mattyjee said..
...I am practicing alone with no one around for miles (at a nice break too) so if i didn't admit it here no one would have to be "freaking out" or "getting turned off". I'm getting there, nose diving is probably the main issue. I thought I was being a pussy but thought I'd check first in case it's semi normal.
That's the best place to learn! So you're doing that right. Staying away from the crowds & other surfers gives you time to get used to your balance, moving your weight around the board & timing at which you step back etc. without needing to worry about getting in the way and/or potentially injuring others, until your confident enough in your paddling to be able to avoid getting into most problematic situations.
As for paddling into waves kneeling/lying down, I have to agree with most of the others on here that it just shouldn't be done on purpose!
In a crowded/busy line up (so maybe not quite a parallel to your situation) its just damn scary watching someone on a big board fumbling around trying to prone paddle into a wave, paddle lying sideways taking out anyone within a close distance on either side, taking the drop still lying down, then trying to standup and wobbling all over the place looking completely out of control before falling off and their board potentially taking out anyone in a 7m radius of where they are. It's this sort of stuff that's the reason so many surfers still give us attitude simply because were paddling a sup (regardless of our ability).
The other big thing I've noticed is that the few guys who regularly kneel/prone paddle their sups into waves tend to progress MUCH MUCH MUCH SLOWER than those who force themselves to learn to do it right from the start - so it's not really even helping them!
You've got the first bit right by avoiding the crowds, but the fastest way you'll learn to get comfortable catching waves standing up is to CATCH THEM STANDING UP in the first place. If you're comfortable on the smaller inside waves, head further out, but maybe start trying to pick the fatter sections on the shoulder of the waves and gradually move deeper as your confidence/ability improves. Eventually it will 'click' and feel natural and you'll get used to where to stand and when to step back, but you'll never feel this if you're not standing up in the first place.
Just keep getting out there, enjoy your time on the water and you'll reap the rewards of the effort you've put in!
or take up kitesurfing and troll their threads...they love man pussy
