Anyone got any tips on how tonot snap boards. Snapped my last two when bailing cause six footers landing directly in front of me! Last board i broke i pushed my board side ways to try and disperse the pressure across the length of the board. Only bail when not wise to duck dive as have had some serious head knocks from surfboard when duck diving when solid and waves have broken to close.

Learn to duck dive better...seriously its a lost art....if your board is whacking you on th bonce when you duck dive try sliding one hand forward when you on the way down so you have better control and push through with your foot not your knee...the whole motion should be like a pendulum......do pushs ups on a fit ball....or get used to snapping boards....if the lips landing on them as you bail you would have enough time to duck dive them....

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Tux said...
Learn to duck dive better...seriously its a lost art....

+1
Safer for the surfer...the board...and everyone else in the line up.

Not that I surf any huge waves.. . but I've noticed that duck diving earlier than you think you need to is key.

I see a lot of guys starting their duck dive when the wave or white water is about to hit them... your not gonna be deep enough for it to pass over you starting so late.

have also read somewhere that pushing your board length ways away from you not broadside to wave is the better option if you have to bail

I bail nearly every broken 6ft+ wave I encounter and have never broken a board that way. If the wave is unbroken then you should always be able to get through even if it is about land on your noggin. I find big waves(6ft+)near impossible to duck dive if they've broken right in front you, you just get obliterated by their power, sometimes you fluke it most time you don't. Just make sure no one is behind you if bailing. Also some people's version of 6ft is completely different to other people's version!

when ducking through the big bombs I use my foot on the tail push down as deep as you can then as you are about to start rising stab your board out in front of you, keeping one hand further up the rail than the other so you can control the board as you rise through the back like an arrow ,I find there is less resistance that way also gives you slightly more time down under ,might be unorthodox but always works for me

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katana said...
when ducking through the big bombs I use my foot on the tail push down as deep as you can then as you are about to start rising stab your board out in front of you, keeping one hand further up the rail than the other so you can control the board as you rise through the back like an arrow ,I find there is less resistance that way also gives you slightly more time down under ,might be unorthodox but always works for me

Exactly bro...you should be way out to the front of the board with your back leg extended as far as it will go at the start of the duck dive to get the nose down as far as possible....then swing your leg through like your swinging your leg from back to front as far as it will go...at the end push the board as hard and fast as you can forward to bring your self up with moentum to keep paddling

My god those last two expalations have me completely dumb founded...(because i cant understand, not because your doing it wrong) Does anyone have a good video from side on to show. I will say that duck diving the new board is a breeze complared to my SP but i do use my knee and wonder how to engage my leg/foot better

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katana said..

when ducking through the big bombs I use my foot on the tail push down as deep as you can then as you are about to start rising stab your board out in front of you, keeping one hand further up the rail than the other so you can control the board as you rise through the back like an arrow ,I find there is less resistance that way also gives you slightly more time down under ,might be unorthodox but always works for me

+1

Timing is always good too...a lot of people see sets coming & go scrambling for the back when they're paddling back out, only to have the wave break right in front of them. It can often be a good idea to just chill, stop paddling & let the wave come to you after its dispersed some energy. You can even paddle towards where its already broken, like sideways instead of straight out. Depends on the break of course, but it works & can have the added bonus of keeping you out of the way of some lucky bloke who's hooked into the wave of the day

Go with the Katana method. He dives like a duck. Comes up with hair and makeup done its so easy for him.

Deano

So i just watched a bit more footage. So you mean to use your foot to push down, staighten your board out. Not to push it deeper under the water If so that makes more sense. I guess by using my knee im not getting the board flat enough and the tail gets hooked up, pulling me in

Or am i over thinking it..

Nothing quiet like the feel of a well executed duck dive. If your snapping boards you may need to just hang on to it no matter what. I find you are always better of hanging on to the board.

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jbshack said..

So i just watched a bit more footage. So you mean to use your foot to push down, staighten your board out. Not to push it deeper under the water If so that makes more sense. I guess by using my knee im not getting the board flat enough and the tail gets hooked up, pulling me in

Or am i over thinking it..

Yeah ,, what Katana said..
I was taught to use a foot for the big sets,,,, and as I have about 40ltrs of foam under me ,, anything over 2-3 ft requires a foot.. and some push ups!

That clip that got posted on here a while back of that dude paddling out into big waves in front of that rock wall and copped every wave on the head could seriously duck dive!

You mean this one....pretty standrard if your surfing alot of places in Vicco

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MickPC said..

Timing is always good too...a lot of people see sets coming & go scrambling for the back when they're paddling back out, only to have the wave break right in front of them. It can often be a good idea to just chill, stop paddling & let the wave come to you after its dispersed some energy. You can even paddle towards where its already broken, like sideways instead of straight out. Depends on the break of course, but it works & can have the added bonus of keeping you out of the way of some lucky bloke who's hooked into the wave of the day

This is very good advice. If you can avoid being in the impact zone just as its exploding you are much better off. Using your foot instead of knee is definitely the way to go when it gets bigger.

Nice vid that one Tux.....this is one of my favs - it would definitely have sorted out the men from the boys

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Ted the Kiwi said..

MickPC said..

Timing is always good too...a lot of people see sets coming & go scrambling for the back when they're paddling back out, only to have the wave break right in front of them. It can often be a good idea to just chill, stop paddling & let the wave come to you after its dispersed some energy. You can even paddle towards where its already broken, like sideways instead of straight out. Depends on the break of course, but it works & can have the added bonus of keeping you out of the way of some lucky bloke who's hooked into the wave of the day

This is very good advice. If you can avoid being in the impact zone just as its exploding you are much better off. Using your foot instead of knee is definitely the way to go when it gets bigger.

Nice vid that one Tux.....this is one of my favs - it would definitely have sorted out the men from the boys

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Ahhh the good old clean up set.
Nothing like that initial feeling of stomach in throat when you first catch a glimpse of a bomber out the back and know your fooked.

That's the one tux, classic!

katana... do you keep your elbows and knees locked straight throughout?

Thanks guys. I do know how to duck dive. Wave didn't break on my head was just out in front, say 2-3feet (normal feet not wave size feet) And was heavy. Have had some pretty heavy head knocks from the board being smashed back into my face when in similar situations and I decided to duck dive. To the point when you come up seeing stars. I suppose I just will have to toughen my head up!

Love that Ments clip Is that Bawa where Curren was surfing that wee fish in waves of a similar ilk?

Actually looking at the footage again maybe the cleanup set is a bit on the large side