making sections

[lorcar]

surfed in the last few days and found myself stuck in wave face right under the white foam, like if I was outside of the tube (just to give you an idea, there wasnt any tube, just a lot of messy wind) and couldnt pass it.
Sure my tecnique is poor and I still need to learn how to properly pump.
but besides my kokiness,I feel it might depend from the thick boots I am using, and somehow the narrow stance they cause to me, so I am not able to pump as I should because the front foot is out of place and not on the sweet spot. Doest that make sense? (I am using a 6'1'' CI Flyer, a board which should be ridden 3 inches shorter. So I guess that being an oversized makes the sweet spot more forward that it should be).

Anyhow, any hint you guys want to share is appreciated. I feel that right after the takeoff from time to time I have foam in front of me and I cant make it. Should I start the pumping routing as soon as possible, as soon as my feet touch the board, and maybe I am too slow?
thanks

[tony g]

The Channel Islands Flyer is a great board and pumps really well. It takes time to learn how to pump, so don't get discouraged. Try a few of these tips and keep practicing. When I need speed and have to make a section I stay higher on the wave, and try to work the top third of the wave, that is where most of the speed comes from. If you move to far forward on your board it can be difficult to pump and easier to catch a rail. Keep your back foot on the tail and enough pressure on your front foot to keep the board in the water. Start with that and look where you want to go. If you get caught in the white wash sometimes grabbing a rail can help pull your board back to the open face. Keep practicing and you will get it.

[lorcar]

thanks a lot

but I am not saying to move "too much" forward. Simply I think there is a sweet spot where -if you have the front foot on top of it- the board responds much better. Otherwise is like if only the back foot is in control.

[garbarrage]

I doubt is your booties mate. Maybe too much wax on your board. I find a little less wax or a less sticky wax when wearing booties stops them sticking to the board, and lets you slide that front foot a little better. Of course, not enough wax has its own problems.

[IB_Surfer]

Not sure if ur kookieness or my old age, but when I think of pumping I think of what I do to try to get into a mushy wave,pumping up and down to get into it.

So, are you having problems getting on the wave face and ending up under the whitewash a lot? If so, it might not be a pumping issue. U might be waiting too long to turn after you pop up, or you might need to angle your board at take off, or you need to lean harder and dig your rail harder, Or... in other words, work on the basics, not necessarily on just improving your pumping

[lorcar]

got it, thanks

[surf patrol]

keeping up speed on a wave