - there's just not too much of that near me so I have to take what I can get.

[Roy Stewart]

I've tried rolling back over the same way I came and trying to stay on the board, but that seems physically impossible (for me at least). Any tips?

I always roll back up on the same side I rolled off, but that's just habit.

It sounds like you need more strength, just work harder.

[tonylamont]

Thanks - I suspected that might be the case.