duck diving under waves 6 feet +

[Huntingtonsurf80]

For waves 6 feet and over, I'm finding it hard to duck dive or turtle roll. Is this normal with waves at this height because of the strength of the waves? Does anyone have a video link showing the proper way to duck dive?

[Sillysausage]

well, you just need to go deeper, which means more effort and power (as well as technique. there are a couple of videos posted already on the forum in this category

[isaluteyou]

actually its not o much about height but rather abouth how thick the wave is. A thicker wave means you have more wave to peirce through. Just go as deep as possible and work on your timing. Too early and you will bet pummeled - too late and you wont have made enough distance thus you will get a lot of drag.

[Sillysausage]

you on about white water as well?

[surferdude_scarborough]

in big waves go as deep as you can. get your foot on the tail and stick your other one up in the air as this will help to sink it. if get deep enough so the foot you stuck into the air is underwater u should be ok. oh and make sure you push the board forwards as you pull yourself down towards it.

and when you come up start paddling straight away this will stop you getting dragged any further back with the back of the white water.

a tip. for those with long hair if you dont have it tied back you can tell if you got your duckdive right because your hair will be pulled backwards and not in your face when you emerge.

[surferdude_scarborough]

oh and one more thing. dont expect to get it right every time. just make sure you do when it matters or you will get smashed.

and the best way to practice is to use the same technique whatever size the waves are.

[Sillysausage]

yea i got better doing full duckdives in small waves, where people probably thought i was an idiot, who cares just practice, also make sure you're in water deep enough so that you don't hit the board in the bottom

[GowerCharger]

yeah you just need to get as deep as you can and get under them, some waves however are just mean and determined to get you (those big hollow ones that break right on your head) and once in a while you are gonna get a beating, main thing is to hold on as best you can and keep control of your board, even if you end up spun upside down or facing the wrong way, in a crowded lineup others will thank you for not letting go of your board (or rather they wont thank you if you do)

also make sure you're in water deep enough so that you don't hit the board in the bottom

sometimes thats the only way, in france this summer there was a day when the shorebreak was breaking almost head high into about three feet of water, the only way to get past it was to duckdive down, lay flat on the board on the sand at the bottom, pray, and just wait for the wave to pass before coming back up. needless to say there was lots of people on hired boards getting trashed all over the beach