are there any special techniques for getting out the back when paddling in the surf, eg: getting over the bigger whitewater. i always end up spending like 20 mins fighting to get out there for a 20 second ride in! any tips much appreciated

When I went out to cali I went at them diagonally or tried to get up on edge and carve overthem

It really is very hard. At least youre going to get a good workout:grin:. You want to dig your paddle into the last bit of green before the foam and boof yourself up and over. Then get your weight forward to avoid backlooping. Keep paddling and try to maintain momentum, you have to really go at it duracell bunny style if you want to get out quickly. If you paddle out at an angle, put the stroke in on the inside (beach side) and lift your edge slightly on the outside (wave side), this will give your nose a lift over the wave and make sure you dont get sidesurfed all the way back in.

Go Big or go home!

PADDLE YOUR ASS OFF!!!! Bow up at the last second before you get nailed.

PADDLE YOUR ASS OFF!!!! Bow up at the last second before you get nailed.

An effective (and fun) method is to get on edge as you and the wave approach each other, then double pump to get your bow over the lip and wavewheel over to the other side. Give it a try, it rocks.

I had this problem last time i went surfing too, sort of solved it by non stop paddling for about 10mins and using chud's method to get past the waves. Sadly it means i had no energy left to pull out some sweet moves..that or lack of ability! Good luck mate, hopefully ill be out in the surf tomorrow!
Dolly

Timing is KEY. Paddle hard into the waves, try to time it so that the waves are tall and green, yet not yet breaking...
kick up one edge just prior to crashing into the wave - this reduces the surface area and therefore the backward push that the wave will give you.
Reach forward once through and paddle hard by placing your blade into GREEN, past any white of the wave - the white won't give u anything to pull on, and you may still be traveling backwards towards the beach.

remember that ocean waves come in 'sets'. Say 8 at a time will be larger, so ride one, then wait, then paddle out. Check some of the surfing websites to get a better understanding of sets and such. Using this and whatever currents are in that spot can help alot.

keep at it!

I know it sounds bad, but try and talk to a local surfer who knows the way the current is working at that specific beach. Then you can use the rip current to help get you out, then paddle paralell to the beach into the big waves

Article I wrote:
Ocean surfing is exhilarating. The size of the surf can be many times greater than that any river wave. The vast expanse of the horizon gives a sense of a global scale. One may realize that this energy has traveled hundreds of miles. To many, this is the stuff dreams are made of.

Get The BIG Picture:
Before getting in the ocean, take a few minutes and observe. Is the tide coming in or going out? Are there rocks or reefs that pose a hazard? Can you safely handle the size of the surf? Are there any watercrafts that may pose a threat to your safety?

Getting Past The Breaks:
Timing is critical when attempting to get out past the big breaks. Typically, waves come in sets, get out between them. The wall of foam created from a wave that has crashed can be a formidable opponent. If a wave has already crashed and a foam pile is coming, you MUST get the nose above the foam-pile. Rock the bow up and pull on your knees just before the foam pile hits. As soon as the nose is on the foam pile, slam the bow back down and paddle hard. The motion of throwing the bow back down acts like an ollie, bringing your weight back over the boat and the tail up to the surface. This should help keep you from getting stuck in a backward-surf. So to recap, clear the nose, slam it down, and paddle hard.

Catching Waves:
Okay so one quick thing about catching a wave; as the wave comes under you, paddle hard and put your boat on edge. Get on a rail and paddle until you have gained some momentum. You will be able to catch waves more easily as you are putting your boat on a track. You should also be heading slightly right or left on the wave.

So Now You're On The Wave:
It's important that you DON'T look straight ahead as you surf your wave. Turn your head and notice where you are in relationship to the wave, next choose where you want to go. Spot a target, lead with your head, and go to it that spot. Be decisive and look at where you want to be not where you are going. Some paddlers complain that their bow dives under as they surf down the wave. If this is the case, lean back and travel in diagonal paths so the bow does not bottom out in the trough of the wave. Cutting back and forth also helps pull you higher on the wave as you expose more surface area to the oncoming current.

Quick Tip:
When trying to turn on a wave use a combination of forward sweep strokes and stern rudders on the opposite side. If you only rudder you will not have the momentum to drop you into your next turn (kind of like planting your ski pole ahead of your turn). Ruddering alone, works well to pull you up the waveface. Forward sweep strokes alone, work well to help you fall down the wave faster.

Last But Not Least:
If you capsize try to go with it and roll up the other side. If you miss your first roll, wait a few second for the water to settle down a bit before you try again. Stay relaxed, composed, and confident; two things you won't have to worry about are strainers, and keepers. It can be a bit difficult to roll in a foam pile because of turbulence and foam. Foam is less dense than green water. Therefore, it becomes harder to catch tension with the paddle blade. Waiting for the foam to settle can help give you the support you need. If your Eskimo Roll still fails remember to keep your head down and hip snap!


I hope this helps. Also... check out Kayaking footage at:
www.broadbandsports.com/taxonomy/term/8

Saddle-Up,
Boe

a more fun way to do it is if the wave isnt too big is to wait till a couple of seconds before the whitewater hits you, then double pump and loop over it..

This is how I do it. As the white water approaches make sure the wave has fully broken, then just before it hits lean back and lift your bow, as the water hits lean foward really fast this will let the white water go under the boat without pushing you backwards. If the wave has not fully brocken then your stuffed just the same if it breaks on you, sometimes its best just to hang back a bit til the sets have gone through. The last most important tip is to paddle like HELL.

Marty

Use the rip currents to your advantage! try and paddle out over the reen much quicker. Study the break for a while you will notice one or more parts break last and with less energy, this give you a hint it will be easier to paddle out through that.

Once out the back have rest wait your turn in the line and get a wave. DO NOT just bounce around doing silly playboat moves on them that is not what surfing is about! Nor just spin and cartwheel in the broken wave You will be endangering other surfers.

Surfing is about staying in the critical part of the wave the power pocket. Where the wave is just breaking and the green wave is at its fastest and best for you to carve some lovely bottom and top turns a spin is ok as long as yu use it to sub some speed to stay on the green face

Check out the pictures of Nathan Eades and James Hawker that lauprau posted up for how its meant to be done

Chud If you ever fancy coming surfing theres a few of us who meet up around the Gower or Aberafan for a surf in surf kayaks theyre much more fun and faster than butt bouncers Just pm me and i will get back to you. Also theres a WCA Surf Development day Tommorow bright and Early in Aberafan (small surf but still should be a fun day out open to all Welsh Canoeing AAssociation Members and associated clubs starts 0830 in the surf life saving club

DO NOT just bounce around doing silly playboat moves on them that is not what surfing is about! Nor just spin and cartwheel in the broken wave You will be endangering other surfers.

Surfing is about staying in the critical part of the wave the power pocket. Where the wave is just breaking and the green wave is at its fastest and best for you to carve some lovely bottom and top turns a spin is ok as long as yu use it to sub some speed to stay on the green face

Thanks so much for telling me how to properly enjoy myself; to think, I was fooled into believing that I was having fun before, doing cartwheels and spins on a wave. Now I know that I was terribly mistaken, thanks to you.

Guess there are two ways of looking at it. I come from a surfing background (stand up boards) Doing \"silly playboat moves\" in the foam is great fun as it makes the most of poor condtions and small swells. If the surf is big and has a nice wall don't bother with the kayak they are too slow and cumbersome also if is big you just get nailed all the time.

Marty MOOSE

Hi Marty,

Why don't you give a surfkayak a try? Compared to a surfkayak a playboat is a cork. It takes a bit of practice but once you get the hang of it screaming down and along the waves is fun

BTW: if you'd like more information on surfkayaks Down Under, try these folks: www.surfkayaks.com.au/

Cheers,

Michiel

Hi Micheil
I have seen them before they look like fun. The play boat makes the most of poor conditions for me. If the surf is good the board is way more fun. The surf on the SW coast over here is some of the heaviest and biggest in the world, a kayak is just no fun you get nailed badly to the point of your boat being torn apart. I do agree though a play boat is like a cork, its slow and does not carve well. Speaking of surf we have a 3m swell here tomorrow

Marty

You lucky bugger! weve got a big High pressure over the UK so no surf But I agree a Michielv and you should give a surf kayak a try. They are soo much faster, and very maneuverable and can surf to a high standard as the boardies (I surf boards aswell as kayaks) but I find the kayak nicer in the bigger stuff.

My friend has surfed allover the world including teaphuo which is pretty heavy and mundka an awesome break when its firing

have fun guys see you out back of the reefs in L*&%$£% hehehe

Do what makes you happy. Learn to play in the green and the whitewater. There is no \"better\" or \"correct\" way of doing this. Opinions are subjective and to imply that my way is better than yours, or more correct is just egocentric and childish. Just express yourself, it's all just art in motion!



Peace in the Middle-East,
Whitewaterules