
According to Lauren Ringer, a surf coach with the Inertia, we should keep our chins down when paddling for a wave. I do this if the wave is getting ahead of me but more often I will arch my back to keep from pearling. What say you?
When you’re paddling on flat water the length of your board planes through the water. Meanwhile, when you’re paddling for a wave the surface of the water is now curved. This creates an uneven weight distribution on your board, shifting the majority of your weight to the back of your board and causing drag. To combat this, simply push your chin towards the deck of your board. This helps distribute your weight forward and helps you to take off under the lip rather than on top of it.
https://www.theinertia.com/surf/11-hacks-to-get-beginner-surfers-into-more-waves/