Given that nobody else wants to answer you, here's what I do:

- Look for somewhere to launch where you don't need to bash through the shore break. A long paddle for a shortboard is a cruise on a SUP so you can launch up to a km away and cruise into the lineup.

- Wait for a lull in the surf and paddle out. Again, SUP paddling is fast so it's quite easy to get out in breaks in the action.

- On smaller waves you can stand well back on your board and raise the nose and it will ride up over the broken wave. It's surprising how big a wave you can do this on. If you're just starting then kneeling is easier but it doesn't take too long to be able to do it standing up. Just before the wave hits I like to do a sprint paddle and hit it as fast as possible so the momentum helps carry me over.

- If you are about to be taken out by the white water make sure there's nobody behind you then dive your body over the wave and hope the dragging from the board is not too extreme. When you're in the water don't spread your arms and fight the pull, you'll only make it worse. Just stay slim and go with it and ride it out. If you're under water being dragged you can use the paddle to steer your body to the surface. It's kind of fun in a masochistic sort of way.

- If you're on the inside and about to be hit by a wave the easiest thing is to point the board towards the beach and lie on the tail with your paddle on the board. The wave will pick you up and take you in. You can leap to your feet and surf the wave in, and angle the board away from the impact zone. You can use the flat of the paddle as a planing surface to lean on and help keep you balance in the white water. Once inside out of danger you can wait for a lull and paddle out in one hit.

- If the waves are not too big you can hug your board with one arm and sink the nose and let the wave wash over you. Some guys hang onto the tail, some use the leash rail saver as a handle and some people are adding handles to the tail. Every time I've tried the leash thing it hurts my hand (a lot) so I'm reserving judgement on that.

- You want to avoid getting hit by your board. SUPs are so heavy that having one washed into you (or vice versa) is pretty painful.

i have some success with rolling like a long boarder , my rails a pretty thin compared to some boards i have seen though , i can hold the paddle in one hand grip the rail and eskimo roll.This worked on quite a large wave and the only reason i tried it as their where a few people behind me and i didnt want to let the board go.

Good for those with big hands or thin rails.

Gorgo said...

- If you are about to be taken out by the white water make sure there's nobody behind you then dive your body over the wave and hope the dragging from the board is not too extreme.

Be careful with this one, I tried it and had the board flick up and hit me in the thigh on the way through. That left me with a corked thigh that was very painful for a few days after. I would hate to think what would have happened if the pointy nose of my board hit me instead of beinng hit by the flat deck.

I often find that if I am getting stuck I will prone paddle with the paddle blade under my chest.

i had a shocker the other week going over whitewash only 3ft waves ,didn't have enough speed approaching the whitewash as i lent back on my rear foot to raise the nose my front foot slipped of center allowing the whole board to launch itself at me sideways that is with the rail side .
collected me all the way down my right side gave me a black eye , a major bruised rib that hurts like a bitch each time i sneeze or cough , a sore shoulder and bruised ego as i floundered around for a few seconds dazed in the water , major lesson learnt there.
tom
currently looking at gaths and impact vests if this rib doesn't get better.