I have just started surfing, and bought a second hand 9' mini-mal which will hopefully survive the abuse.

The biggest problem I am having is getting it out through the surf at Scarborough. If I try to duck dive, I seem to surface a fair way backwards. Today I tried holding the board by the leash and swimming through the waves, which worked ok, but the leash damaged the tail of the board.

Suggestions would be appreciated!!!

Hi,
You can't duck dive a board that big. You can either turtle roll or use another technique where you do a kind of hand stand holding the front rails, push the nose of your board under water and lift the majority of your body above the breaking wave... it works. Hope that helps.

first of all there are no waves at scarborough and second get a shortboard.

Hey rvt - I'm looking at having a go myself on the same sort of board. I'm thinkin that a 9' will help me learn a little quicker. How do you find it?

killertips - nice tip man.. living up to your name eh?

samo76 - nice friendly and most of all helpful fella you seem to be... if you know so much - where would be a good place to go for learner kooks so they don't cramp you l33t, mad skils?

There is no surf in Perth but you can duck dive a 9' mini mal.
1 : Stand on the roof of your car holding the board out in front of you.
2 : Jump.
3 : When you hit the ground duck.
4 : You've landed on the road and there's a big truck comin' at ya.

mate, you gotta b one big mofo to duck dive a 9ft mal. it can be done by i have only seen it done by the pro mal riders on some occasions. the only way to do it is to eskimo roll as the wave is just in front of you then reroll it and get back on and paddle once the wave has gone. its the only way.....if you cant work it out, go to Surfing WA at Trigg Beach up the road from Scarbs, get a lesson adn ask them to teach you how to eskimo roll or roll under waves....
good luck buddy

Ok, I ride a Mal in perth cause it aint much fun on a short board or booga and i cant wind/kite surf.

pretty much ... you cant duckdive a mal unless your huge!

but because perth aint very big best thing to do (i think this has been said before but hey) do a push-up on your board so the white wash goes between your chest and the board ... you still get thrown back a bit but its better than always being off your board.

if your surfing south or north where there is some good swell ... you probly wont have much fun on a mal because of that reason .. they're too hard to work with. But if u do get stuck infront of a biggen ditch your board towards the shore and dive down as far as you can (and hold the sand/reef if you can) then surface, grab your board and paddle like **** so u dont get smacked by the next one!

hope all that massive rant helped!

peace
Big Red

Thanks all for the advice. After a morning of particularly frequent hammerings while trying to get out, I have relented.
Am now the proud owner of a new 7'4" Southpoint Timpone Kalama.
At 2 7/8" thick, is is surprisingly easy to paddle, but my 85kg has no trouble ducking it under.
Next challenge: surviving the drop when the swell rears up on the banks....
Cheers.

cam_perth
Hey rvt - I'm looking at having a go myself on the same sort of board. I'm thinkin that a 9' will help me learn a little quicker. How do you find it?

The mal was good early on, for catching the whitewash and learning to stand up. The new 7'4" is a compromise between easy paddling and getting out the back. When I'm confident at catching waves, the mal might make a comeback on the reefs at Cotts etc.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

Life is too short to ride long boards. Especially at Scabs, you will end up taking someone out doing what your doing. I appreciate the fact that you have to learn but maybe you should consider going somewhere less populated and a little more forgiving. Look up the Esky roll, it's a better way than trying to duck dive a mini mal or swim out with your board trailing behind damaging it, possibly yourself and anyone around.

quote:

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Originally posted by Ya Yo

Life is too short to ride long boards. Especially at Scabs, you will end up taking someone out doing what your doing. I appreciate the fact that you have to learn but maybe you should consider going somewhere less populated and a little more forgiving. Look up the Esky roll, it's a better way than trying to duck dive a mini mal or swim out with your board trailing behind damaging it, possibly yourself and anyone around.

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[}:)] +1 . 9' is the biggest minimal I ever heard of but best of luck bro

Largest ive ever duck dived was a 8 footer and got nailed. changed straight bach to the shortie

go short boards

eat heaps of bacon

i heard fob rides a 12 ft mal and he weights bout 160, he would know so listen to him

yeah but i still rip at chopes

quote:

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Originally posted by fob

yeah but i still rip at chopes

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Haha Im sure you do Hippo