Alright surfers- Ive been longboarding for a few years now and Im trying to figure out how to get barrelled...

Question

Is there a trick to it? I've tried stalling and Ive tried taking off from the peak but I always end up ahead of the barrel. Ive come close a couple of times, without success. Any help would be great!

Answer 1

you have to be good enough, first of all, and if you are you have to set up correctly, dont try too hard to stall because you can get behind fast and close out. i just happens to you and when it does its awsome

Answer 2

If you're still beginner - intermediate then it's easiest to do the following (assuming beach break type wave that's actually pitching out giving you a chance to get barreled and taking off going frontside)

Take off a little deeper than your normally would.

Set your line early - pretty much take off at steeper angle (down the line)

Get to your feet early then drag your inside hand.

Crouch and wait for the wave to pitch over.

Closeouts are easiest of course but if you're looking for an in and out, you'll need to make sure you stall (drag) early and wait for the wave to pitch.  Then just release your hand and keep your weight a little forward.

Don't bother adjusting your feet because if you haven't figure that part out by now it'll just make things harder.  You'll get that part down soon enough.

Everyones post was pretty much right on.  It really depends on the wave.  Oh yeah, if you're using a 2+1 fin setup then try switching to a single fin.  2+1 tends to be looser and faster but will tend to shoot you out into the face more than  single fin will.  Unless you are a 'performance longboarder' I think you should stick to single fin.  The increased drag but stableness will actually help put you in the pocket and 'sweet; spot much easier.

Answer 3

there are three ways to get barrelled.

the first is to have a section in front of you that is practically closed out that you are just pumping like crazy to make.  there's no stalling or anything.  imagine just dropping in and imediately having to make a section by pulling in.  like this: http://photos.surfline.com/displayimage....

the second way is what the first response is.  stalling out for a section in front of you.  its iffy though cuz you lose speed.

the better version (and third way) of that is to set it up earlier by turns instead of stalling..  rather than just going down the line slower in a stall, you should come out in front of the wave more and do a bottom turn so that you can come up and do a top turn before a section.  if you do these turns in the right places, you'll be at the top of the wave coming down right before the barrel section.  you'll have more speed (and therefore more control.)

this is easier on a shortboard, just because you have so much more control, but it can absolutely be done on a longboard.  in fact, once you get the barrel lined up, you're more likely to make it on a longboard than a shortboard because its heavier and more stable.

Answer 4

Getting tubed with a long board can be a bit difficult because long boards can go so fast!  You may have to increase your stall or drag your hand/arm in the wave.

Obviously, if you move towards the back, the nose comes up and the board stalls.  Forward and the board goes faster or you "pearl" (short for pearl dive/nose goes underwater).

It takes a bit of practice, but constantly adjust your foot positioning in small increments (keeping an eye on visual references) during your next session and see/feel how your board reacts to the wave.  

The "trick" find that "sweet spot" on the deck that allows the board to slow down and let the wave pitch over you, but not too slow where the wave overtakes you and you go "over the falls".

Also, watch videos of some of your faves and old-timers.  They really knew how to "walk the deck" with long boards.  Either way, your surfing can only improve.  Good luck.