What do you call it and does it work?

[waterdog62]

Being a newbie I don't know all the techniques and names of everything yet so I need some help. I was told that one way to catch a wave was when sitting on your board you can turn lean back to sink the board and as it pops back up catch the wave. What's the low down on this move.
Aloha

[uglystick]

basically its a way to catch a way without paddling at short notice. If a sharp wave pops up out of know where you can do this to help catch the wave. The water basically pops you out in the direction you want to go (practice makes perfect)

Sometimes i use it to catch a wave and still manage a few short quick strokes.

[Kabazz]

If your a 'newbie' it's probably just best to stick with paddling to catch your waves. I've never seen this done before....

[billie_morini]

Kabazz, I do it all the time. You should try it.

Waterdog, If it has a name, I have never heard it.

[uglystick]

it comes from sitting back on the board, pulling the nose up out of the water, spinning around whist still sitting on the board and lunging forward back into the lying down position as the swell is about to pass you.

[brummie]

it comes from sitting back on the board, pulling the nose up out of the water, spinning around whist still sitting on the board and lunging forward back into the lying down position as the swell is about to pass you.

thats a bang on explanation, its just another way of catching a wave at a moments notice

[Otter]

No paddle take off? They're the best! Your board naturally wants to swim, and when you hold it under water, it's just got to get loose! It bobs to the surface. The skilled surfer will use the momentum generated from the bobbing motion and pitch himself/herself and the board into the wave. I've taken to calling them "Chicken Joes" after the character who won the Big Z contest in the cartoon mockumentary "Surfs Up!"

Any size board will work.

[waterdog62]

Chicken Joe!Great name, I'll go with it! Thanks for all the replies, it sounds like it may be an advanced move but also something fun for us beginners to try and learn. One thing that I am finding as a newbie is that even though somethings are a little more advance than other, sometimes they are just natural to that person.

[garbarrage]

helps if you really know your board... i've never seen anyone do what you are describing but i've caught a few waves on my minimal by just leaning a bit too far forward on the board. then just as the wave is about to pitch me arch the back like a mother. never attempted it in anything bigger than a chest high wave because you only have a fraction of a second between feeling the wave and succeeding. get it wrong and.... i'm sure you can figure it out.

[waterdog62]

Looks like we may have some waves for the weekend here in So. Fl. I'm going to give it a try Sat. Morn. and hopefully Sun. afternoon. Will let you know if I get a chance to try it.