I believe putting your head down, as opposed to having an arched back, changes your center of gravity to a point further forward. Putting this extra weight forward and consequently shifting your center of gravity (CoG) / pivot point forward helps to keep you and the board ahead of the wave as the push comes. The surfboard has its own center of buoyancy (CoB). When paddling your CoG is near the board's CoB. When the wave comes it's crucial to shift your CoG foward to in front of the board's CoB. This helps create the downward angle of the board to stay in front/catch the wave and give you acceleration.
Check out the video I did on the Kelly Slater/Bede Durbidge paddle battle at the Quik Pro Gold Coast. There I break down the reasoning for arching your back (or head up) in paddling. The head down concept is used when you are behind the wave and you are trying hard to catch up to it. Correct, when you are late on your take off, then the problem is that you do not have enough speed but are in front of the wave as opposed to behind, so arching your back and getting on a rail is your strategy.
Mate, you have a great way of explaining things simply. This is the first of your videos I've watched, but I'm tipping I'll be watching a few more. Cheers.
Thanks for the kind words and feedback. I greatly appreciate it. Glad the videos are easy to understand. Sometimes I "nerd out" pretty hard on the science behind things. Enjoy the other videos and check out the website for more free training. Cheers.
Thanks for the comment. You are correct in that the double arm technique would disturb momentum and flow. That is why you don't see anyone paddling that way from the get go. However, in this case, Nat has pretty much built up his speed by the time he has started using double arms and his use of the double arms did not affect his momentum. The key is that they were very light paddles - just to keep his speed going until he was ready to get up. It wasn't used to catch the wave. Just supplemental.
Rob, I hear you on the head down concept, but I've heard "Arch your back!" so many times as well. So which is it? I'm guessing "Arch your back" has more to do with late take offs, right?
You really put a lot of time and effort into this video. I have been surfing most of my life and never had the chance to see videos like this when I was a kid. I just learned the hard way! Awesome video! Happy surfing Marty Ware (Australian Micro Farmer)
+martysgarden I hear you - we all learned the hard way, I was just lucky to have been born into a competitive swimming family. I greatly appreciate the feedback. Be sure to check out more of my videos and even the training at surfingpaddling.com. Cheers!
Great comment. I agree. Positioning and angle have everything to do with catching a wave before you actually paddle for it. In the extreme example, if you are paddling toward a wave, no matter how hard you kick and paddle, you'll never catch the wave. Positioning and angle come first. Then apply the techniques in the video.
excellent tips. I'm a surfer and I loved everything you said in this video and also the video of Kelly and bede. and I know from my own experience that these tips really work.
Heh Rob, I'm just getting back into surfing after a fairly long break from it, and I found this video excellent. These are all top notch points and I'm real glad I came across your channel. Thanks v much for making this. More power
So glad to hear! I strive to provide high quality information on my channel and even more in the Surfing Paddling Academy Online course. Keep working on a few of the tips and go get more waves! Thank you for the comment. Cheers.
Thanks for the kind words. I'm super glad it helped. Hope you get a chance to check out the Online course as well as the in-person Stroke Analysis at surfingpaddling.com. Cheers!
This is sweet knowledge brother! I feel like I owe you money haha. As a beginner in shortboard I would always paddle into a wave with arched back and head up and rarely ever kick. I'm going out today I will attempt these new found techniques. Also I would like to know proper positioning on the board when catching a wave. I am 5' 7 and ride a 5' 10. Thanks man!!
Thanks for the comment Steve. Go out and try and let us know how it goes. For your positioning, I cover it in some free training I provide at surfingpaddling.com. Check it out when you get a chance.
Your videos are amazing sir, I'm finding them very helpful and they are also giving me that confidence to drop to a smaller board. Thank you so much. Alvin from England.
awesome , thanks , I'm allrready checking you're site, really cool , I finall manage to move closer to the ocean , looking forward to get into some training , thanks a lot
Really good tips mate. You are right on point. I'd suggest you could take about each of these concepts in about 1/3rd of the time to make it more concise.
Thank you! As of late I'm only able to properly surf when it's firing and above 3 ft, whenever it's inconsistent I have the feeling I'm behind the wave, having trouble passing sections etc, and it all starts with the late drop... The ironic thing is I even competed as a swimmer, but a friend told me, when I was learning, that I should paddle shallow, so my elbows are raised most of the time... When I was super fit, it didn't really matter, but now it does. Let's see what digging deep does :)
Wow. I always feel a bit kooky when I kick like mad, like I'm too desperate. No more. What you say totally makes sense. It will keep me from corking out for sure.
Studies by Queensland University and by top swimming experts have also confirmed the benefit of kicking (like mad). It increases propulsion between 6 and 27% depending on your form. If you want to learn more, check out surfingpaddling.com for free videos on more technique. Thanks for the comment.
I'm a relatively experienced surfer, but have been living away from the ocean for 4-5 years, and nowadays I get to surf on my holidays, like 5-20 surfing days a year. Lately I'd grown frustrated with my shortboard, since I got it made when I was surfing whenever there were waves and was very fit. I was always taking off late, feeling I needed more paddling power, went for a thicker board. Now after watching your vids, I noticed I've been doing some paddling errors over 10+ years of surfing...
Yup saw that one first. Then this one. Great work. Could you expand on the "arching your back and getting on a rail is your strategy"? I understand the concept of corking - pushing the nose down and then taking off late, but I always get thrown over when I try this. Thanks!
Very usefull video, thanks for posting ! The technic is quite similar to take off on a plywood paipo or a surfmat, to balance the lack of flotation or stiffness you hold the board like a kickboard, arms extended, and make your body and the board as flat as possible. Also works for bodysurfing.
Thanks B.M.M for the comment. Super interesting correlation for a paipo and surfmat. Haven't tried that yet, but I bodysurf a lot. Can't wait to try a paipo or surfmat.
Hey, huge video!! Thanks a lot! At Ombe surf channel, they say the key to catch a wave is to arch your back in order for the wave to push the board forward, but what you say makes more sense to me. Can you make this clear for me please?? THANK YOU!!
Clayton is right and this is right. It all depends on when you move from displacement to planing - from being submerged in the water to riding on top of the water. With Nat here, he was catching it early, and had to stay with it on his belly so that he didn’t stall himself out. Had he been sitting inside, where he ultimately got to his feet, he would have been able to use the Oreo biscuit technique Clayton teaches. It’s all about which stage the wave is in and where the surfer is in relation to that stage. Hope that helps!
That's fantastic. These techniques aren't just for surfboards so I'm glad you're trying them out for a bodyboard. The principles are quite similar. Cheers!
Great video, thnx. What is interesting to see is when Nat almost has paddled himself into the wave he is using both arms at the same time (butterfly technique?) Isn't that just disturbing the momentum since it shifts so much weight back and forth? or is it actually beneficial for getting into the wave (speed pumping)? Cheers!
Good stuff! With a swimming background/triathlon, all makes sense getting the lower body/board out of the water and planing early. Concern would be wearing the legs out before surfing the wave and pissing off others around you if its crowded.
+William Baer Great question. Nat uses the double arm once he's at a speed at which the single arm would actually slow him down - planing speed. Once you're at a speed at which you can actually stand, you still may not want to get up yet. That's what Nat is doing in this video. He's essentially caught the wave and could stand up, but the waves in that section would hold back, so he waited to pass over that deep section to get to the steeper section before popping up and riding. The double arm pull is a much more powerful stroke because you are moving more water than with a single arm (watch prone paddleboarders). BUT, it comes at a cost. The cost is the extreme deceleration from the resistance of the water. You no longer have any propulsive force working, and because water is so dense, it immediately acts to slow you down (action, reaction). Since he is at a planing speed, it does not affect his ability to continue to get in a better position to catch the wave. But try a double arm pull from a complete stand still in the water. You'll get a huge acceleration, then an almost immediate deceleration. This will be more pronounced on a low volume shortboard than on any longboard. But that's essentially what's happening. Hope that helps. The fundamentals video I have on surfingpaddling.com goes into this concept and provides some visuals for you. Just sign up for the free training. It's the first video after signing up. Let me know if you have any other questions. Cheers!
I get confused as to where I should be looking while paddling into a wave. Sometimes I see the pros looking down the line from the start all the way through the paddle in and eventually the pop up. Other times I see them looking straight forward like Nat in this example, and the only fixing their gaze down the line right before pop up. Can someone please explain this??
A great question. At the end of the day it doesn’t matter as much as the direction the surfboard is going. If turning your head also turns the board, the perpendicular momentum transfer to the surfer is diminished and the surfer will require more gravity or paddling to get into the wave. In the Nat example, his attention was still on catching the wave because it hit a deep spot while developing thereby delaying the wave standing up any further. A key lesson I tell clients when catching waves is to make sure they are completing steps in order, not letting the mind jump too far ahead. One may choose to compute multiple steps at once only when they are more advanced. But they don’t have to if they don’t want to. Sorry I couldn’t give you a definite answer. Scientifically speaking there hasn’t been an experiment testing anything like this. The closest scientific explanation leads us to the direction the board’s momentum is moving.
@@RobCaseXSWIM Wow thanks for such a quick detailed response! That makes total sense. I am a lower intermediate (surfing 2 years but have really kicked it up a notch over the winter) that is blessed enough to be able to surf multiple times a week and I’m finally getting to the point where I can paddle into, and take off on steeper waves (at least steep for me) while also being able to keep my vision down the line during the process. Ironically … paddling into and taking off on a wave while keeping my vision down the line was something that felt impossible for a long time, but now it’s the opposite. It’s something I can’t not do at this point. I’ve just recently gone from a 8ft catch surf log to a 6 ft log. Now I feel like I need to start kicking and am wondering if I’m losing power by keeping my vision down the line rather than putting my head down and just going for it Mason Ho style… Anyway, thanks again. You are an absolute legend!
Hi,Great videos, just found them.Would you encourage a gentle flutter kick whilst paddling out/around?Im guessing yes for all the same reasons as you've stated in the video?Also to what extent should the chest be raised when paddling?Thanks very much
Hi Dave. Great questions. Yes, a two beat rhythmic kick would be okay, but not too much as kicking, even though studies have shown it produces higher velocity, expends more energy than necessary when just paddling around the lineup or paddling out. Focus on conservation of energy when paddling around. For the chest, there is another video on my channel regarding the Biggest Paddling Fallacy that addresses that aspect. Check it out when you get a chance. If you are looking for even more detail, check out my online course at SurfingPaddling.com or come visit me for a stroke analysis session. Cheers!
hi Rob, thank you for the great video. As I was reading your feedback below, you mentioned Nat was paddling "lightly." Does that mean we should paddle "lightly" all the time to keep the momentum and move our body and board forward as you mentioned in your video about freestyle swimming strokes paddling?? Can you explain what do you mean by"lightly"? Very often I tried to paddle "hard" (digging into water and push hard back with water) and hoping to get into a wave, and I thought that's the way to do it!
Hi Mei Mei. The comment you reference was in response to a question asked by Carlo Kuip. Carlo asked about the double arm paddle Nat uses once he is up to speed. The "light" paddle was referencing those supplemental paddle strokes Nat uses. You are correct in understanding that you should paddle hard to get your initial movement going to catch the wave. What you'll notice is that once Nat was up to planing speed (i.e.a speed at which he could actually pop up), he waited to pop up and gave a few extra "light" strokes to stay with the wave as it developed more underneath him. He paddled very hard to get his movement going. Thanks for the question - feel free to ask more. Cheers.
Rob, this was a really great video. Thanks for posting! I am an experienced surfer but have picked up some bad habits that are impacting my surfing. One is when I paddle I tend to move by body from side to side and moving my chest instead of paddling straight. This has stopped me from catching more waves than I could be. Do you have any tips for this? I look forward to your feedback!
How do you ride bigger waves, like the regular ones that you have to either turn on, or if you go straight you nose dive, on a longboard (Wavestorm)? Beaches like Strands and Salt Creek, opposed to Doheney, which i am used to?
+Jessica Cole Great question. I'm working on a positioning and timing video series that will go into greater detail, but I'll see if I can help a little in this comment box. The issue has to do with how quickly the wave stands up, changing the curvature of the wave face, and how fast you can pop up and set your line (and the line that you end up setting). Obviously, the faster the wave rears up, the faster the wave curvature changes, and therefore, the more you need to set a line that goes diagonal down that face rather than straight forward. Paddling efficiently and effectively play a major role in your positioning and your timing. But you have to always remember that paddling just sets you up in the right place to catch the wave. Gravity is what really causes you to catch a wave, whether it's steep or mushy. Not seeing what is happening to you when catching a wave makes it difficult to diagnose what is going on, so in general, try working on the following: 1. paddle further out on steeper waves so that you can get up to planing speed (speed at which you can stand) sooner. 2. Angle the board slightly in the direction you'd like to set your line. 3. Once up, stay in the low crouch position to set your fins and rail into the wave face. Give that a try and let me know how it goes. And feel free to ask a surf coach - I focus mostly on paddling technique. A great coach that I know of is Dan Mori at Fulcrum Surf.
Hi there, Next sunday april 13, will be my first time surfing. I gonna try it at Panama, Panama Rep. I saw this video helpfully, but I am beginner. I friend gave me his surf board, it is a short-board manta, almost biggest, three wings. I don't know what exactly I have to do to not hurt me or break the table. I thinks I can get up on the table, but not shire how to stop it. Could you give me any advise?
Hi Sebastian. Your life is about to change with surfing. So I'll give you the advice that the surf shop owner gave me when I bought my first board - you are going to get frustrated. That is learning. Go with it. For your first time out, focus on just catching the whitewater on your stomach. Don't worry about anything else. Become an expert at catching the whitewash only. There are some other great videos online for beginning surfing so check those out. Best of luck and have a fantastic time.
Rob, I feel like when I kick a lot, sometimes even a little it takes my axis off center and whatever the kicking adds I lose in too much extra unintended movement. Ever hear of people with the same problem? I'm 6-2, 165lb, so I tend to focus on my long arms and paddling to generate the bulk of my speed.
pschwanke Great comment and yes, some people have mentioned this as well. Somewhere in one of my videos I answered this issue, but let me give you a shortcut to what I had mentioned. If kicking throws off your lateral balance (i.e. rail to rail balance), then don't kick. The reason is that one of the fundamental techniques in paddling more efficiently and faster is to first be balanced horizontally and laterally. Even if you are the strongest person in the world, if you aren't balanced and are adding resistive drag on each stroke, then it's not helping you. Imagine paddling with a parachute attached to your feet holding you back (exaggerated example of course). The kicking is one of those added refinements you can add once all of the fundamentals are in place. The greatest increase in speed and efficiency is in reducing resistive drag, not by adding propulsion. First reduce resistance, then add propulsion. You can check out the training I put online at www.surfingpaddling.com to learn more. In the meantime, stop the kicking. Work on being balanced first. Then slowly add the kick to give you that extra boost (for both horizontal balance and propulsion). Hope this helps. Let me know if you'd like me to explain it a different way.
+Rob Case (XSWIM) Was wondering about that slight lateral rail to rail shift when I paddle really hard and no loss of balance I can feel. Sorta like a foil rather than staying dead flat plus the arm digs slightly deeper. Bit like a rail turn in a way and less board in the water. Only happens naturally when I dig in hard to catch a wave ... really commit. After 50+ years of surfing now not sure if this is just a bad habit and adding drag?
+Kevin Hall Nope, not adding drag as long as you are still on the board! The reply above referred to being off balanced (i.e. falling off the rails), which adds drag. If you can kick and paddle rail to rail with control, then that is exactly what you want to do to optimize propulsion and manage resistive drag. So no worries. Thanks for the comment.
Rob Case Ahhh right. Yeah I did mistake 'rail to rail balance' as keeping the board flat. Should've realised from the swimming example no-one stays perfectly flat. Thanks for reply, at my age any help is welcomed and at least it's got me thinking.
You know what else works. Expelling air from your lungs as you paddle for a wave. Along with keeping your head down and kicking if needed. Thanks for the videos...
do i like your videos there super detailed and i like how you go over everything i wish you would do one on duck diving i know how to do it but not very deep and on bigger surf it sucks cause i get worked ...
the thing is i dont know if i just need to practice it more or what. sometimes ill get it down sweet and other times ill get worked, especially if its bigger surf or its already white wash. ill get the nose down but the deeper the nose the harder it is to get the tail down even when i shift my weight back.... i watched the video and it was helpful
ernsto polanco Unless you are surfing huge surf, even in the whitewash you can use a regular duck dive. The key is timing, depth, and practice. Just know that you will not always get it perfect. Every wave is different and your positioning is always different. Though the more you do it, the more you will get used to the differences. Again, unless it is enormous surf, hold onto that board - it will help you back to the surface. And practice, just like you said. I still see pros come up looking like the duck dive did not work, so that should tell you a lot.
When the volume of the board increases, kicking is used more above water to create propulsion through board and body undulation. Taking a more extreme example, when paddling on a longboard, you can't kick in the water because your feet are out of the water if positioned correctly. However, one can kick above water by swinging the heel of the foot to the butt as a stroke is taken. Try it using both feet first without paddling and you'll notice you move forward. A 6'8" fish is an in between board. So it all depends on how much of your body is submerged when positioned correctly on the board. For me, a 6'8" wider fish would float me quite well, so I'd be using the kicking above water (like the scorpion kick I described above). Hope this helps.
wow. super informative. i just started but i naturally scoot forward on the board to catch a wave, figuring i can adjust back after standing. i think im trying to do the same thing with less knowledge. it seems weight forward is good for catching waves, weight back is good for letting the wave get under you. but this is great stuff. thx.
Right you are. Weight forward, better for catching waves, but scooting forward is not best way, simply drop your head and kick. Dropping the head while at the same time kicking will bring the back half of your board and body up higher, resulting in a more horizontal position in the water (and consequentially less drag). Thanks for the comment and best of luck!
Paddling errors can be fixed. Just don't lose your stoke for surfing! Keep it going on whatever board or craft that makes you happy. That's what is most important. Best of luck!
Now kicking on a longboard? Even if my feet are out of the water placed on the board? Yesterday I saw a few long boarders kicking with their feet out of the water. Bad form or good?
***** This is a common question. I cover a bit of it in the Learn to Paddle a Surfboard Part 4 video: th-cam.com/video/pNtIdUxpd9o/w-d-xo.html In summary, this "scorpion kick" does add velocity through undulation of the body on the board. Alternate legs to stay balanced, but as with the comment below, if any kicking throws off your balance, stop, get your balance set (so that it's unconsciously easy) and then add the kick. Let me know if you want more explanation. Cheers
do you have any videos on going up and down the wave bro? ive noticed most times when i catch a wave front side ill drop in parallel and ill drop in a bit than go back up and than i wont be able to drop back in and ill loose the wave or when i drop in for a bottom turn ill be unable to go up the face and thatll be the end and it only happens with slightly better surf like 4+ when its smaller like 1-3 i have less of a problem and im able to ride it fine
Hi Ernsto. Unfortunately, I do not have any videos on what you are describing as I focus on paddling and surfing fitness. I suggest you check out 110% surfing techniques (surftechniques.com) and Martin Dunn's info at surfcoach.com. I have studied both of these and they are both good instructional sites.
+Pedro Ribeiro Hi Pedro. Thanks for contacting me. That's a common problem. Scientifically speaking, the only time to bring the head up is right before you slide up to your feet. Otherwise, keep your head down, eyes forward so that you can get that board more horizontal and reduce any resistive drag. It also helps preserve energy - imagine keeping your head up while paddling for 2 hours. That would be pretty tiring. So when just paddling around casually, keep your head in a more neutral position so that you can look around, but not so high that you are straining your neck and upper back muscles. When catching the wave, drop your chin to the deck of the board while keeping your eyes focused either down the line or on the contour of the wave for the drop. Check out the free training that goes into these details more at surfingpaddling.com. Thanks for the comment!
Thank you dude, now im living far from the ocean so i spend like only 10 days surfing, so i need to have a good tecnic to catch the most waves i can. apreciate it dude.
The reason they say head up also is to look where you are going. A big part of controlling the board is looking in the direction you want to go. But it does make sense to put your head down in the context of this video.
Absolutely. Head up to look around, that's why a neutral head height is preferred to paddling around. When catch a wave, head down, eyes forward or looking down the line. And each scenario is slightly different depending on what board you're riding and the behavior of the wave. The adjustment of the head is only 1 technique a surfer can use to adjust Horizontal Balance. There are 3 others that do the same thing. The combination of all 4 is what is important and provides the surfer with the tools to adjust to the variety of conditions we all face. Great comment!
So glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for the kind feedback. If you liked this, you'd love the Surfing Paddling Academy Online course, which goes into a lot more detail into Surfing Paddling Technique. Check it out at www.surfingpaddling.com. In the meantime, try out some of the techniques, and go get some more waves!
Kicking definitely helped me a lot on getting waves...i had like 10% success rates on catching waves...now when i kick like a mad man like swimming i get about 80% definitely helpful
The reason why kicking helps is because it raises the angle of the board, raises your chest, besides also the forward momentum. Chin up, head up, try it you'll be amazed at the waves you can get into
Great comment. You're right that it helps raise the angle of the board so that it is in line with the contour of the wave. It reduces that form drag. Fantastic stuff. Thanks.
If you’re paddling hard for a wave and your in the right position and it’s a powerful wave and then when you get to your feet you get sucked up into the lip instead of going down it when you put your foot down does this happen because you need more paddling speed? Why is it?
Great question and one that I cover in my Level 2 course. There could be several reasons including sprint paddling technique, timing of the sprint, angle of the wave's contour/incline plane at the point at which the pop up takes place, where your feet land on the board and the pressure placed on it, etc. In terms of sprint paddling technique some common problems when catching waves are pushing down instead of backward - pushing down sends us up, and this includes being sucked up the wave face faster instead of pushing backward and down the wave face. Over-reaching is another common issue. This leads to a longer stroke cycle and the inability to get enough propulsive strokes in the amount of time necessary to catch the wave. Pop up issues are also common when I see this. Timing of the pop up, how the surfer lands on the board and foot placement are all common issues. I know this answer is a bit vague but without seeing what is going on, there's not much I can do to narrow down the specific issue.
Been surfing for 2 years now and it's been pissing me off for the last 6 months. I miss so many waves per session, the waves always pass me by no matter how hard I paddle or if I do catch it its already breaking and I'm right up top of it. Which is frustrating because if I do manage to catch a good wave I can surf it pretty well. Thanks so much for this advice, been searching for this specific part of surfing for ages with no results until now.
Comments like these are exactly why I do this. Thank you very much. I am in production on a new video that will introduce a free paddling webinar I will be conducting next month. Hopefully you and others can join in on the webinar to ask questions and discuss. Keep your eye out for the intro video coming soon.
when I'm kicking hard when catching the wave my nose goes up and down. is this normal? is my technique wrong if so do you have a video covering proper technique for kicking?
+Eilam Biran (Scalar) Thanks for asking this question. Short answer is no, this is not normal. There must be something else going on in terms of your paddling balance on the board. I cover kicking in the Surfing Paddling Academy online course at www.surfingpaddling.com. You can take the free training which goes through all 8 sections I teach in the full class. That should help with balancing you out. Get the balance worked out and then add the kick later. The kicking section is one of the last techniques I teach because you have to have all of the other pieces in place before kicking, so work on those other areas first and ignore kicking for the time being. The full online class that is offered during the free training provides drills and more in depth videos on the techniques, but I'd say start with the free stuff and see if that helps first. Feel free to contact me with any questions along the way. Cheers.
Thank you for the comments and for asking. Are you on a shortboard, longboard, or somewhere in between? In the meantime, watch my other video on Kelly Slater's paddling technique - "Learn to Paddle like World Champion Kelly Slater" and the side-by-side paddling analysis video "Kelly Slater Taylor Clark Paddling Analysis" to get some tips on proper technique and common mistakes. Let me know whether you surf mostly on a shortboard or longboard and I will get back to you with some suggestions.
This clip is great however there is a couple of other VERY relevant points to add. Firstly in terms of positioning I relation to the wave Nat was just in the right spot to catch that wave. For example he was a foot or two inside Josh towards the beach. Josh could see this and chose NOT to go. Nat would have also seen this but there was a slight chance he could catch the wave so he committed, head down and kicking. *attack the take off Secondly (very important) is Nats paddling angle to the wave
The surfer must be in line with the pushing energy of the wave.For example we all know that waves don't just travel straight to the beach. The wave might be on a slight angle. You can see Nat adjust his paddling angle slightly to point himself inline with the direct power of the wave. The Key points are- *Positioning *Angle *Attack the take off. If just Positioning & Angle are applied correctly the surfer doesn't even need to paddle.That's why really good surfers seem to just glide in.
These videos are great. Rob, I´ve trying to find your e-mail to send you a message, but I've not been able. I teach at a Physical Education Institue and I was wondering if I could use this video on my slides
+Jesús Cámara Wow, thank you for the kind words. Really, the best compliment is having someone pass on my information in any way, so please do. Spread the aloha. Check out the free series at surfingpaddling.com also. That goes through all of the techniques I teach in the Surfing Paddling Academy Online course. If you ever need to get a hold of me, feel free to email me: rob@surfingpaddling.com. Cheers
What an essential piece of information, which is cropped out on practically every surf video!! Thanks a lot
Thanks so much! Glad it was helpful.
I believe putting your head down, as opposed to having an arched back, changes your center of gravity to a point further forward. Putting this extra weight forward and consequently shifting your center of gravity (CoG) / pivot point forward helps to keep you and the board ahead of the wave as the push comes. The surfboard has its own center of buoyancy (CoB). When paddling your CoG is near the board's CoB. When the wave comes it's crucial to shift your CoG foward to in front of the board's CoB. This helps create the downward angle of the board to stay in front/catch the wave and give you acceleration.
Great way of explaining the concept. Much more elegant than my stick figures! Thanks for the comment.
great video, is not easy ti find someone with good knowledge both in surfing & swimming.
Check out the video I did on the Kelly Slater/Bede Durbidge paddle battle at the Quik Pro Gold Coast. There I break down the reasoning for arching your back (or head up) in paddling. The head down concept is used when you are behind the wave and you are trying hard to catch up to it. Correct, when you are late on your take off, then the problem is that you do not have enough speed but are in front of the wave as opposed to behind, so arching your back and getting on a rail is your strategy.
Mate, you have a great way of explaining things simply. This is the first of your videos I've watched, but I'm tipping I'll be watching a few more. Cheers.
Thanks for the kind words and feedback. I greatly appreciate it. Glad the videos are easy to understand. Sometimes I "nerd out" pretty hard on the science behind things. Enjoy the other videos and check out the website for more free training. Cheers.
Incredibly helpful video. This has improved my surfing drastically. Thank you for this explanation.
Thanks so much for the feedback. I’m stoked it has helped!
Thanks for the comment. You are correct in that the double arm technique would disturb momentum and flow. That is why you don't see anyone paddling that way from the get go. However, in this case, Nat has pretty much built up his speed by the time he has started using double arms and his use of the double arms did not affect his momentum. The key is that they were very light paddles - just to keep his speed going until he was ready to get up. It wasn't used to catch the wave. Just supplemental.
very well structured lessons and information. great teaching, analysis and technique. thanks helping us have more wave...and fun
You are super welcome Markus. So glad it's helping out. Let me know if you have any questions along the way.
Rob, I hear you on the head down concept, but I've heard "Arch your back!" so many times as well. So which is it? I'm guessing "Arch your back" has more to do with late take offs, right?
You really put a lot of time and effort into this video. I have been surfing most of my life and never had the chance to see videos like this when I was a kid. I just learned the hard way!
Awesome video!
Happy surfing
Marty Ware (Australian Micro Farmer)
+martysgarden I hear you - we all learned the hard way, I was just lucky to have been born into a competitive swimming family. I greatly appreciate the feedback. Be sure to check out more of my videos and even the training at surfingpaddling.com. Cheers!
Great comment. I agree. Positioning and angle have everything to do with catching a wave before you actually paddle for it. In the extreme example, if you are paddling toward a wave, no matter how hard you kick and paddle, you'll never catch the wave. Positioning and angle come first. Then apply the techniques in the video.
excellent tips. I'm a surfer and I loved everything you said in this video and also the video of Kelly and bede. and I know from my own experience that these tips really work.
This video is very well made, and the information invaluable. Thanks for posting brodda!
I recently just dropped down to a short'r board
Both your videos helped and few weeks later I'm catching more waves
Thanks
Hi Jack. Thanks for the feedback. Great to hear. That's what it's all about. Keep it up and check out more at surfingpaddling.com. Cheers.
Heh Rob, I'm just getting back into surfing after a fairly long break from it, and I found this video excellent. These are all top notch points and I'm real glad I came across your channel. Thanks v much for making this. More power
So glad to hear! I strive to provide high quality information on my channel and even more in the Surfing Paddling Academy Online course. Keep working on a few of the tips and go get more waves! Thank you for the comment. Cheers.
this one among other videos on youtube, really help me a lot, as a beginer this one tip , really help me to get some progression , cheers
Thanks for the kind words. I'm super glad it helped. Hope you get a chance to check out the Online course as well as the in-person Stroke Analysis at surfingpaddling.com. Cheers!
This is sweet knowledge brother! I feel like I owe you money haha. As a beginner in shortboard I would always paddle into a wave with arched back and head up and rarely ever kick. I'm going out today I will attempt these new found techniques. Also I would like to know proper positioning on the board when catching a wave. I am 5' 7 and ride a 5' 10. Thanks man!!
Thanks for the comment Steve. Go out and try and let us know how it goes. For your positioning, I cover it in some free training I provide at surfingpaddling.com. Check it out when you get a chance.
Your videos are amazing sir, I'm finding them very helpful and they are also giving me that confidence to drop to a smaller board. Thank you so much.
Alvin from England.
Cheers! Thanks for the kind words. Super happy the tips are helping out. Any time.
awesome , thanks , I'm allrready checking you're site, really cool , I finall manage to move closer to the ocean , looking forward to get into some training , thanks a lot
Cheers to that! Glad you're getting some value from it!
Thank you for this vid.
Really good tips mate. You are right on point. I'd suggest you could take about each of these concepts in about 1/3rd of the time to make it more concise.
Thank you! As of late I'm only able to properly surf when it's firing and above 3 ft, whenever it's inconsistent I have the feeling I'm behind the wave, having trouble passing sections etc, and it all starts with the late drop... The ironic thing is I even competed as a swimmer, but a friend told me, when I was learning, that I should paddle shallow, so my elbows are raised most of the time... When I was super fit, it didn't really matter, but now it does. Let's see what digging deep does :)
great videos Rob, I end up coming back to them periodically, and I can paddle circles around my friends and dad haha, thanks!
That is awesome! Don't show your Dad! LOL. Really glad they are helping out. Thanks for the comment.
Thank you Rob for the very informative videos...keep up the great work.
Cheers. Thanks for the feedback. Will do my best.
Wow. I always feel a bit kooky when I kick like mad, like I'm too desperate. No more. What you say totally makes sense. It will keep me from corking out for sure.
Studies by Queensland University and by top swimming experts have also confirmed the benefit of kicking (like mad). It increases propulsion between 6 and 27% depending on your form. If you want to learn more, check out surfingpaddling.com for free videos on more technique. Thanks for the comment.
Thanks Rob. Very cool.
Totally agree Rob. Thanks for the clips! very good!
I'm a relatively experienced surfer, but have been living away from the ocean for 4-5 years, and nowadays I get to surf on my holidays, like 5-20 surfing days a year. Lately I'd grown frustrated with my shortboard, since I got it made when I was surfing whenever there were waves and was very fit. I was always taking off late, feeling I needed more paddling power, went for a thicker board. Now after watching your vids, I noticed I've been doing some paddling errors over 10+ years of surfing...
Thank you. Great analysis.
Thanks for the feedback! Much appreciated
Yup saw that one first. Then this one. Great work. Could you expand on the "arching your back and getting on a rail is your strategy"? I understand the concept of corking - pushing the nose down and then taking off late, but I always get thrown over when I try this. Thanks!
Very usefull video, thanks for posting ! The technic is quite similar to take off on a plywood paipo or a surfmat, to balance the lack of flotation or stiffness you hold the board like a kickboard, arms extended, and make your body and the board as flat as possible. Also works for bodysurfing.
Thanks B.M.M for the comment. Super interesting correlation for a paipo and surfmat. Haven't tried that yet, but I bodysurf a lot. Can't wait to try a paipo or surfmat.
Try the surf mat if you can, it is super fun. Check out my videos, I have a few surf mat videos, still a beginer but the take off technic is ok.
Thanks. Yeah, I get rolling and I can't stop sometimes. I'm working on keeping it simple. It never feels as long as it turns out!
Hey, huge video!! Thanks a lot! At Ombe surf channel, they say the key to catch a wave is to arch your back in order for the wave to push the board forward, but what you say makes more sense to me. Can you make this clear for me please?? THANK YOU!!
Clayton is right and this is right. It all depends on when you move from displacement to planing - from being submerged in the water to riding on top of the water. With Nat here, he was catching it early, and had to stay with it on his belly so that he didn’t stall himself out. Had he been sitting inside, where he ultimately got to his feet, he would have been able to use the Oreo biscuit technique Clayton teaches. It’s all about which stage the wave is in and where the surfer is in relation to that stage. Hope that helps!
@@RobCaseXSWIM Great, thanks!! Clearer now!
Nice, man! Will help me on bodyboarding!! tks from Brazil
That's fantastic. These techniques aren't just for surfboards so I'm glad you're trying them out for a bodyboard. The principles are quite similar. Cheers!
Nice video! Congrats, Rob.
+Cadu Coelho Many thanks! Greatly appreciated
Very nice explanation! Thanks from 🇧🇷
Appreciate the comment! Glad it helped!
This helped me so much. Thanks .
So glad it has helped! If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. Cheers!
The worst is when you get a cramp in your calf and your about to pop up from kicking!
Yup that just sucks it happeneds
these video are great I've been looking for something like this for a long time
Cade Haakenson Really glad you're enjoying them. Feel free to share with anyone you think it could help. Cheers
As always great stuff, thank you Rob... but now i wonder what Nat did on that wave to get that 8.5.
The best tips i've seen so far, really helpful. Thanks :P and keep up the great content.
Great video mate, nice to get a bit of a different perspective.
Great video, thnx. What is interesting to see is when Nat almost has paddled himself into the wave he is using both arms at the same time (butterfly technique?) Isn't that just disturbing the momentum since it shifts so much weight back and forth? or is it actually beneficial for getting into the wave (speed pumping)? Cheers!
Good stuff! With a swimming background/triathlon, all makes sense getting the lower body/board out of the water and planing early. Concern would be wearing the legs out before surfing the wave and pissing off others around you if its crowded.
triathlonSDhsp Thanks for the comment! Hopefully we can be respectful enough to use our powers of catching more waves for good. Live like Duke. Cheers
Thanks for the comment. I'll try and keep it relevant.
Great Vids. Can you talk more about how in this video Nat also uses the double stroke and glide in technique. Are these beneficial, how, why?
+William Baer Great question. Nat uses the double arm once he's at a speed at which the single arm would actually slow him down - planing speed. Once you're at a speed at which you can actually stand, you still may not want to get up yet. That's what Nat is doing in this video. He's essentially caught the wave and could stand up, but the waves in that section would hold back, so he waited to pass over that deep section to get to the steeper section before popping up and riding. The double arm pull is a much more powerful stroke because you are moving more water than with a single arm (watch prone paddleboarders). BUT, it comes at a cost. The cost is the extreme deceleration from the resistance of the water. You no longer have any propulsive force working, and because water is so dense, it immediately acts to slow you down (action, reaction). Since he is at a planing speed, it does not affect his ability to continue to get in a better position to catch the wave. But try a double arm pull from a complete stand still in the water. You'll get a huge acceleration, then an almost immediate deceleration. This will be more pronounced on a low volume shortboard than on any longboard. But that's essentially what's happening. Hope that helps. The fundamentals video I have on surfingpaddling.com goes into this concept and provides some visuals for you. Just sign up for the free training. It's the first video after signing up. Let me know if you have any other questions. Cheers!
I get confused as to where I should be looking while paddling into a wave. Sometimes I see the pros looking down the line from the start all the way through the paddle in and eventually the pop up. Other times I see them looking straight forward like Nat in this example, and the only fixing their gaze down the line right before pop up. Can someone please explain this??
A great question. At the end of the day it doesn’t matter as much as the direction the surfboard is going. If turning your head also turns the board, the perpendicular momentum transfer to the surfer is diminished and the surfer will require more gravity or paddling to get into the wave. In the Nat example, his attention was still on catching the wave because it hit a deep spot while developing thereby delaying the wave standing up any further. A key lesson I tell clients when catching waves is to make sure they are completing steps in order, not letting the mind jump too far ahead. One may choose to compute multiple steps at once only when they are more advanced. But they don’t have to if they don’t want to. Sorry I couldn’t give you a definite answer. Scientifically speaking there hasn’t been an experiment testing anything like this. The closest scientific explanation leads us to the direction the board’s momentum is moving.
@@RobCaseXSWIM Wow thanks for such a quick detailed response! That makes total sense. I am a lower intermediate (surfing 2 years but have really kicked it up a notch over the winter) that is blessed enough to be able to surf multiple times a week and I’m finally getting to the point where I can paddle into, and take off on steeper waves (at least steep for me) while also being able to keep my vision down the line during the process. Ironically … paddling into and taking off on a wave while keeping my vision down the line was something that felt impossible for a long time, but now it’s the opposite. It’s something I can’t not do at this point. I’ve just recently gone from a 8ft catch surf log to a 6 ft log. Now I feel like I need to start kicking and am wondering if I’m losing power by keeping my vision down the line rather than putting my head down and just going for it Mason Ho style… Anyway, thanks again. You are an absolute legend!
insightful analysis. Great video
Awesome video.
You're the man!
Never even knew kicking did that! Thank you brother
Thanks for the feedback. Greatly appreciate it!
Great to hear. If there is anything else I can help with feel free to contact me.
Hi,Great videos, just found them.Would you encourage a gentle flutter kick whilst paddling out/around?Im guessing yes for all the same reasons as you've stated in the video?Also to what extent should the chest be raised when paddling?Thanks very much
Hi Dave. Great questions. Yes, a two beat rhythmic kick would be okay, but not too much as kicking, even though studies have shown it produces higher velocity, expends more energy than necessary when just paddling around the lineup or paddling out. Focus on conservation of energy when paddling around. For the chest, there is another video on my channel regarding the Biggest Paddling Fallacy that addresses that aspect. Check it out when you get a chance. If you are looking for even more detail, check out my online course at SurfingPaddling.com or come visit me for a stroke analysis session. Cheers!
Simples tips can to improve a lot your surfing, thank you a lot dud!
Daniel Zapata Gomez Thanks for the comment and feedback. Absolutely agree - simple changes are always better! Cheers...
Cheers, thank for the comment.
Great video. Thanks a lot and keep on doing so educational.................
Amazing Video and great advice. This is something I needed to hear.
Ken Costanza Thanks for the comment! I really appreciate the feedback and am glad you're getting some value from it. Cheers
hi Rob, thank you for the great video. As I was reading your feedback below, you mentioned Nat was paddling "lightly." Does that mean we should paddle "lightly" all the time to keep the momentum and move our body and board forward as you mentioned in your video about freestyle swimming strokes paddling?? Can you explain what do you mean by"lightly"? Very often I tried to paddle "hard" (digging into water and push hard back with water) and hoping to get into a wave, and I thought that's the way to do it!
Hi Mei Mei. The comment you reference was in response to a question asked by Carlo Kuip. Carlo asked about the double arm paddle Nat uses once he is up to speed. The "light" paddle was referencing those supplemental paddle strokes Nat uses. You are correct in understanding that you should paddle hard to get your initial movement going to catch the wave. What you'll notice is that once Nat was up to planing speed (i.e.a speed at which he could actually pop up), he waited to pop up and gave a few extra "light" strokes to stay with the wave as it developed more underneath him. He paddled very hard to get his movement going. Thanks for the question - feel free to ask more. Cheers.
Rob, this was a really great video. Thanks for posting! I am an experienced surfer but have picked up some bad habits that are impacting my surfing. One is when I paddle I tend to move by body from side to side and moving my chest instead of paddling straight. This has stopped me from catching more waves than I could be. Do you have any tips for this? I look forward to your feedback!
How do you ride bigger waves, like the regular ones that you have to either turn on, or if you go straight you nose dive, on a longboard (Wavestorm)? Beaches like Strands and Salt Creek, opposed to Doheney, which i am used to?
+Jessica Cole Great question. I'm working on a positioning and timing video series that will go into greater detail, but I'll see if I can help a little in this comment box. The issue has to do with how quickly the wave stands up, changing the curvature of the wave face, and how fast you can pop up and set your line (and the line that you end up setting). Obviously, the faster the wave rears up, the faster the wave curvature changes, and therefore, the more you need to set a line that goes diagonal down that face rather than straight forward. Paddling efficiently and effectively play a major role in your positioning and your timing. But you have to always remember that paddling just sets you up in the right place to catch the wave. Gravity is what really causes you to catch a wave, whether it's steep or mushy. Not seeing what is happening to you when catching a wave makes it difficult to diagnose what is going on, so in general, try working on the following: 1. paddle further out on steeper waves so that you can get up to planing speed (speed at which you can stand) sooner. 2. Angle the board slightly in the direction you'd like to set your line. 3. Once up, stay in the low crouch position to set your fins and rail into the wave face.
Give that a try and let me know how it goes. And feel free to ask a surf coach - I focus mostly on paddling technique. A great coach that I know of is Dan Mori at Fulcrum Surf.
Show us how it is really done. Bob Cooper's one paddle. He taught me at Stanley's once.
Or wingnuts’s no-paddle takeoff?
@@RobCaseXSWIM No, Blue Machine Bob Cooper. When both wingnuts were grommies.
Hi there, Next sunday april 13, will be my first time surfing. I gonna try it at Panama, Panama Rep. I saw this video helpfully, but I am beginner. I friend gave me his surf board, it is a short-board manta, almost biggest, three wings. I don't know what exactly I have to do to not hurt me or break the table. I thinks I can get up on the table, but not shire how to stop it. Could you give me any advise?
Hi Sebastian. Your life is about to change with surfing. So I'll give you the advice that the surf shop owner gave me when I bought my first board - you are going to get frustrated. That is learning. Go with it. For your first time out, focus on just catching the whitewater on your stomach. Don't worry about anything else. Become an expert at catching the whitewash only. There are some other great videos online for beginning surfing so check those out. Best of luck and have a fantastic time.
thanks a lot. I get frustrated actually, but I am not give down. Best of luck to.
Thanks for the comment. I'll do my best to keep the content relevant. Great to hear from you.
Rob, I feel like when I kick a lot, sometimes even a little it takes my axis off center and whatever the kicking adds I lose in too much extra unintended movement. Ever hear of people with the same problem? I'm 6-2, 165lb, so I tend to focus on my long arms and paddling to generate the bulk of my speed.
pschwanke Great comment and yes, some people have mentioned this as well. Somewhere in one of my videos I answered this issue, but let me give you a shortcut to what I had mentioned. If kicking throws off your lateral balance (i.e. rail to rail balance), then don't kick. The reason is that one of the fundamental techniques in paddling more efficiently and faster is to first be balanced horizontally and laterally. Even if you are the strongest person in the world, if you aren't balanced and are adding resistive drag on each stroke, then it's not helping you. Imagine paddling with a parachute attached to your feet holding you back (exaggerated example of course). The kicking is one of those added refinements you can add once all of the fundamentals are in place. The greatest increase in speed and efficiency is in reducing resistive drag, not by adding propulsion. First reduce resistance, then add propulsion. You can check out the training I put online at www.surfingpaddling.com to learn more. In the meantime, stop the kicking. Work on being balanced first. Then slowly add the kick to give you that extra boost (for both horizontal balance and propulsion). Hope this helps. Let me know if you'd like me to explain it a different way.
+Rob Case (XSWIM) Was wondering about that slight lateral rail to rail shift when I paddle really hard and no loss of balance I can feel. Sorta like a foil rather than staying dead flat plus the arm digs slightly deeper. Bit like a rail turn in a way and less board in the water. Only happens naturally when I dig in hard to catch a wave ... really commit. After 50+ years of surfing now not sure if this is just a bad habit and adding drag?
+Kevin Hall Nope, not adding drag as long as you are still on the board! The reply above referred to being off balanced (i.e. falling off the rails), which adds drag. If you can kick and paddle rail to rail with control, then that is exactly what you want to do to optimize propulsion and manage resistive drag. So no worries. Thanks for the comment.
Rob Case Ahhh right. Yeah I did mistake 'rail to rail balance' as keeping the board flat. Should've realised from the swimming example no-one stays perfectly flat. Thanks for reply, at my age any help is welcomed and at least it's got me thinking.
You know what else works. Expelling air from your lungs as you paddle for a wave.
Along with keeping your head down and kicking if needed. Thanks for the videos...
do i like your videos there super detailed and i like how you go over everything i wish you would do one on duck diving i know how to do it but not very deep and on bigger surf it sucks cause i get worked ...
Check out the video on paddling out at a beach break part 2, top 3 duck diving tips on my channel. Thanks for the comment.
the thing is i dont know if i just need to practice it more or what. sometimes ill get it down sweet and other times ill get worked, especially if its bigger surf or its already white wash. ill get the nose down but the deeper the nose the harder it is to get the tail down even when i shift my weight back.... i watched the video and it was helpful
ernsto polanco Unless you are surfing huge surf, even in the whitewash you can use a regular duck dive. The key is timing, depth, and practice. Just know that you will not always get it perfect. Every wave is different and your positioning is always different. Though the more you do it, the more you will get used to the differences. Again, unless it is enormous surf, hold onto that board - it will help you back to the surface. And practice, just like you said. I still see pros come up looking like the duck dive did not work, so that should tell you a lot.
thanks a lot bro !
So if it wasn't a shortboard, more specifically a 6'8 fish board, would kicking help, do nothing or actually harm one's swimming to catch waves?
When the volume of the board increases, kicking is used more above water to create propulsion through board and body undulation. Taking a more extreme example, when paddling on a longboard, you can't kick in the water because your feet are out of the water if positioned correctly. However, one can kick above water by swinging the heel of the foot to the butt as a stroke is taken. Try it using both feet first without paddling and you'll notice you move forward. A 6'8" fish is an in between board. So it all depends on how much of your body is submerged when positioned correctly on the board. For me, a 6'8" wider fish would float me quite well, so I'd be using the kicking above water (like the scorpion kick I described above). Hope this helps.
Rob Case
Thanks! It definitely helps
wow. super informative. i just started but i naturally scoot forward on the board to catch a wave, figuring i can adjust back after standing. i think im trying to do the same thing with less knowledge. it seems weight forward is good for catching waves, weight back is good for letting the wave get under you. but this is great stuff. thx.
Right you are. Weight forward, better for catching waves, but scooting forward is not best way, simply drop your head and kick. Dropping the head while at the same time kicking will bring the back half of your board and body up higher, resulting in a more horizontal position in the water (and consequentially less drag). Thanks for the comment and best of luck!
Paddling errors can be fixed. Just don't lose your stoke for surfing! Keep it going on whatever board or craft that makes you happy. That's what is most important. Best of luck!
Excelente!!!!
Muchas gracias!!!!
Stoked you enjoyed! Thanks!
Now kicking on a longboard? Even if my feet are out of the water placed on the board? Yesterday I saw a few long boarders kicking with their feet out of the water. Bad form or good?
***** This is a common question. I cover a bit of it in the Learn to Paddle a Surfboard Part 4 video: th-cam.com/video/pNtIdUxpd9o/w-d-xo.html
In summary, this "scorpion kick" does add velocity through undulation of the body on the board. Alternate legs to stay balanced, but as with the comment below, if any kicking throws off your balance, stop, get your balance set (so that it's unconsciously easy) and then add the kick. Let me know if you want more explanation. Cheers
Thank you
Excellent! Thank's. It's helped me a lot.
Great to hear! Thanks for the feedback.
Thanks
do you have any videos on going up and down the wave bro? ive noticed most times when i catch a wave front side ill drop in parallel and ill drop in a bit than go back up and than i wont be able to drop back in and ill loose the wave or when i drop in for a bottom turn ill be unable to go up the face and thatll be the end and it only happens with slightly better surf like 4+ when its smaller like 1-3 i have less of a problem and im able to ride it fine
Hi Ernsto. Unfortunately, I do not have any videos on what you are describing as I focus on paddling and surfing fitness. I suggest you check out 110% surfing techniques (surftechniques.com) and Martin Dunn's info at surfcoach.com. I have studied both of these and they are both good instructional sites.
in other videos some say to keep the head up, im realy confuse now.
+Pedro Ribeiro Hi Pedro. Thanks for contacting me. That's a common problem. Scientifically speaking, the only time to bring the head up is right before you slide up to your feet. Otherwise, keep your head down, eyes forward so that you can get that board more horizontal and reduce any resistive drag. It also helps preserve energy - imagine keeping your head up while paddling for 2 hours. That would be pretty tiring. So when just paddling around casually, keep your head in a more neutral position so that you can look around, but not so high that you are straining your neck and upper back muscles. When catching the wave, drop your chin to the deck of the board while keeping your eyes focused either down the line or on the contour of the wave for the drop.
Check out the free training that goes into these details more at surfingpaddling.com. Thanks for the comment!
Thank you dude, now im living far from the ocean so i spend like only 10 days surfing, so i need to have a good tecnic to catch the most waves i can.
apreciate it dude.
Heads down to accelerate.. Heads up to avoid nose dive.. So its depends on ur position on the wave.
The reason they say head up also is to look where you are going. A big part of controlling the board is looking in the direction you want to go. But it does make sense to put your head down in the context of this video.
Absolutely. Head up to look around, that's why a neutral head height is preferred to paddling around. When catch a wave, head down, eyes forward or looking down the line. And each scenario is slightly different depending on what board you're riding and the behavior of the wave. The adjustment of the head is only 1 technique a surfer can use to adjust Horizontal Balance. There are 3 others that do the same thing. The combination of all 4 is what is important and provides the surfer with the tools to adjust to the variety of conditions we all face. Great comment!
Using a competitive stroke helps to catch and hold waves and always stay palm positive when paddling
thank you! this is gold!
So glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for the kind feedback. If you liked this, you'd love the Surfing Paddling Academy Online course, which goes into a lot more detail into Surfing Paddling Technique. Check it out at www.surfingpaddling.com. In the meantime, try out some of the techniques, and go get some more waves!
Kicking definitely helped me a lot on getting waves...i had like 10% success rates on catching waves...now when i kick like a mad man like swimming i get about 80% definitely helpful
+Alexander Burias That is great to hear! Pass it on to help someone else when you get a chance and go grab some waves. Cheers.
The reason why kicking helps is because it raises the angle of the board, raises your chest, besides also the forward momentum. Chin up, head up, try it you'll be amazed at the waves you can get into
Great comment. You're right that it helps raise the angle of the board so that it is in line with the contour of the wave. It reduces that form drag. Fantastic stuff. Thanks.
Thanks man! greeting from iquique, Chile.
You are very welcome. Thanks for the comment. Chile had a good showing in the World Cup. I was rooting for them.
Cheers, Rob
If you’re paddling hard for a wave and your in the right position and it’s a powerful wave and then when you get to your feet you get sucked up into the lip instead of going down it when you put your foot down does this happen because you need more paddling speed? Why is it?
Great question and one that I cover in my Level 2 course. There could be several reasons including sprint paddling technique, timing of the sprint, angle of the wave's contour/incline plane at the point at which the pop up takes place, where your feet land on the board and the pressure placed on it, etc. In terms of sprint paddling technique some common problems when catching waves are pushing down instead of backward - pushing down sends us up, and this includes being sucked up the wave face faster instead of pushing backward and down the wave face. Over-reaching is another common issue. This leads to a longer stroke cycle and the inability to get enough propulsive strokes in the amount of time necessary to catch the wave. Pop up issues are also common when I see this. Timing of the pop up, how the surfer lands on the board and foot placement are all common issues. I know this answer is a bit vague but without seeing what is going on, there's not much I can do to narrow down the specific issue.
Been surfing for 2 years now and it's been pissing me off for the last 6 months. I miss so many waves per session, the waves always pass me by no matter how hard I paddle or if I do catch it its already breaking and I'm right up top of it. Which is frustrating because if I do manage to catch a good wave I can surf it pretty well. Thanks so much for this advice, been searching for this specific part of surfing for ages with no results until now.
Comments like these are exactly why I do this. Thank you very much. I am in production on a new video that will introduce a free paddling webinar I will be conducting next month. Hopefully you and others can join in on the webinar to ask questions and discuss. Keep your eye out for the intro video coming soon.
when I'm kicking hard when catching the wave my nose goes up and down. is this normal? is my technique wrong if so do you have a video covering proper technique for kicking?
+Eilam Biran (Scalar) Thanks for asking this question. Short answer is no, this is not normal. There must be something else going on in terms of your paddling balance on the board. I cover kicking in the Surfing Paddling Academy online course at www.surfingpaddling.com. You can take the free training which goes through all 8 sections I teach in the full class. That should help with balancing you out. Get the balance worked out and then add the kick later. The kicking section is one of the last techniques I teach because you have to have all of the other pieces in place before kicking, so work on those other areas first and ignore kicking for the time being. The full online class that is offered during the free training provides drills and more in depth videos on the techniques, but I'd say start with the free stuff and see if that helps first. Feel free to contact me with any questions along the way. Cheers.
Great stuff! Thanks!
awesome video mate, really helped!!!! see u in the water :)
Great to hear. Thank you for the comment.
I knew I was doing something right! Now to avoid that blumin' snow-plough!
I'm presently surfing uluwatu Bali. Great video and the last statement really sums up catching waves!thanks for the motivation !!!COMMIT!!!!!!
Is this the same nat young in the endless summer 2?
Good question. It’s not. This Nat Young is out of Santa Cruz, CA. The Nat Young from Endless Summer is from Australia.
Spiegazione tecnica e precisa complimenti
Grazie per il commento!
very useful , thanks
You're welcome. Very glad it helps.
Thank you for the comments and for asking. Are you on a shortboard, longboard, or somewhere in between? In the meantime, watch my other video on Kelly Slater's paddling technique - "Learn to Paddle like World Champion Kelly Slater" and the side-by-side paddling analysis video "Kelly Slater Taylor Clark Paddling Analysis" to get some tips on proper technique and common mistakes. Let me know whether you surf mostly on a shortboard or longboard and I will get back to you with some suggestions.
This clip is great however there is a couple of other VERY relevant points to add.
Firstly in terms of positioning I relation to the wave Nat was just in the right spot to catch that wave. For example he was a foot or two inside Josh towards the beach. Josh could see this and chose NOT to go. Nat would have also seen this but there was a slight chance he could catch the wave so he committed, head down and kicking. *attack the take off Secondly (very important) is Nats paddling angle to the wave
Really interesting information, very helpful, thank you! kiwi nz ..
Cheers, thanks for the comment.
The surfer must be in line with the pushing energy of the wave.For example we all know that waves don't just travel straight to the beach. The wave might be on a slight angle. You can see Nat adjust his paddling angle slightly to point himself inline with the direct power of the wave. The Key points are- *Positioning *Angle *Attack the take off. If just Positioning & Angle are applied correctly the surfer doesn't even need to paddle.That's why really good surfers seem to just glide in.
These videos are great. Rob, I´ve trying to find your e-mail to send you a message, but I've not been able. I teach at a Physical Education Institue and I was wondering if I could use this video on my slides
+Jesús Cámara Wow, thank you for the kind words. Really, the best compliment is having someone pass on my information in any way, so please do. Spread the aloha. Check out the free series at surfingpaddling.com also. That goes through all of the techniques I teach in the Surfing Paddling Academy Online course. If you ever need to get a hold of me, feel free to email me: rob@surfingpaddling.com. Cheers
thx a lot for the insight
Glad to help out!
that was crazy paddling by Nat Young
fantastic, excellent explanation
dope stuff, thanks man
real nice stuff
Thanks for the comment and the feedback!
i didnt know that ,very interesting thanks man
Glad it helped. Thanks for the comment. Happy Holidays!
Too good, thank you.
excellent, thanks
La remas hasta en dulce de leche, clave amigo.
You paddle even in dulce de leche, dope bro.
Ndeah
good stuff brotha