TooMuchEpoxy said..
That PFD and wetsuit flotation is pulling a lot of weight in that maneuver. I'd pay good money to to see you do the same in board shorts and a t-shirt. Without that flotation with your feet on the board and your hands in the air the water level would be at your eyeballs!
Here we go, in boardshorts and t-shirt. It's much easier than you guys think, given the board is not too wide / too floaty.
If you can sink the tail of the board a bit (which allows you to get your weight over the board) it becomes super similar to a light wind windsurfing waterstart.
