Anyone ever noticed that there are times when it just seems like you cant get as many waves as you could before. Be it compared to a couple of weeks ago, months ago or dare I say years ago.

I sometimes feel like I cant paddle well into waves and somedays I feel like a wave demon, clawing onto anything that goes past me. Almost as if I cant find the right balance part on my board when paddling into them.

I know the type of waves and time of year etc play a big part in it all but I reckon a lot of it comes down to that balance part on the board. Too far back and you cant get in front of the peak and too far forward..well we know how that ends. Sometimes I just cant get it right for a variety of reasons.

Anyone got an opinion on this and how to solve it. I have noticed that when I am fitter my balance is better etc...especially if I have been doing boxing as training which is big on balance. I know stretching would also help this, still trying that one out.

Haha, sounds like your still drunk from the night before

Its not your balance its all in your mind. It really is a feel thing.
I do have a balance problem after a big night on the booze

Yep, but for me, it's an 'energy' or enthusiasm thing... if I am tired from a busy week, or slightly off from one beer too many the night before, then I don't seem to have 100% paddling power...

I also find that if the conditions are not great, then this affects my level of enthusiasm - be it crowds, or a cross-shore wind. Doesn't matter how much I try and rev myself up I just can't get excited about poor conditions (and hence don't seem to put the effort in).

...and then there's just age!

I think the majority of it is a fitness thing... I believe paddling fitness is totally different to other fitness such as running or bike riding (I can run 10 km no worries, I paddle for 10 Min I'm stuffed lol...).The rest is finding the right balance and somehow marking it on my board and sticking to that ( that is what I do anyway).

I find it if I don't go to the water for while it takes me a few sessions to get back into it and offcourse you have a crap day, no matter what you do nothing goes right (I think that is based on your mental state and not being in the right frame of mind)...

I think I'm talking too much now...

Cheers,

Reza

I have the same experiences as souwester all the time. one week I'm getting my share, next week I'm nothing but crap and getting creamed on every wave. Paddling and missing, paddling and standing too soon, paddling and pearling.

Last week I saw the attached tips on paddling and what struck me as strange was that a few of the pro tips actually contradicted each other, like the one about placing your chin on the board.

Anyhow, I ignored most of them and just concentrated on 2 aspects, getting a full stretch of my arms when I want to power on the take off (no crooked elbows) and maintaining pressure all the way through the stroke.

It seemed to work, just about everything I went for I got and I did pearl once but it was a major closeout and I was dumb to even try it.

http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/surfline-health--fitness-paddle-power-advice-from-the-worlds-best-on-how-to-maximize-your-stroke_41384/

might be diet related.
If you eat light digestable food like fish and salads and no alcohol or sugar drinks you do feel the difference the next day compared to eating heavy or processed foods and lots of sugars/alcohol.
Bit like running a race engine on cheap 91octane fuels and expecting top results.
Lay of the alcohol completely/eat healthy for say 3 weeks and notice the big difference in your body functions/weight and performance.

I'll have to try the diet bit some time because I know the no alcohol doesn't work for me.

Because my bod reacts so badly to almost any type of grog these days, there are times when I go 3 or 4 months without touching a drop and I'd be happy to never drink again.

Even a single low alcohol beer can give me a hangover that will last beyond midday the following day.

Just lately I tried an anti histamine before having a drink and it's helped a couple of times.