burleighlocal said..
So for the last few day's here on the GC I have struggled to get out thru 3/4/5ft waves...today I had to return defeated to the beach as I could not make it out. I surf a Naish Hokua x32 9.1ft. This is the biggest surf I have tried to get out thru and was wondering if there are tips people have or is it just keep on trying or give up? or do I need to start dropping down in board size?

Any tips or advice?

many articles on this & your board size is fine.
you can prone paddle out, with your paddle under your tummy.
perserverance & reading the water

www.seabreeze.com.au/Articles/Stand%20Up%20Paddle/Getting-out-through-the-surf-on-your-SUP_2513512.aspx

First question should be do you come from a surfing background and know how to read the surf

Find a point break..

Grit your teeth, put on your best angry face and keep going. There will always be a lull, no matter the conditions. There has been days my bro and I have turned up to the beach, and he has just chuckled and said "good luck" (he is a prone surfer, big lad on a small volume board). i have impressed him many times just by perservering. DJ's advice of aim for the point has definitely helped on those ridiculous days. Even if I don't surf it, it's a good spot to get out the back. I had a 9'1" x32 and found it the hardest board I have owned to get out over a breaking wave due to the nose rocker, hazardous at times. I found standing as far forward as possible helped shove it through an oncoming wave.

Use your paddle like an anchor when you're getting carted underwater, it will save you a yard or three each hiding you get which adds up to being a few critical yards further out when the lull comes. That board has a fair bit of foam, too, so if you don't want to drop in board size you better get fitter. Don't be afraid to paddle prone or on your knees to get out of the impact zone. Some will say you look like a kook doing it, but I'd rather be a happy kook out the back than a hero copping them on the head....

its all about luck. Many times i have gone out in decent surf and it has just gone flat when i hit the water. My friend is the most unlucky surfer so i tend to paddle out before or after him.

Macaha said..
First question should be do you come from a surfing background and know how to read the surf

yes..15 years

I surfed Lennox Head beach break a couple of days ago . Surf was a solid 5 ft short period low tide and no gutters just sandbars I tried for 45 minutes but couldn't get out. Been surfing Lennox on stand ups for about 5 years and surfed bigger waves in the past. This is the first time I have not been able to make it out. Still enjoyed getting hammered, sinuses cleaned and absolutely worked.

watch the surf for at least fifteen minutes before getting in. count the waves in the sets and maybe even time the lull between sets then you have a rough idea when to take it on. Counting the waves in the sets will help in getting back out when you catch one by always catching the last or second last wave in the set then it will limit the possibility of getting court inside. Observation is everything and always have a plan.