how to avoid pearling when trying to catch steep waves

[Big_T]

I usually start paddling a lot sooner and try to get the speed well ahead of the waves so as the waves start to pick you up, pop up right away instead of waiting till you are at the peak and then pop up. Hope that makes sense..

[waikikisurfer]

I'm getting over this hump too. All of these tips are good, but I think one thing that's missing is the psychological aspect.
In bigger waves, the tricky thing is that as the wave wells up underneath you, you get the sensation that you're riding your board off a cliff. You're looking over the nose and see nothing in front, and you think if you keep going you'll drop off into nothing and dive head first into the bottom of the wave. And in fact, if you stay lying down on your board, this is in effect what happens. Your center of gravity is concentrated towards the front of the nose, so if you catch the wave and start to speed up, the nose is just going to dig deeper into the wave and over you go.
However, if you arch your back or stand up at that point, your center of gravity moves back, sinking the tail somewhat and leveling off the board. The wave is still carrying you and now you can ride it.
This sequence is what surfers actually strive for. Out here in Hawaii, the best guys know exactly where to line up, require only two or three strokes to get their board moving, and stand up just as the board is at the top of the wave. Then they "make their drop" down the face and make their turns. It's a great feeling when you do it right.

[Beachbum]

Yeah I think it's all in your head as well. If you aim your board in the direction of the breaking wave and just paddle with everything you got and think positive; you'll probably make it. Once I hesitate on a wave, I am flying over the falls.

[drowningbitbybit]

think positive; you'll probably make it.

Hmm, I think you need some practise at the whole thinking positive thing

[LOLRuss]

Lately I've noticed:

1) Be to the side of the breaking section.
2) Paddle at an angle away from the breaking section.

Keeps the nose out of the drink.

[garbarrage]

think positive; you'll probably make it.

Hmm, I think you need some practise at the whole thinking positive thing

well spotted... took me a minute lol.

think he has a point though... was out on a huge day (second time ever on a reef) last week and caught nothing... even the ones i nearly caught i felt the wave lift me and as i looked down a mile i couldn't help asking "do i really want this?"... no frickin way!! was way beyond my ability (actually probably just a bit but i was freaked!)

went out the next day at the same place and it was about half the size (little over head high). my favourite size and well used to it and still couldn't get on anything. wasn't committing or getting close enough to the peak. took about 2 hours to get a wave. my point being that it took all that time just to get my head right. reckon attitude is the most important thing out there!

workin on psyching myself up for the next time its that big determined to get on one of those babies!!

[johnniejr243]

yea being a lill further back on the board helps with bigger waves and waves that are about to crash

[Beachbum]

think positive; you'll probably make it.

Hmm, I think you need some practise at the whole thinking positive thing

Hahah I just seen the mistake I made. I have to be more commited in my posts!

[avillax]

I've tried arching my back and it's no longer working, so I guess I'm catching the waves to late. I know this because they're getting to steep and it's scary.

Are you sure that waves don't get that steep and scary if caught to far?, cuz it's scary yo.

Yesterday I went to Mission Beach, San Diego, CA. And the waves were weird this time, by weird I mean that they were getting to steep but crumbling instantaneously giving very little ride.
I must have pearled about 10 times!

But it seemed most people were having the same problems, although most were noobs like me.

But of course, there were many pros too, and they didn't have the pearling problem, so I guess it can be done. I don't know if my board also makes it really easy to pearl

The model is an "egg" I don't know if it's the same as a funboard, I'm thinking it's about 7 feet.
Here's a pic



It barely has a rocker, the board has been a blessing when the waves are small, but pearls to much when they get steep. I'm sure a pro wouldn't have a problem with any board anyway, but I've been doing this for 6 months so far.

I'm getting really good at standing up on this board, I do it quick and keep balance, but pearling is killing me. I wonder what my next surfboard should be, Would a "fish" be a good choice?, do they come with slightly greater rocker?.

Advice apreciated. Thanks.

[surf patrol]

By the way, just found this video online, it suggest surfing at an angle when the wave is to step, that is something I haven't tried. Gonna test it tomorrow!
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwkscxDFC1Q[/youtube]

[jaffa1949]

I've tried arching my back and it's no longer working, so I guess I'm catching the waves to late. I know this because they're getting to steep and it's scary.

Are you sure that waves don't get that steep and scary if caught to far?, cuz it's scary yo.

Yesterday I went to Mission Beach, San Diego, CA. And the waves were weird this time, by weird I mean that they were getting to steep but crumbling instantaneously giving very little ride.
I must have pearled about 10 times!

But it seemed most people were having the same problems, although most were noobs like me.

But of course, there were many pros too, and they didn't have the pearling problem, so I guess it can be done. I don't know if my board also makes it really easy to pearl

The model is an "egg" I don't know if it's the same as a funboard, I'm thinking it's about 7 feet.
Here's a pic



It barely has a rocker, the board has been a blessing when the waves are small, but pearls to much when they get steep. I'm sure a pro wouldn't have a problem with any board anyway, but I've been doing this for 6 months so far.

I'm getting really good at standing up on this board, I do it quick and keep balance, but pearling is killing me. I wonder what my next surfboard should be, Would a "fish" be a good choice?, do they come with slightly greater rocker?.

Advice apreciated. Thanks.

By the way, just found this video online, it suggest surfing at an angle when the wave is to step, that is something I haven't tried. Gonna test it tomorrow!
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwkscxDFC1Q[/youtube]

Have a bit more of a look around the site

Have bit more of a look around the site that video is pretty ordinary and IMO not a lot of help
Have a look at this thread
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=18814

[oldenglish]

Arching your back, getting in early, and angling all need to be used in unison to not pearl on steeper waves. A lot of people kind who pearl a lot used one or two but almost never a three at the same time. Stop looking and checking if your pearling as well, this will get you down the line easier and prevent you from hunching over when popping up and pearling. Just my two cents.

[Rickyroughneck]

One thing not mentioned is that if you spot the wave early, you want to avoid over-paddling into a steep wave so you don't make it any steeper. You do this in two ways:

1. Turn your board 90° and paddle horizontal to the wave to move away from the crest. Then, start paddling hard while turning back towards the beach.

2. Delay paddling until the last moment, and then paddle like crazy.


Pop up a little earlier for a steep wave, and pop into a turn. Swing the nose to point down the line before you get to the bottom of the wave, and you will cruise straight into a high line which you can hold for the whole wave if you want


edit > If you get a chance, also shimmy back a few inches on your board.

[avillax]

It is working!, just a matter of calculations and riding waves horizontally, cool!

[bigcherry]

Thanks for all the advice...My first times out I had very little trouble pearling and I am on a 11 foot Becker...but then again I was just starting out on very small whitewater and mushy waves at Mondos. Now I am trying to get out in the lineup and having trouble pearling or not catching the waves. I move forward on the board...pearl...moe back on the board...can't paddle fast enough to catch the waves. However, I thinjk it has more to do with practice and experience in knowing really how big each wave is and how I am positioned in relation to the wave before I start paddling. I think a lot of times I get tired, see a pretty big one coming, and say to myself "I can at least catch this one for sure" and go for it. What i SOULD be doing is paddling out a little further and trying to catch the waves earlier like others have said in this thread. I am also 99% sure I am ALWAYS LATE popping up due to bad habits of taking my time in the whitewater when I first started last Fall.

[pandarturo]

Also keep your head up when paddling. Pretty much lift your rib cage off the deck

[dtc]

Also keep your head up when paddling. Pretty much lift your rib cage off the deck

This doesnt work too well on an 11fter! (as in, its such a big board that lifting up your ribcage doesnt really do much in terms of pushing the tail into the water).

The thing about perling (indeed, catching waves in general) is that its solved by a combination of speed (paddling), timing (when to start paddlling - or maybe where to start paddling) and angle (to the wave). If you head straight for the beach paddling very fast, you may well still perl. If you angle too much, you wont catch the wave. If you start too early or too late, you either end up with the wave breaking on top of you (perling) or going under you.

Arching your back is good to correct errors - you can dig the tail in when you have caught the wave too late, for example (of course, better surfers will do this intentionally, because then you dont have to paddle as much because the wave will provide the speed)

So you need to keep in mind all three things and, if you perl, think 'which of those do I need to adjust'. Catching a wave as early as possible, esp on a big board as a beginner, is good - you do need to paddle harder and sometimes you will miss the wave, but you can often pop up before it gets really steep and its much easier.

And then there is the mental thing - appreciating that your board will in fact be pointing downhill and its meant to be and not panicking about it.

I always suggest the 'surf simply' videos - google them (its in the podcast link), there is one on perling that is excellent.

[bigcherry]

Thanks dtc.

I went out the next day after my last post and something just clicked! I caught more waves in one day (1-3 footers at C-Street) than in the combined first 8 months of surfing! I am so stoked now. By the end of the day, it was almost as if I knew I was going to catch a wave, pop up, and ride without any doubt and just did it. I don't exactly know what did it for me, but I think I rode like 10 or 15 good waves in two 90 minute sessions! Stoked! I am convinced it is at least 50% confidence and perserverence!

AND...did not pearl the whole day!

[Rickyroughneck]

Awesome! Keep it up.

[dtc]

I dont quite know what it is about perling - one day you are doing it frequently and then it clicks and you hardly ever do it again (you do sometimes, esp when you get tired or lazy, but you realise what you have done wrong and can fix it). So hopefully you now know how it feels when thing are going right - and can replicate all the time. Now you can move onto noseriding...