Ditching your board

[kitesurfer]

If no ones around, ditch your pants, ditch your board, ditch anything!

Ditch your pants! LOL.

[scuba steve]

When surfing in Spain a few months ago i got caught out in the impact zone by a freak set about 8-10ft and i got scared cos i'm not the best at duckdiving deep so i ditched my board and the tug was so strong it ripped my akilies(dont know if thats how you spell it) tendon. Now I've been put off cos that hurt and i could'nt surf for weeks. Maybe ditching is more dangerous.

P.S. I did check and there was noone around.

[Dec]

Well, I think its crap abou 8ft waves and duckdiving! I have seen people duckdiving Pipe (not teahupoo...way too shallow..+ there is a channel) and I can easily duckdive an 8ft, hollow wave. I couldn't 1-2 years ago...never really needed to. It's all about technique

[rich r]

The channel mention is a good point, too.

A lot of times, I see people getting hammered trying to paddle out, diving, ditching their boards, whatever, just to get through sets. Meanwhile, 50 yards down the beach is a channel of deep water where the waves are still crashing, but are basically mush. Many times, it's right along a rock jetty where people are afraid to get near, not understanding what a channel is.

But, again.. with practice, you should be able to get through most anything without ditching your board. The preface being that you are on top of your board, paddling forward towards the wave already.

[GowerCharger]

well im glad you lot get to surf perfect overhead waves with no-one else about, but in my experience when its big and clean theres never nobody about.
If there is no-one about then do what you like, if you get clouted by your own board then thats fine, but personally when theres powerfull waves crashing down nearby id rather know exactly where my board is and that its under my control.
Mavericks is a different issue, if you paddle out there chances are you already have more than a few screws loose anyway and ditching there is more a last minute survival tactic, i wouldnt fancy being pulled backwards over the falls there by my ankle, but i guess its not as bad as going over backwards with your board coming down after you, its not an example which relates to any normal surfer tho.

[FishKid Wales]

Ive always been taught that if the b1tch doeth itch then its safe to ditch

[Dr Rev]

I wanna ditch my board someday for something better

[pat42]

I used to ditch my board a lot if it was big, but now I'll try and duckdive everything cos at the end of the day, it's better to get out the back as quick as possible and the more times you ditch your board the longer it takes.

Also your board is your flotation and if your getting thrown about by big waves, it's better to hold onto your board that way you'll surface quicker.

A bloke who surfs Mavs told me that in Bali

[mmmmm_good]

I try and duck dive it all.

Though if is big then it does tend to batter me about a bit or pop me out facing the shore.