Hello! After a few days of half decent waves here in Sydney I've decided to ask a question for the good SUPers out there. Hopefully you can help!

I'm really struggling holding a rail on bigger waves - they were in the range of 6 to 8 foot faces. They were bumpy (Whiterock and Long Reef Bombie) and glassy (Manly yesterday) so I can't blame it entirely on wave quality. I seem to take off ok, set up for a bottom turn, carve into the turn and lean a little on the paddle, then WIPEOUT!! Fins/rails have lost all grip and I end up sliding down the face or just falling off. It feels like a spin-out on a windsurfer...

I'm riding the 9'6" Naish with Simon Anderson quad fins - medium on the back large on the front. Should I go bigger fins in big waves or is it a problem with a fish not pintail? Or is it just technique? Do I need to get more of the rail engaged by leaning forward more?

Is this impossible to answer?! Any help gratefully received!

SUP's are big and wide. Try getting your back foot right over onto the rail.... On your back-hand, the heel should be close to the rail, and vice-versa, when forehand toes over near the rail.

I find you need to walk the boards, both forward and back, and side to side.

Also try and use your knees and hips, as shock absorbers, to resist being bounced by the chop.

A Fish is actually really a double pin, and Fish designs do hold well in decent surf (usually). When it is a little bigger, also try going back to the Centre Fin, and 2 side fins.

Oops, I should have read down the thread first. Ah well, at least we agree.

Crash, the only place the board really turns well with your foot over the centre line is right over the fin! If you are forward of the fin you need to get your foot closer to the rail.
Don't worry, after 3 years I still make this mistake!!

Here is a very good article on foot placement for performance surfing-

paddlesurfhawaii.com/cgi-sys/suspendedpage.cgi

AA, good article - thanks. I was moving around a lot more on the old 11'3" so I need to do the same with the 9'6".

Deisel, I agree with what you say, I had a go on a mates PSH 9'3" and and another mates 9'3" Mana (I think) and they both had large centre fins and the side fins. They felt a lot more drivey.

Can't do much with my fins other than go bigger on the back. Will try foot placements first. Will try to take the trip to Palmy on Sunday to pick up some tips!

Cheers

If you have futures, check out the Arakawa quads. Those look perfect for what you are looking for. If I had a quad, I would use these in bigger, more powerful surf! Good Luck!!

I am considering moving over to PU for surfing bigger waves on SUP. My prone Rhino Chargers are usually built with a solid construction with a nice amount of weight in them. This allows you to absorb the chop a little and commit more to your turns.

CMC said...

mikeman said...

I am considering moving over to PU for surfing bigger waves on SUP. My prone Rhino Chargers are usually built with a solid construction with a nice amount of weight in them. This allows you to absorb the chop a little and commit more to your turns.

After a little swell of late riding my lite EPS board and over 3 years prior to that riding PU I am convinced without question that PU boards for bigger waves are far superior.

Like Mike said they absorb the bumps and are able to sink the rail without the skip on bottom turns etc.

I third that a little weight in solid waves can be your friend. A narrower tail like a pin helps too. Saying that Ikiaka can rail a boxy 9 3 at pipe

Simondo said...

SUP's are big and wide. Try getting your back foot right over onto the rail.... On your back-hand, the heel should be close to the rail, and vice-versa, when forehand toes over near the rail.

I find you need to walk the boards, both forward and back, and side to side.

Also try and use your knees and hips, as shock absorbers, to resist being bounced by the chop.

A Fish is actually really a double pin, and Fish designs do hold well in decent surf (usually). When it is a little bigger, also try going back to the Centre Fin, and 2 side fins.

i agree. also, while you have that back foot closer to the inside rail, try placing the front foot closer to the outside rail, it gives you the controlling guide, also helps from falling off. top surf coaches talk about toe, heel and heel ,toe diagonals . because a sup is wider it becomes the whole foot at diagonals across the board. sounds hard, but when i was shown on a skateboard it all made sense
cheers

Interesting ideas - thanks! Will try them out, especially DTM's comment about being in front or over the fins. My back foot is usually right at the back of the stomp pad.

As for fins etc I will look for some stiffer ones - I thought the Simon Anderson ones were fiberglass but now I'm doubtful!

My 9'6" is the 08/09 model so comes with four FCS plugs. No centre fin and no way to move them.

Thanks for the help!

SimonDodd said...

mikeman said...

I am considering moving over to PU for surfing bigger waves on SUP. My prone Rhino Chargers are usually built with a solid construction with a nice amount of weight in them. This allows you to absorb the chop a little and commit more to your turns.

Weight is definitley the go for larger waves. My 10'10 Bomobora Chaser weighs 14kg setup with Future Fins Vector 2's on the sides and a 4.5" centre fin, mind you it also is a pintail and was shaped by the master craftsman that is Dave Parmenter who knows a thing or two about riding big waves especially on the west coast of oahu.

doddsie i'll say it all day

that board of yours looked the goods up in that bumpy junk at noosa

the weight is definately the go for larger waves

PU is the go and a long pulled in pin/ice pick tail

i think doddsie dragged his board back from hawaii himself

after losing his nuts over it there

^^ Have to humbly disagree ^^
Speed on big waves means you want smaller fins. Big fins give too much lift and track badly.
These work a treat on the 12er

JonWest said...

SimonDodd said...

mikeman said...

I am considering moving over to PU for surfing bigger waves on SUP. My prone Rhino Chargers are usually built with a solid construction with a nice amount of weight in them. This allows you to absorb the chop a little and commit more to your turns.

Weight is definitley the go for larger waves. My 10'10 Bomobora Chaser weighs 14kg setup with Future Fins Vector 2's on the sides and a 4.5" centre fin, mind you it also is a pintail and was shaped by the master craftsman that is Dave Parmenter who knows a thing or two about riding big waves especially on the west coast of oahu.

Are these Bombora Chasers available in Australia? Can't seem to find them on the website?

Dogman is right, I had one shaped for me and picked it up at last years dukes fest in Hawaii. Stay tuned as we are about the flick the switch on the production of them here in oz....

ive only had in the waves once and that was at noosa

AA got it sent up for me last minute as the forecast was looking like it was gonna be real big

we put some sides like the ones in hillys piccie and the stocko rear fin that comes with it and pushed it as far back as i could get it

it feels very loose for a 12ft board

hangin to try it as a quad when the swell picks up on some of the bombies here at home

I agree with Hilly - bigger waves does not mean bigger fins - more likely to track!!

Make sure you have you legs spread a bit further apart and get down real low when setting up the bottom turn. Keep your back foot in particular over the inside rail.

Personally I feel more comfortable on a SUP in bigger waves than a prone board these days - so can't agree with you there Simondo. Ya can see better, get into position and into the waves more easily.

Just had 6 days straight down the NSW south coast in nice 8 - 10 foot faces, swell pumped all week!