How do you paddle out in big surf on a bodyboard?

Question

Southern California ha gotten a lot of large swells this winter and in the last one i had a large amount of difficulty getting ut there. i would liked to be prepared for wen the next swell hits. all tips are appreciated

Answer 1

if you arent confident or capable of duck diving yet just practice in smaller surf, thats the most effective way. if that fails i dont recommend the turtle or "eskymo role" because you are effectively still on or just under the surface, if worst comes to worst grab your leash as close to your board as possible and pull it under as far as you can, thus clearing the surge of the wave

Answer 2

you head out by kicking with you bodyboard good and strong.  as you approach the first wall of water that is about to dump on you (on your way to the outside)prepare to duckdive - modified for the body board - stronger straight down dive with the tip of the board .  Use fins to get  you "good and under enough" the falls.  Hold on to the rails and prepare to come up again on the other side.   An option to the duck dive is to "turtle" with your bodyboard.  When you turtle you have to cling to you body board with hands and arms wrapped around it  tight as the wave comes over you you have to roll under the water - if it is very forceful you have to wrap your legs around the bodyboard as well.   I hope I have explained these 2 skills with clarity.  Otherwise I would be happy to explain myself better.  So there you have it 2 ways I suggest to get out into big waves: (1) Duck Dive an modified for a body board and  (2)Turtle,