Hey guys,

So I have seen a lot of videos on here and elsewhere of people surfing in events and casually, while on the waves etc, but what about while they are waiting for the wave??

If it is white capping and extremely choppy do they just sit on the board and wait for a set to come or just try and keep paddling around while waiting for the waves?

Any videos of people paddling into waves in choppier conditions would be great please!

Look for the full record of days of contests, typically more than 3 hours long...

1h40
5h17
7h09

The Waterman League recent videos are great
/videos

Women events are really interesting, as they have less "godlike" physical abilities than the young male world cup riders, and you can better see how they cope with the rough conditions.

It probably goes like this....forget about your "I can stand up on it" 95 litre calm and glassy boards.....get yourself a board that can realistically float you in choppy/unstable conditions

Exactly. Wide and long for me. Point board into windswell while waiting to keep it a bit under control
If it's choppy I'd pick the appropriate tool If you've only got a one board quiver a workhorse might be better
than a race horse.

Actually a lot of fun to be had as the crowd is low to none and the chunks of chop give ample takeoff spots.
You just need a stable and agile platform to enjoy it.

I only sit down to chat with others.

Used to ride a board that I couldn't stand on throughout the whole session. Don't like that. Now I only ride boards that I can stand on the whole time.

What size board that is changes for everyone and over time.

Choppy days are great practice! Get stable in the chop, then the next glassy sesh you'll be killing it!

Select to expand quote

surfinJ said..
Exactly. Wide and long for me. Point board into windswell while waiting to keep it a bit under control If it's choppy I'd pick the appropriate tool If you've only got a one board quiver a workhorse might be better than a race horse. Actually a lot of fun to be had as the crowd is low to none and the chunks of chop give ample takeoff spots. You just need a stable and agile platform to enjoy it.

I tend to agree.My favorite board is 10'6"and I find pointing it into the wind and paddling in one spot during lulls is pretty easy and you can stand further out than on still days and use the wind to help paddle in,quite a lot further out actually.And as has been already said when you get back into smooth conditions you'll feel like your standing on a foot path.P.S..Some people would say that 10'6"is a foot path,I like the feel of the bigger boards.

Thanks for the replies!!

Totally agree with the larger boards for the choppier days but have just always been amazed at the videos of people shredding the waves and heaps of white caps can be seen in the background!