Im 5 7 and bought a 8'2" surf board. Should i be duck diving or turtle roll on this board?

Question

I cant seem to get the board through any size wave. Still learning help tired of getting tossed around on 2ft waves...

Answer 1

well first try going over the waves like what helps when u go over big waves<or small> is arching ur back then going over it..... duck diving will be hard to do on a long board <which im pretty sure u have> but so will turtle rolling so i say just go over the wave or if u have to duck dive...

Answer 2

stay on your board and push the front down while pushing up with your arms.  you probably won't be able to duck dive so this is the best way.  if the waves are big the easiest thing to do is ditch your board and go under the wave

Answer 3

There's no rule that states you have to duck dive on any board. Especially a longboard. If the turtle roll gets you out, use it. I'm 5'6" and turtle roll when I use my 6'0", 3" thick fish. It's really buoyant, and considering my light weight, it's pretty hard to duck dive with. Use what works for you.

Answer 4

You could also try to push the nose of the board down just as the wave is hitting you while at the same time pushing your body up over the white water, allowing the wave to pass between you and the board.  

When it is bigger and I am on my longboard I slip of the side up at the nose right before the wave hits me and grab the nose under my arm.  I swim down pulling the board with me and pop up on the back side.  It probably aint pretty but it works pretty good.

Answer 5

Since you are still learning, you have a good excuse. At your size, you probably CAN'T duck dive an 8'2" board, but you can turtle roll it it, and you should be able to paddle through the little stuff. The fact that you can't means you just don't have your water skills down pat yet.

The older I get (and fatter and more out of shape) the harder it is to get outside. I don't know how long you have surfed, but it should not have been all that hard in chest high surf, unless it was going all 'Victory at Sea' or had heavy currents running parallel to the beach. Maybe, just a suggestion, that you work at improving your ocean swimming skills a little. Swim out there WITHOUT a surf board, and body surf a little.

There is no real answer on how to get outside easily, unless you take a boat ride to a reef break or around behind a point break. And, unfortunately, the bigger and better it is, the harder it is to get outside. Try the links, build up your swimming muscles and get back out there!

Answer 6

dont duck dive