On larger steep waves, say head high and a half up, sometimes i get a bit hung up at the very top, with the outer rail in the air and only the inner rail on the wave. I am typically already heading in the direction i want to go partially (in other wards not dropping straight down

Now i realize that the number one thing here is likely to NOT let this happen by paddling harder earlier to avoid this precarious situation.

But assuming you are there, do you:
1) weight the outer rail to get it back in the water
2) Dont sweat it: the inner rail is enough, make the drop !

Compromise in between to allow the board to sideslip, if you're midpoint or forward.
If you're towards the tail....good luck and orotect your head.

- crouch with a wide stance for stability
- move your weight as forward as possible both to help the board drop as quickly as possible to avoid being hung in the lip, and use the whole rail to avoid spinning out. Plus falls will be safer, you want to avoid falling to the rear of the board and the lip pushing you on the pointy bits (tail, fins). Or staying in the middle and having the board flipped under you, and getting bruised by the rail.

Look at how surfers go for the tube on takeoffs:



Note that on a very steep face, your feet may not seem very far forward on the board, but your body weight will actually be nearly at the vertical of the nose:

Got hung up on the lip a few weeks ago. A painful lesson for my knee. A split moment of indecision can be critical

Late takeoffs are a bit of a mental maneuver. What I mean here is once you commit, it all goes quick. You will have to have a strong mental picture of a successful takeoff in you head as you commit 100% and go. I have found that any hesitation or doubt in success will guarantee a wipeout. And a takeoff can be either straight down into a bottom turn. Or it can be an angled drop like you describe. Like the pic Colas posted only one rail and not all the fins are what you get.

If you have the inside rail in the wave your half way there to making the drop ! When that rail is not there protect your head !

It's on of the joys of surfing and supping - I love a late take off. I'm not great at it, but it is such a rush when you get it right. My technique generally involves crying, and curling up into the foetal position.

More seriously, I find that if my paddle trajectory takes me quite straight, I'll hang a little in the lip to bring the board round before fully dropping in. Straight, late drop ins are a sure fire route to Creek levels of kidney failure!!

It's on of the joys of surfing and supping - I love a late take off. I'm not great at it, but it is such a rush when you get it right. My technique generally involves crying, and curling up into the foetal position.

More seriously, I find that if my paddle trajectory takes me quite straight, I'll hang a little in the lip to bring the board round before fully dropping in. Straight, late drop ins are a sure fire route to Creek levels of kidney failure!!

I get a good look at what is coming up then batten down the hatches and go hell for leather, most times I get a beating but sometimes, just sometimes I make it through - such a buzz on a SUP! The whole thing is such a different view compared to a shortboard when you are trying to get to your feet at the same time.

Fins, footwork and knowing how to handle the rail grab and release are very important, even more important after the takeoff is where your feet are and how you get them into a position that can see you accelerate and get onto the open face.

One other thing get paddle in front of you toeside and have it trace on wave, helps keep your weight forward and tail engaged so you don't fly off the back of board on your heels at bottom of wave.

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surfinJ said..
Late takeoffs are a bit of a mental maneuver. What I mean here is once you commit, it all goes quick. You will have to have a strong mental picture of a successful takeoff in you head as you commit 100% and go. I have found that any hesitation or doubt in success will guarantee a wipeout. And a takeoff can be either straight down into a bottom turn. Or it can be an angled drop like you describe. Like the pic Colas posted only one rail and not all the fins are what you get.

As well as a mental manoeuvre, it's a synchronise with the rhythm of a wave. And more than going down straight to the bottom, late take-off is a free-falling with landing at the bottom. And to really match that kind of takeoff it needs a smaller SUP board as possible with pulled in curves at the nose, wide point pulled back too to get as less buoyancy at the nose.: it's mean a real performance SUP shape.

To put it simply ( yet it ain't) you need to keep your body low and lean forward so as not to stand up straight as this will pull you off the back of the wave. The fall line is critical in steeper larger waves, as it's one thing to make the drop but useless if you've had to straighten out. As Kami said a performance shorter board will help significantly.

WOW; so much wisdom and humility in this thread! Thanks ALL.
Clearly A LOT to know. I loved the part about forward weighting, paddle location, using the whole rail to avoid spinning out (this happens to me, i make it then i spin wildly out) and espicailly COMMITTING mentally.

I guess that is hte hardest part; i cant form a consistent solid postiive mental picture consistently: too often i foresee DOOM

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Kami said..

surfinJ said..
Late takeoffs are a bit of a mental maneuver. What I mean here is once you commit, it all goes quick. You will have to have a strong mental picture of a successful takeoff in you head as you commit 100% and go. I have found that any hesitation or doubt in success will guarantee a wipeout. And a takeoff can be either straight down into a bottom turn. Or it can be an angled drop like you describe. Like the pic Colas posted only one rail and not all the fins are what you get.

As well as a mental manoeuvre, it's a synchronise with the rhythm of a wave. And more than going down straight to the bottom, late take-off is a free-falling with landing at the bottom. And to really match that kind of takeoff it needs a smaller SUP board as possible with pulled in curves at the nose, wide point pulled back too to get as less buoyancy at the nose.: it's mean a real performance SUP shape.

yeah i notice i have an esier time making this on my JL Supertech 7'10 than my JL stun Gun 8'7 despte being able to paddle harder on the latter

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toolate said..

Kami said..

surfinJ said..
Late takeoffs are a bit of a mental maneuver. What I mean here is once you commit, it all goes quick. You will have to have a strong mental picture of a successful takeoff in you head as you commit 100% and go. I have found that any hesitation or doubt in success will guarantee a wipeout. And a takeoff can be either straight down into a bottom turn. Or it can be an angled drop like you describe. Like the pic Colas posted only one rail and not all the fins are what you get.

As well as a mental manoeuvre, it's a synchronise with the rhythm of a wave. And more than going down straight to the bottom, late take-off is a free-falling with landing at the bottom. And to really match that kind of takeoff it needs a smaller SUP board as possible with pulled in curves at the nose, wide point pulled back too to get as less buoyancy at the nose.: it's mean a real performance SUP shape.

yeah I notice i have an easier time making this on my JL Supertech 7'10 than my JL stun Gun 8'7 despte being able to paddle harder on the latter

You are on a good way .

Also, think that you have to be lifted up by the energy of the wave while paddling at its base to finally be jack down by the lip without getting thrown away with the lip Take care of yourself because the mid-air somersault can be the final result of that manoeuvre.
Too late would be definitely too late

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Kami said..
t needs a smaller SUP board as possible with pulled in curves at the nose, wide point pulled back too to get as less buoyancy at the nose.: it's mean a real performance SUP shape.

+1

I was not a fan of pulled-in noses, as they are noticeably less stable while paddling and on takeoff, but they make a huge difference for taking off in hollow waves. They provide piercing early penetration into the drop, moved back volume so you do not have to move a lot forward for an easier transition to hitting the tail after the drop, and being able to drop at an angle without catching the rail.

As an example, I found that my Gong Alley provides a good compromise: pulled in nose, but still a comfy width just in front of the handle.

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Kami said..

toolate said..

Kami said..

surfinJ said..
Late takeoffs are a bit of a mental maneuver. What I mean here is once you commit, it all goes quick. You will have to have a strong mental picture of a successful takeoff in you head as you commit 100% and go. I have found that any hesitation or doubt in success will guarantee a wipeout. And a takeoff can be either straight down into a bottom turn. Or it can be an angled drop like you describe. Like the pic Colas posted only one rail and not all the fins are what you get.

As well as a mental manoeuvre, it's a synchronise with the rhythm of a wave. And more than going down straight to the bottom, late take-off is a free-falling with landing at the bottom. And to really match that kind of takeoff it needs a smaller SUP board as possible with pulled in curves at the nose, wide point pulled back too to get as less buoyancy at the nose.: it's mean a real performance SUP shape.

yeah I notice i have an easier time making this on my JL Supertech 7'10 than my JL stun Gun 8'7 despte being able to paddle harder on the latter

You are on a good way .

Also, think that you have to be lifted up by the energy of the wave while paddling at its base to finally be jack down by the lip without getting thrown away with the lip Take care of yourself because the mid-air somersault can be the final result of that manoeuvre.
Too late would be definitely too late

oh dont i know

Select to expand quote

surfinJ said..
Late takeoffs are a bit of a mental maneuver. What I mean here is once you commit, it all goes quick. You will have to have a strong mental picture of a successful takeoff in you head as you commit 100% and go. I have found that any hesitation or doubt in success will guarantee a wipeout. And a takeoff can be either straight down into a bottom turn. Or it can be an angled drop like you describe. Like the pic Colas posted only one rail and not all the fins are what you get.

where do they sell those strong mental images?