Just as in standard surfing, a rider has several options when contronted with an oncoming wave. You can let it hit you, try to go over it, or duck under it. Which one sounds like it get you out faster? If you guessed ducking under, you are correct my friend.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 5-10 minutes (followed by days of practice)
Here's How:
- The best way to start is to find some calm water like a pool or a flat day at the beach or just a deep water area where waves aren't breaking. Then take your skills to a small day to really gain practice.
- Paddle and kick as fast as you can to gain maximum speed just as you approach an oncoming wave.
- Just as the wave is about to hit you (maybe 3-5 feet away), grip your board between the top (nose) and the mid-point of your bodyboard and push the nose under water with your arms and chest (like your doing a push-up).
- Smoothly (as you push your nose under), position your dominant knee over the back (tail) of your bodyboard.
- As the nose goes under, apply the weight from your knee and submerge the entire board as far down as possible. Use all your weight to achieve this.
- As the wave crashes overhead, hold on to your board and let your knee come off the tail.
- As you body flattens over the bodyboard, your buoyancy will bring you back up to the surface.
- The passing wave will try and pull you back, so resume paddling quickly to resist the flow and get ready for the next oncoming wave.
