When riding the big stuff I'm finding that letting the first wave in a massive set roll past and taking the next one is the way to go.
The first big wave allways seems to be lumpy as hell. That wave cleans the water up and the next wave though it might be a little smaller is super clean and heaps more fun to ride.

What techniques do you used for selecting big waves?

When reading your threads, I'm finding that letting the first one go and then the next 5 is the way to go. They are pointless and not hardcore, man. In fact, I bet you don't even ride in over 4ft

lol

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Haydn24 said...
When reading your threads, I'm finding that letting the first one go and then the next 5 is the way to go. They are pointless and not hardcore, man. In fact, I bet you don't even ride in over 4ft

lol

How much betting are you prepared to lay down? I'll happily take you money

He's just jealous plumdog that he doesn't own a Hawaiian shirt!

Haydn. You funny.

Anyway I try and select the 2nd last wave. It's still a big one usually, and if I get hammered I only have one more serious wave to deal with before i get a little break to get my **** together. In theory.

Ha ha funny reply tho. Plum do you limit yourself when riding big waves ie ride well within your comfort zone or balls out all the way through the sesh?

Had a big southerly come through last year at my local. I got smashed but got home and realised it could have been a lot worse had I farkd up in one of the Biggie's

Yeah nah!, I have far too many kids to risk it all. I back off to within my limits on the really big stuff. I used to hang back from the pocket to be safer. But I came to the realization that it's actually cleaner and easier to ride closer the closer I got.

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Plummet said...
What techniques do you used for selecting big waves?

Select big waves like a good poker night - all in and brass balls out.

No pain no progress

Depends on ya kite (and board) how close you get to the critical section and be relatively confident ...

oh and the Hawaiian shirt helps a lot to!

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Haydn24 said...
When reading your threads, I'm finding that letting the first one go and then the next 5 is the way to go. They are pointless and not hardcore, man. In fact, I bet you don't even ride in over 4ft

lol

I'd put money on it that the sets on a small day at plums local are a lot bigger thn you have ever taken on Hayden you shark rooter !

I paddle out and lay down the law as such and in the following order, surfers first then groms, mals, knee boards, boogers, SUP, Goat Boats, kayaks, Tea Baggers, Poleys,

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People said the obvious ...
try and select the 2nd last wave. It's still a big one usually, and if I get hammered I only have one more serious wave to deal with .....

Yeah people figured that out 40yrs ago too but we'll let you all think you're the first cos it is kiting

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burnsy11 said...

Haydn24 said...
When reading your threads, I'm finding that letting the first one go and then the next 5 is the way to go. They are pointless and not hardcore, man. In fact, I bet you don't even ride in over 4ft

lol

I'd put money on it that the sets on a small day at plums local are a lot bigger thn you have ever taken on Hayden you shark rooter !

Okay shark murderer

lol

Well thanks to the couple of you that made an actual contribution.

For the rest of you sarcastic farktards. Don't you ride big waves? don't you have any input?

For the record i'm not big noting, trying to be hardcore like Haydn(sharkrooter hehehe) suggests. Riding in waves is the reality of my situation. A small day usually still yeilds a head high set somewhere locally. Big days are victory or death big. I actually want to have a discussion about wave selection. Unlike MarkAustralia I don't have 40 years of pole dancing experience.

So bring forth your actual wave selecting experience.

Always get the third wave of the set, that is if it has not already been claimed by fellow riders.
Its always the cleanest and gives a more hollow face at the critical point.
Most sets usually only have four to 5 waves at my local.
Then there is a break where you can jibe and head back out through relatively flat white wash.

That's my 2 cents worth!

Depends on the day. Usually, as a matter of principle and practicality, I take the first, best, nearest wave that presents itself. I rarely get a day when the waves are so good that I can afford to pass up a good one.

If I can see that a later wave is better then I'll go for it, but that sort of means it's the first, best, nearest wave anyway.

Sometimes, if I am feeling strong, I'll take the first wave in the set, then ride out and grab the last wave as well. (I have always been alone kiting waves so there's no issue of hogging waves.)

The above also applies to SUP a bit. It can be possible to paddle out fast enough to grab two waves in a set. I can't paddle, or recover, on a prone board fast enough to get multiple waves in a set. It's much easier on a long SUP, but I don't have one of those now.

The concept of picking and choosing individual waves in a set is a bit odd. Days that good and uncrowded are rare. Usually you take what you can get, or take your turn, or paddle for something and see if the guy on the inside blows it.

As for big waves, if it doesn't make me poo my pants then I go for it.

Just go hard and forget about over analysing it, the more thought that goes into it generally means you aren't as in tune with the water as you'd have hoped.

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austin said...
Just go hard and forget about over analysing it, the more thought that goes into it generally means you aren't as in tune with the water as you'd have hoped.

Yeah I usually do that. Like a dog chasing a stick.... I'll take that one, and that one, and that one, and that one.....

On small days it doesn't matter. On big days I can find myself on the inside staring at a monster set blotting out the horizon. I'm think that a little bit of thinking and planning on the big days is worthwhile.

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Mark _australia said...

People said the obvious ...
try and select the 2nd last wave. It's still a big one usually, and if I get hammered I only have one more serious wave to deal with .....

Yeah people figured that out 40yrs ago too but we'll let you all think you're the first cos it is kiting

Surfed and pole boarded long before kiting, and in much bigger waves.