Need advice on catching unbroken waves

[kvas]

Have been surfing for one week so far. First two times with big rented boards (seemed so easy then) and then I've bought myself a smaller one (7'2" fish-shaped). Now I'm quite ok catching whitewaterish waves with it, but unbroken ones just slip under me no matter how hard I'm paddling, and they are shoulder-high and quite steep, so I guess I must be doing something wrong. Any advice?

[kitesurfer]

Practise, timing and keep paddling! Even when you think you'ver caught the wave keep paddling at least 3-4 more strokes to make sure!

KS

[justloafing]

With you going down in size (in board size) you need to be closer to where the wave breaks. Sounds like your out to far to me.

[surferdude_scarborough]

also fish shapes arent great in steep waves

[kvas]

Thanks for the advice, everyone. Will go practice more.

Also I saw in other topics the advice to place the board at an angle to the incoming wave. What's the idea there, and how is it related to catching the wave, does it make it easier?

[RJD]

It makes it easier and harder!

You angle the board ( a little) to avoid burying the nose and to set you up for the bottom turn, also to stop the wave pushing you too far out front before your on it/get the bottom turn in.

it makes it harder because a little of your speed isnt with the wave and the angle ha to be right or you get barreled, not in a good way either...

[kvas]

Thanks RJD. I guess in my case I should first just put it straight and when I can consistently take off with the wave, I can experiment with angles, etc.

[justloafing]

Also angling the board helps you from pearling (nose digging in). Good advise to take off at an angle.

[kinggargantuan]

Also angling the board helps you from pearling (nose digging in). Good advise to take off at an angle.

i've tried that angling (i'm a noob) and I don't think I did it right because i ended up getting rolled.

[Sillysausage]

lol when you angle the board its only slightly just so you miss the whitewash when you're going down the face, if you do it to much you'll get smashed

[crepuscular]

Now I'm quite ok catching whitewaterish waves with it, but unbroken ones just slip under me no matter how hard I'm paddling...

kick the back as you feel the slightest descend, it will give you some extra thrust; myself find that quite useful because I know myself my paddling is only average, helps me catch a lot of waves