I've noticed that a lot of smaller sized boards don't have a bottom handle. For those who ride a board without a bottom handle, how do you control the board entering and exiting through shorebreak? I could see a prone board without a bottom handle being fine since you have two hands to control the board and don't have a fragile wing to deal with, but based on my experience, I'd say a bottom handle is essential on my wing board. Even if the board is narrow enough to get my arm around, I like the security of the handle, and I like being able to lift the board up higher with the handle to clear whitewash.

Would others agree? Why aren't brands including them on all sizes? Am I missing something?

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Velocicraptor said..
I've noticed that a lot of smaller sized boards don't have a bottom handle. For those who ride a board without a bottom handle, how do you control the board entering and exiting through shorebreak? I could see a prone board without a bottom handle being fine since you have two hands to control the board and don't have a fragile wing to deal with, but based on my experience, I'd say a bottom handle is essential on my wing board. Even if the board is narrow enough to get my arm around, I like the security of the handle, and I like being able to lift the board up higher with the handle to clear whitewash.

Would others agree? Why aren't brands including them on all sizes? Am I missing something?

I don't use handle on my customs boards. personnaly when I walk at the start in the water I push with 1 hand the foil/board from the stab. After when it's deeper I have the hand flat on the board in the front of the mast. If a wave is coming I turn quicky at the last moment the board and I push it against this wave. I don't see really any problem with that. My mast is pretty short. (72) it helps also. When conditions are really big I find another way to go in the water. From a seawall for example.

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Sonsaleta said..

Velocicraptor said..
I've noticed that a lot of smaller sized boards don't have a bottom handle. For those who ride a board without a bottom handle, how do you control the board entering and exiting through shorebreak? I could see a prone board without a bottom handle being fine since you have two hands to control the board and don't have a fragile wing to deal with, but based on my experience, I'd say a bottom handle is essential on my wing board. Even if the board is narrow enough to get my arm around, I like the security of the handle, and I like being able to lift the board up higher with the handle to clear whitewash.

Would others agree? Why aren't brands including them on all sizes? Am I missing something?

I don't use handle on my customs boards. personnaly when I walk at the start in the water I push with 1 hand the foil/board from the stab. After when it's deeper I have the hand flat on the board in the front of the mast. If a wave is coming I turn quicky at the last moment the board and I push it against this wave. I don't see really any problem with that. My mast is pretty short. (72) it helps also. When conditions are really big I find another way to go in the water. From a seawall for example.

In bigger shorebreak I never have the board upside down. Its a recipe for equipment damage or injury. If its not deep enough to have the foil down, I always hold it to the side with the board perpendicular to the break. Maybe my entry access is just sketchier.

My board is 22" wide. No problem reaching the rail & holding like a surfboard. No need for a handle at all.

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Velocicraptor said..

Sonsaleta said..

Velocicraptor said..
I've noticed that a lot of smaller sized boards don't have a bottom handle. For those who ride a board without a bottom handle, how do you control the board entering and exiting through shorebreak? I could see a prone board without a bottom handle being fine since you have two hands to control the board and don't have a fragile wing to deal with, but based on my experience, I'd say a bottom handle is essential on my wing board. Even if the board is narrow enough to get my arm around, I like the security of the handle, and I like being able to lift the board up higher with the handle to clear whitewash.

Would others agree? Why aren't brands including them on all sizes? Am I missing something?

I don't use handle on my customs boards. personnaly when I walk at the start in the water I push with 1 hand the foil/board from the stab. After when it's deeper I have the hand flat on the board in the front of the mast. If a wave is coming I turn quicky at the last moment the board and I push it against this wave. I don't see really any problem with that. My mast is pretty short. (72) it helps also. When conditions are really big I find another way to go in the water. From a seawall for example.

In bigger shorebreak I never have the board upside down. Its a recipe for equipment damage or injury. If its not deep enough to have the foil down, I always hold it to the side with the board perpendicular to the break. Maybe my entry access is just sketchier.

Maybe your spots are more tricky. That's possible. also like PBfoiler my board I use for wave is 21 1/2 wide. So no problem to catch the rail also.