Duck-dive, rolling and the Vortex

OK, the most common questions I get asked, how do you paddle through big white water, or punching through waves. There is a lot of misunderstanding between punching, duck diving and rolling under/vortex method. All three couldn't be further apart, yet each is important if you want to master waveski surfing and maximise your fun each surf.

Starting with the punch-through.

This is for small to medium size waves, on a wave about to break and is timing critical. Get it wrong and you can hurt your shoulders and neck. This is HARD to do on a large or intimediate ski, as you need to be able to sink the nose under the water while paddling (to see if you can do this - simply throw your weight forward over your feet, paddle hard and see if the nose dives).

Technique:

1. As the wave is about to break, sprint up to the face and sink your nose about one third up the face of the wave.

2. AS you punch through, keep your head down to protect your neck and set your paddle in deep. Pull hard on your paddle shaft to aid you punching through the wave. As soon as yo emerge out the back... paddle.... fast so you don't get sucked over the falls.

Simple!

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Next - Duck Dive vs Vortex. I get asked what is the vortex? which is best. The answer is they are completely different and for differing situations. Duck Dive's are for close out, medium to large waves, waves about to break on you. The idea is you go under and pop up, paddling, quickly. The vortex is more damage limitation on big to massive, close-out, monsters of white water coming for you.

Duck Dive

A wave is about to break, it's too steep to go over it. Vortexing it will result in you getting dragged back, and if this is an impact zone - you don't want this. You want to get under the wave and upright again, as soon as possible. The key difference between the vortex and the duck dive is on the vortex your weight is forward to sink the nose, on the duck dive your weight is back to raise the nose.

Technique:

1. Sprint toward the wave. Similar to the punch-through. Sink the nose at the base of the wave, or if bigger, about a third up the wall.

2. As your nose sinks, roll over. Key to the move is to roll flat, with your weight/head over the tail of the ski. Throwing your weight over the back will raise the nose (a bit like a stand-up surfer does with his knee of foot while duck diving). The idea here is to use your speed you sink the nose. While under the wave, as your weight goes over the tail of the ski, your nose will lift. The idea being that the wave will roll over you.

3. As the motion of the wave on you starts to subside/slow. Use it's momentum, start your roll and will little effort, you can use the wave's power to pop you upright. So you quickly roll under and up with out a kicking

Little example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5IIgMfwkGg

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The Vortex

The vortex is very different, in that, when faced with a mountain of white water or similar nasty situation, we are talking damage limitation. The concept is to make yourself as small and streamlined as possible, so the wave has little to grab hold of. If you duck-dive, with your arms not ducked in, the result can be nasty (I've had dislocated shoulders and rotator's destroyed).

Technique:

1. Get a bit of a sprint on, then with a good 20 feet or so, take a DEEP breath and roll. This time, get your weight as far over your feet as you can. It pays to be supple and practice with yoga, as this can be the difference between a savage beat-down and a bit of a work-over. The reason we want our weight over our feet is, we want the nose to sink and stay sunk. So the wave pushes us deep. Get your paddle alongside your ski and hold it for grim life as invisible forces try to rip it from you. Keep your head down. We also want to be as small as we can so there is less for the wave to get a hold of. Try to get your head as close to your feet as you can, tuck you face in. Get your paddle alongside, but tuck your elbows in. The more streamline you can get the better.

2. Wait for the beating to stop. Key is to not roll too soon. If needed do a 'pop' (a semi-roll, just enough for a gulp of air and tuck up again. If on a reef or a set, you are safer in the vortex position than getting blasted trying to roll. Patients is the rule - as is good lungs.

3. When still -  roll back up.

4. Check you still have a head/face - thank the lord and go out to seek another beating.

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