Hi all,

I have recently started surfing on a 6'4 x 21' x 3' (Al merrick Motorboat). I am able to stand up about 7/10 times but every time i stand up the wave is either dying off or has broken.

I have tried angling my board while paddling and then standing up faster however i still struggle to stay on the face for longer than a couple of seconds. Im generally a fast learner and would like to fix this annoying problem.

Any tips would be appreciated!

James,

It's hard to diagnose without knowing your age/weight/height and fitness level... but a 6'4" board is a little small to start learning on. I was 14yo and started on an old 7'2" single fin. Generally, the larger the board the more volume (foam) it has and the easier it is to paddle.

Also, a LOT of it has to do with positioning and reading the wave - ie finding the sweet spot. Just keep practising and spend some time watching what the good guys do - not the red-hot 'pros' that make it look easy, but the guys that are clearly better than you... watch how they turn and position themselves and how they even hesitate a moment before they spring to their feet.

Also, be sure you are pushing up with flat hands - and are not grabbing the rail of the board and giving yourself the wobbles...

Good luck.

^^ Wot he said, even more length when learning helps as well. That motorboat sounds like its got a ton of volume tho, depending on your weight it could be ok for learning depending on youre weight.

Select to expand quote

GPA said...
James,

It's hard to diagnose without knowing your age/weight/height and fitness level... but a 6'4" board is a little small to start learning on. I was 14yo and started on an old 7'2" single fin. Generally, the larger the board the more volume (foam) it has and the easier it is to paddle.

Also, a LOT of it has to do with positioning and reading the wave - ie finding the sweet spot. Just keep practising and spend some time watching what the good guys do - not the red-hot 'pros' that make it look easy, but the guys that are clearly better than you... watch how they turn and position themselves and how they even hesitate a moment before they spring to their feet.

Also, be sure you are pushing up with flat hands - and are not grabbing the rail of the board and giving yourself the wobbles...

Good luck.

Yeah it is pretty small but i am doing okay on it and can get up alot but i just seem to either stall on the wave or have a really short ride.

Im fit and can paddle well, i am 15, about 6'0 tall and weigh about 60kgs so very light for that size of that board! My mate recommended it for me and its awesome when i can get some speed.

My pop up is fairly fast and yes i make sure i use my flat palms!

Select to expand quote

James191 said...


I have tried angling my board while paddling and then standing up faster however i still struggle to stay on the face for longer than a couple of seconds. Im generally a fast learner and would like to fix this annoying problem.

Any tips would be appreciated!

James some good advice from the guy's.I'd like to add I too was a fast learner at a load of sports but I found surfing like golf,it took me a while to find my feet and was like you say above,my advice is keep doing and going as often as you can because one day soon it will JUST HAPPEN,you will click.

Good Luck.

I'd think at 60 kgs a board that long, wide and thick would probably do alright.
Especially as you say you can stand up most of the time.

It all comes down to time in the water then. Practise practise and practise.

Select to expand quote

62mac said...

James some good advice from the guy's.my advice is keep doing and going as often as you can because one soon it will JUST HAPPEN,you will click.

Good Luck.

^^^^+1,
Welcome to the seabreeze James191

Just try & find waves that are crumbling down the face, what surfers call "a bit fat". A lot more forgiving than sucky waves, allowing you more time to get to your feet & surf along the face.

Select to expand quote

Yeah it is pretty small but i am doing okay on it and can get up alot but i just seem to either stall on the wave or have a really short ride.

Well, just check your feet are where they should be - ie you need to keep the board trimming fairly flat in the water to get maximum speed - ie make sure you are not part way to a wheelie or nose dive... and if you are too far off centre you might be 'digging' a rail which may also slow you down...

Once you get it right you'll feel it... then it's just a matter of doing it again and again and again. It can be frustrating (even after 30+ yrs of surfing), but when it all comes together there is no better feeling... only a surfer knows!

Thanks for all the advice, will go out and practice tomorrow!

Select to expand quote

James191 said...
Thanks for all the advice, will go out and practice tomorrow!

Have fun mate and report back.

james, just out of curiosity, what fins do you use ? are they cheap plastic fcs m's ?
i donno why they supply boards with this sort of crap these days.
the board shape could be spot on but they just kill it. these fins are anchors !

Select to expand quote

dmitri said...
james, just out of curiosity, what fins do you use ? are they cheap plastic fcs m's ?
i donno why they supply boards with this sort of crap these days.
the board shape could be spot on but they just kill it. these fins are anchors !

At the moment ive got Future AM2's, they are apparently good, i don't know much about fins though.

Select to expand quote

James191 said...

dmitri said...
james, just out of curiosity, what fins do you use ? are they cheap plastic fcs m's ?
i donno why they supply boards with this sort of crap these days.
the board shape could be spot on but they just kill it. these fins are anchors !

At the moment ive got Future AM2's, they are apparently good, i don't know much about fins though.

Worry about fins later, just keep trying to get across the wave. That your main focus!

^^^
+1... at your stage, fins will not make that much difference. More practice will.

Where do you do most of your surfing James? If you are surfing Perth beaches it can be hard for even an experienced surfer to get any decent sort of ride (especially at this time of year). It may be worth trying to hitch a ride to some decent quality waves to give you half a chance.

Went for a surf today, the advice helped alot! i just need to keep my weight centred and not dig in my rail.

Also, i surf in victoria

Select to expand quote

James191 said...
Went for a surf today, the advice helped alot! i just need to keep my weight centred and not dig in my rail.

Also, i surf in victoria

Good one! Glad you noticed some improvement...