balancing and sitting on board

[BostonSurfer]

I'm just starting to surf. I have tried long boards, funboards and shortboards. obviously, the longoards are the easiest to balance on to paddle and sit, but the funboards and more so the shortboards are pretty difficult. Any suggestions as to where to position yourself in order to paddle fastest and also where on the board should I try to sit when waiting for the waves? I can't seem to quite get it and find myself embarrassing myself by falling off the board.

[garbarrage]

when paddling the nose should be about an inch out of the water...

as for sitting...like all of surfing it just takes practice... when you get it down though i think its just wherever you feel comfortable. i tend to sit near the middle on rougher days as the board is a little more stable there... still fall off every so often... usually right after i've had a "good" wave and am feeling cocky and nearly always when people are watching

[BostonSurfer]

thanks, but how should I position myself on my board so I am getting enough momentum to catch a wave while paddling? I feel like I am not going fast enough to catch these waves... maybe b/c they are small?

[the.ronin]

^ more likely because you are not arching your back enough. You can keep your board pretty close to level by moving up on the board and arching your back very far. I think this is the hardest thing to learn on a shortboard since your body is not used to arching back so far.

Once you've got it down though, you'll be able to catch waves most novice longboarders can't - I kid you not.

As for the sitting thing ... give it time and before you know it, you'll be leashing out in the lineup, kicking back with a foot (or both) resting on your board, doing the recliner thing with the three skegs sticking out from behind you, etc.

[BostonSurfer]

As for the sitting thing ... give it time and before you know it, you'll be leashing out in the lineup, kicking back with a foot (or both) resting on your board, doing the recliner thing with the three skegs sticking out from behind you, etc.

not sure what all that exactly means, but I'll take your word for it since I'm new to this all. Love it though!!!

[sebastiansurfer]

lol i had that problem with my new shortboard!
who am i kidding
i still fall off the darn thing
the key is to make it look like you did it on purpose!
and dont care what the board looks like
_mines about half a foot underwater all over
dont aim for the nose outta the water lean forward
aim for whats comfortable

[BostonSurfer]

hahaha... yeah, I'll get over the embarrassment. I really don't care about that part of it... more or less just want to be better at sitting on it. Thanks though

[the.ronin]

the key is to make it look like you did it on purpose!

Hahaha you mean like the periodic fin check?? Looks like they're still there - check!

[oldgrom]

HA HA dont worry If you ditched off as much as me you'd look like your tryin to surf it upside down LOL.

Just get out as much as pos and you will find your sweet spot for sittin and there will be dif spots per the water conditions nothing can beat actual time in the water. As for paddle thing try geting past the break and paddle around for some time changing your position and when you get that sweet lay that has the board skimin on the water with the nose just a couple inces out mark (fingernail scratch) a spot in yer wax or rub some wax where your face or chin is and latter get some kind of sticker and put it there then you will allways have a reference spot.

[sebastiansurfer]

the key is to make it look like you did it on purpose!

Hahaha you mean like the periodic fin check?? Looks like they're still there - check!

yes
my particular stratagy is to just stay upside down for as long as possible and then make it look like you were trying to hold your breath!

[scsurfer481]

just sit so the tail is like a inch out and the nose is under then once you get it you will be able to do a lot more things sitting. like putting your feet on the nose when you are waiting. i play around during lulls trying to ballance in awkward spots, just so if i ever end up like that i know what to do