The DuckDive Again

[horszt]

Hey,

I know how many of pro surfers must be annoyed of the duck dive and the problems with it, but I really read many explanations and many videos and it doesn't really work out for me! So, please, help me, so I can enjoy more surfing, catching more waves, and being more "safe" in the water in case of bigger waves!

I am 170cm, 55kg, (small&thin ) and I surf a shortboard of 6'1. A bit too big for me, but it is my board and it's not too big to dive, of that I am sure. (A pro surfer of my size could definitely dive it...My opinion). So the problem is me

Today I was out, just paddling and practicing the duckdive without catching waves. I noticed that if I grab the board more towards the nose it's easier for me to get it down, that to just push it down in my pop up stance...So I have it in the water in kind of a 45° angle or rather 30°, the nose some 30-50cm in the water and the tail just about to be under the water, so what comes next ?! It seems that I just try to dig my head now into the water and put some pressure on the backfoot to get the board deep. What happens is that I do not really get the downward motion, I am to close and the white water could catch me.I know I have to create some momentum, but man! I just want that it works and it drives me angry.

Please help me, I used to throw the board when I was alone, and I don't want to do it no more!!!

PLEASE a perfect structure of the movement... maybe, that helps!

Thanks!

[Big H]

Go to YouTube and look up duckdive; you will get a complete and visual explanation there. It was my teacher.

[horszt]

Okay, I am now watching the videos I haven't seen yet. Should I tomorrow go to the beack break or rather just practice in still lakelike conditions, what are your suggestions!

Thanks!

[Big H]

Go surf and practice while doing so. If you feel like you can practice under lake like conditions then have at it; there is no substitute for real waves, learning how deep you need to go or can get away with, the urgency given when stuck inside and fighting to get out....plus you get the bonus of being outside and ready to surf after going through your "training".

[waikikikichan]

but I really read many explanations and many videos and it doesn't really work out for me!

I surf a shortboard of 6'1. A bit too big for me, but it is my board

So you read 5 maybe 10 articles on how to duck dive but still can't. You watched numerous Youtube and still get blown back. Asking more people is not going to matter. I can read books and watch videos on how to play the guitar, but the only way to get better is to do it. One thing I say " If you can't duckdive a shortboard, then you don't belong on a shortboard ". ( but for whatever reason, you on one so let's work with it ).

I noticed that if I grab the board more towards the nose it's easier for me to get it down, that to just push it down in my pop up stance...So I have it in the water in kind of a 45° angle or rather 30°, the nose some 30-50cm in the water and the tail just about to be under the water,

I don't get what you mean by pop up stance ? You mean the area you laying down before you pop up ? Yes, you do need to scoot more up to get you weight forward. After you shove the nose down, you need to flatten the board out under the wave by using the ball of you foot. I like to put it on the kick of the tail pad. If you don't push the tail down, then you can't duck dive.

[IB_Surfer]

Nope, unless you are using thin skinny board you won't get it that far under. I surf a 6'1 too, and under most conditiion I do ok but I can't get the board all the way under like the pro's do, so here is the scoop from someone that does ok 70% of the time, and the other 30% I just laugh about. So, here it goes, step by step, but in a very simplistic way:

1) Forget sexy duckdive videos, your big board won't go under that much
2) Paddle as fast as possible towards the wave, this is key
2) Grab the board around the same place you press up for your popup, you will feel more natural that way
3) Right before the wave hits you, duckdive like you have been, nothing special, just do it
4) When the wave hits you push down the tail with your foot and push down even further, but try to get the board horizontal, if not the wave will catch your slanted board and push you back
5) After the wave hits pull up on the board, use the buoyancy to pull you up and behind the wave. You won't be completely behind it, but enough to keep goin.
6) Get on the board and paddle your arse off to repeat the step on the next wave.

They key is to get speed to come out farther behind the wave, get the board horizontal underwater so the wave passes you by, and end up on the board after and paddle right away.

No, no special instructions, no explanations, just do it that way and you;ll do better than before. And remember, although duckdiving is sexy when done by pro's, we aren't, so do th best you can.