Whats the best method to paddle out with a longboard?

Question

Obviously with a shortboard you can duckdive but with a 9'2" longboard i dont think thats the best idea.

Do you just eskimo roll with longboards?

Answer 1

There are multiple ways to paddle out on a longboard.

Smaller waves, you can either do a push up and let the white water pass between you and the board, or you can sit back on the board, popping the nose upwards and let the wave go through you.  As the wave hits you, you want to get back into a prone position pushing your weight back down into the wave.

On larger waves, you can turtle roll, where you want to somewhat pull down on the nose while you're upside-down while the wave is passing over.  This counteracts the board's tendency to get pulled by the wave as it hits you.

Another way is to jump off the board, slide towards the nose, and wedging one rail into your stomach, and your hands on the opposite rail.  Your body and legs will be in the shape of an L around one edge of the board.  I've never lost a board that way even in larger waves.

If you're knee paddling, you can just make yourself taller by getting up higher on your knees, as opposed to crouching down.  You can also just stand up on the board as the wave is  beginning to crest and push through the wave.  Just don't try this as the wave is breaking.

Answer 2

You can do the roll. I think that is the best way to not get urself so beat up. Or just, as the wave passes push yourself up with your arms and let the wave pass through your ams and try to do it with enough force to get that nose under the wave. A plus on push up with your arms is to get on your toes while push with arms. Like as if you were doing a push up. That way the wave passes through arms as well as the rest of your body.

Answer 3

Longboards can be a bit of a pain to paddle out in larger surf.  Another option is to use the flow of a rip to get out through the waves.  You will find where a rip flows the water is deeper and there is usually less surf breaking in this area.  If you are fortunate enough to live near a point break you can usually take the long way out and paddle around the surf.  If you have any queries about how to find a rip, get back to us.

Answer 4

Thats' what most people will probably advise, only they will call it a turtle roll.  

If the waves are small you can do a push up just as the white eater gets to you and allow the wave to pass between you and your board.  If I can't do that I prefer the just paddle hard at the white water and rather than turtle rolling I will slide off to the side of my board and wrap my arm around the nose of my board and swim under the wave.  I find it easier to get back on my board afterwards using that technique.

Answer 5

Turtle roll mate, then paddle like h**l out the back. Long boars are a pain in the *** to paddle out with but they will generally have more paddle power thus making your journey out the back quicker then your short boarding companion. DO NOT ever let go off your board so it can slam unluckily into those behind you.... thats just not cricket....