Anyone else struggle with keeping weight forward on board to generate speed/momentum to get through weak sections.to then getting back to tail in time to do a big turn?
if the wave has enough momentum generating force from start to finish, it's easy, get on tail and throw it around. But for waves w weaker sections where you have to get forward (feet closer to handle), do some paddle+pumps to generate speed. then suddenly get back to tail when the wave has a juicy section to do a turn, it all has to be done really quickly. And often my top turns aren't great because I'm not far back enough as I've just been trying to generate speed. Hope I'm making sense.
cheers

Neither.Use an hybrid stance: a fencing position, or "semi surf stance"

This way your shoulders are facing forward, for optimal paddling power, and easy paddling both frontside and backside. But your feet are already positioned properly for surfing.

See the whole thread at:

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/SUP/Mastering-lateral-balance-on-a-small-SUP-board?page=1

Hey SSS ditto everything Colas said and his thread (geez that was 6 years ago!).
I'll add to that and your alluding to it also, is that foot and weight movement is a big key to unlocking what sups are capable of. I'm a long time shortboarder (now midlengths) and probs been surfing sups for 5 years to where I'm managing an 8'3" and am enjoying the different sensations and responses from the board with feet and weight movement. My supsurf mate is a mal surfer also so he's got it down pat, but neither of us cross step. It's a great feeling putting the pedal to the metal moving forward either on flat sections or to race fast wally sections but the payoff is ya gotta get back on the tail to turn. So yeah I'm either shuffling, hopping or sliding and leaning to get back for manouvering and it's something I keep practising, even on my midlength shortboard which has made huge improvements there as well. It's fun so keep at it.
Btw I'm trying to get in full surf stance with my back foot on the tail pad for really late take offs, where the waves jacked up a lot more than expected and is steeper. 50/50 of making it but it works and hopefully the odds will improve, they're defs better than before and bailing out. It keeps the nose up and you can bail easily off the tail if necessary but preferably set the fins into a bottom turn and use the paddle for balance and keep surfing. Hope this helps and keep up the stoke

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backbeach said..
I'll add to that and your alluding to it also, is that foot and weight movement is a big key to unlocking what sups are capable of.

So true!

I always have to explain to longboarders that no, SUPs do not have more raw paddling power than longboarders, it is actually the opposite.

SUPs can take off earlier because we can better see the incoming wave and better position into it, and we can actively move around the board on takeoff. SUPing allows accumulated wave knowledge to compensate for loss of raw physical strength and reflexes due to aging.

SUPing allows accumulated wave knowledge to compensate for loss of raw physical strength and reflexes due to aging.


Good quote, love it. Vision and capacity to move big distances to get to and on waves early is a huge bonus and increases wave count

I had 2 surfs at different local spots this morning.
1st one at long, down the line reef+sand point. Got a few good head high ones.take off deep, race the sections doing heel/toe pumps and keeping in the speed generating part of the wave. I couldn't say how long, but from right out back to shore. But, no hitting the lip top turns. I was in surf stance of course but more towards the front of the board (8'3). The chance to top turn didn't present itself, partly because of the wave and partly because I was too far forward.

2nd surf at different spot, more of a slab wave. Paddle into 1st wave, feel the momentum of the wave immediately and see a hollower section ahead. Shift back to tail, take off down the face, big wide arching bottom turn back up the face, hit the lip and come back down. Hooray ??

I think the moral of the story is to not feel like it's a wasted wave if I'm not hitting the lip and just enjoy the down the line aspect of it. And treat each wave accordingly.
I get what Colas is saying but I could never get along with a 7'3 SUP. The shorter the board the less far back it is to get to the tail and the less you have to move your feet generally, but of course there are trade offs when you go smaller. agree with everything else re advantages of SUP. I can't fit in as many turns per wave compared to prone, but I get waayyyyyyy more waves on a SUP.and usually the pick of the best ones. And a less stiff neck!

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Saya suka SUP said..
I get what Colas is saying but I could never get along with a 7'3 SUP.

Cool! And as you say, "treat each wave accordingly".

I used Short SUPs a lot because I was SUPing in the Mediterranean sea, with short period waves: typically 4s, maximum 8s on rare days. These waves are slow so a slow-paddling short board is no problem, and the short length is very useful on the wave as there is not a lot of room, plus it makes the board plane at lower speeds.

But now that I live in Hossegor, with powerful oceanic waves, my 7'3" is nearly never used, I am always on boards around 8'.

A small tip: try to focus on one specific point on each session: late take offs, or feeling the kickpad under the rear foot on top turns, etc... It makes progressing easier.

Also, to put the rear foot on the kickpad, repeat the move on land, the board on cushions. Or just while paddling around on flat water: sprint & fence & repeat. Drill until the move becomes automatic.

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Saya suka SUP said..


I think the moral of the story is to not feel like it's a wasted wave if I'm not hitting the lip and just enjoy the down the line aspect of it. And treat each wave accordingly.

I have this exact problem and feel like I've wasted a wave. I often feel like I am not going fast enough to do stuff, especially on mellower phat waves so I end up using the paddle more than I should, which I think looks ugly and I know it does not score well in competition. The other issue is that I shift forward to keep momentum and on some waves I've to specifically remind myself to get back on the tail.

I have some vids to illustrate the issue. I messed up the landings sadly, but you can see that I am overusing the paddle and I struggle to stop myself from doing it

?si=P9F099ycCeeKXOtZ

This one is a much fatter wave and I am swinging the paddle around like a clown.

?si=YsChVjFWt3dwGrRn

Sorry to change the topic but what camera set up are you using in the first vid? What's it mounted to?
been thinking about a GoPro and would appreciate advice..

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Saya suka SUP said..
Sorry to change the topic but what camera set up are you using in the first vid? What's it mounted to?
been thinking about a GoPro and would appreciate advice..

Using the DJi action 4 mounted to a DJi bite mount thingie, like you see all the cool kids doing. It took a bit of getting used to and I am not yet comfortable with it in anything over 2-3 foot, because it feels like a faff but getting there.

If you can start turning back to shore earlier on the floater you might not stall in the lip sideways. Use your paddle for top turn and then use it for balance as you drop back in. More speed the easier it is to go over white water. I wouldn't be surfing off the tail in those waves either, you could try experimenting with a little wider stance though and shift between your front and back foot so you don't have to move your feet as far.

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slsurf said..
If you can start turning back to shore earlier on the floater you might not stall in the lip sideways. Use your paddle for top turn and then use it for balance as you drop back in. More speed the easier it is to go over white water. I wouldn't be surfing off the tail in those waves either, you could try experimenting with a little wider stance though and shift between your front and back foot so you don't have to move your feet as far.

Thanks mate. Appreciate the advice. I've been actively working on trying to widen my stance since I've realised it's a bit of an issue