[Add the lad]

Hey, Surfed a reasonable amount i guess but catch a lot of the bigger waves an don't seem to have any time to pop up b4 am heading vertically down into water. Am i catching wave too late or not paddling hard enough before? Any help appreciated x

[surfnut]

Firstly I`d practice your jumping up on the board on the beach, to make sure you`ve got that off pat. Next look for a wave that looks powerful enough to give you a ride. Try waiting till there`s a large gap between the incoming waves, and jump on and start paddling. The larger gap will give you longer to build up some forward momentum. Paddle like hell as the waves nears you, and even as you feel it catch you do a couple more to make sure you catch it. Once up remember to bend your legs as this lowers your centre of gravity and improves your balance. Finally, if you`re safely up and haven`t pearled, move your front foot forward to increase your weight at the front to accelerate. The reason most learners rides are so short is usually balance, or all their weight`s at the back of the board, so the nose lifts, and you`ve lost the ride. Good luck!

[Add the lad]

Cheers 4 reply bud. Im not really a leaner as such tho, I have a 6'8 shortboard, more intermediate phaps. jus at a point wher advice would help lots. My question is that often the bigger waves i catch (4ft plus) often(not always) seem to put my board heading down wave face vertically towards sea-unable ta get up on n jus gt big wipeout. When this does happen am i tryin 2 pop too late?-shld i pop soon as i feel wave?( after happens few times maybe im hesitatin 4 second??) Am i catchin wave too late i.e breaking on me? or am i not moving fast enough so not near enuf front of wave?? Sometimes i can pop and ride down face fine but sum times jus get thrown into sea n EATEN! X

[surfnut]

Hi Add. Sorry mate, wasn`t trying to imply you were a learner, far from it if you`re going for bigger waves. Just thought if I put the process in, it might also help a few others who`ve posted as well.
Sounds like you might be jumping up a little late. It`s normally easier to get up on bigger waves because your boards dropping away in front of you, but try paddling for these waves at a slight angle. If you`ve got enough momentum, as you jump up, you`ll find you`ll be travelling along the wave rather than hurtling over the falls. You shoud now be set up to drop down and do your bottom turn, and carry on along the wave.

[Add the lad]

Cheers 4 advice m8. I'll try poping staight away an at angle-(wasnt doin that). Thanks m8 Add

[Tone.]

Hey Ads

It's hard to tell what is going wrong here without seeing you in action but I'll give it a go.

There are a couple of possibilities.

1. You don't say how heavy you are, how wide/thick your board is etc, with that in mind it may be that there is not enough float in your board for you to be able to catch the faster moving waves.
2. My other thought is about how often you have the opportunity to surf 4'+. I've often found particularly when travelling it takes time to get used to judging different sized waves. So without knowing your current ability/reglarity of surfing it may be worth thinking about whether you're in the right spot to pick the wave up in the sweet spot.

I've got a new coaching method that may interest you, if you have a moment I'd really appreciate you checking the site and let me know your thoughts.

Happy Surfing.
Tone

www.theboardingschool.co.uk