Beginner advice to carve instead of skipping sideways.

What's happening everyone?

To introduce myself, I'm Scott. Call me Sherm if you like.
I'm 47, an air ambulance helicopter pilot and army vet.
I live in Ventura county, California, and my 14 year old daughter and I have been surfing every chance we get unless it's totally flat, beginning in the spring.

With the first overhead conditions of the year being bigger than what I can currently do on my surfboard, and since I really wanted to get out in the bigger waves, I started bodyboarding a week ago.

I had a blast bodyboarding in the bigger swell, and paddled into the biggest waves I've been in. That's what I love the most!

I'm 6'3" 220 lbs, riding a 44" Custom X Evo double stringer, and I use Hydro fins on my feet.

I'm having difficulty carving a bottom turn or going down the line of the wave. Instead, I end up sliding sideways and skipping forward out in front of the wave.

When trying to turn, I keep my inside hand on the inside corner of the nose and pull up with the outside hand about halfway down the rail like I'm supposed to. I move forward on my board and get good speed down the face after catching the wave, but the best turning I've done results in me skipping and sliding sideways while maybe going 45 degrees in the direction I'm trying for, rather than being able to track parallel with the wave.

Would you guys think I should try placing more of my weight on the inside rail, dragging my fins harder to keep me going in the direction I'm pointed, or something else?

Dragging my fins to keep my feet behind me seems to slow me down.

Any thoughts and tips from when you started bodyboarding would be appreciated!

Thanks ahead of time!
-Sherm

 

Hey crindlefish-

Thanks for your guidance.
I edited my original post to include an introduction.

Thanks for the advice, too.
Do you think it's important to drag the tips of your fins for direction control, or will digging your inside rail in keep you tracking ahead without that?
Also, when turning, would you say your inside hip is even with the edge of your board, while your inside shoulder is hanging past the inside edge of your board?

Thanks again!
Sherm

 

Hahahaha, Ronnie, always! Scouts out and AirCav!!!

And 5446-
Here's my b*tch nearly naked on the beach!



-Sherm

 

That sounds like good info, Nick, thanks.
I believe I probably haven't been digging my inside rail in enough to get a good carve.

Looking at photos of others carving, I think my inside shoulder needs to go further toward the turn.

How important do you think it is to drag the toes of your fins to keep tracking ahead?

Thanks again,
Sherm

 

She's cuter than some!

Seriously, though, do you guys find dragging of the fins is necessary to keep tracking ahead?

-Sherm

 

That's the answer I need, thanks, Crindlefish!

Not to beat a dead horse, but would you say when turning hard, your body's center of gravity is pretty much over your inside rail?

Thanks again!
Sherm

 

metard-

I have a few surfboards already.
Thanks!

JohnDoeski-

With all this info, I have no more excuses and better be slicing and carving all over the wave face when I get back to the beach in a few days!

Thanks for the help!

ZeroEvol-

I believe you're asking if I check for rocks, and the water depth before I head out?
Yes I do!

FunkySpec-

Thanks for that video.

I like the SurfSimply guys! They have a great podcast every couple weeks, too.

Thanks again!
-Sherm