Paddling getting slower?

to far up on your board move back find our sweet spot. check your board for dings and you will see the water damage its hard not to. i think its all in your head personally just keep paddling harder until you feel the pain and paddle more but dont hurt yourself.

 

You could be going against the tide and currents also. What the sandman said too. That sweet spot will start to move you well. The board won't plane well otherwise.

 

In shoulder deep flat water, float your board so you can see how it planes. Push it forward so you can see how the rocker interacts with the water and where the sweet spot is. That way you can kinda figure out where to lay on your board. Don't forget to put your leash on. I once was frothing so much I paddled out with the leash still wrapped around the fins. It was very difficult paddling out. To increase paddling ability, watch lots of porn.

 

Foam will be discolored and if it's been a while since the foam got wet you'll see some dark spots the size of pencil dots. Fresh foam and foam that's been exposed to water look different. Foam that's taken on water will look a bit eaten away.

 

Too many variables to know for sure, like others have said, could be positioning on the board, could be tide / current conditions, could be a water logged board, check for dings and suck on it to see if any water comes out

 

I gotta think that if your board took on enough water to affect it's paddling, you would definitely notice it visually.

To improve your paddle fitness:
1. surf a lot
2. swim regularly (seriously, do this, it will make a huge difference)
3. do pull-ups / weight training (distant third)

Also, don't forget to stretch your shoulders every day to increase range of motion and help prevent injury.

It takes time, you need to build up those muscles. Just keep at it, you'll get there. +1 to what everyone said about finding the sweet spot on your board.

 

Kelly slater once told me to stop dragging my feet in the water when i paddle...Sage advice that really worked for me.

 

What surfdogg said about finding the board's trim sans rider...

Plus make sure your going deep on the entry paddle. Way past your elbows. Then make sure you follow the complete motion thru the water, all the way to your hips before you lift out of the water.

Most important, never windmill your arms, or let them go wide - wastes energy. Follow the side of your body with your hand up straight up along the board's rail past your ear, keep it tight, reach out, then repeat.

 

ouch

I have one word for you...no, make that two. Methamphetamine and Wavejet.
You won't need any of the above advice. You won't even need the meth, it would probably just make the experience more invigorating given that you won't really have accomplished anything. Of course, if you take a liking to the meth, you won't ever accomplish anything.

You'd better just find the sweet spot. Seriously, I was told by a few folks that almost any board you're riding, unless it has nose rocker like the shoes Hermie wears at the north pole workshop, you need to have the nose poking up out of the water about an inch or two. If it's barely out of the water you're obviously too far forward, and if you look like the Evel Knievel doing a wheelie then you both look like a dorkite and you are going to have waves roll right under you. Pick a spot on your board on or around the deck logo (most boards put them in view for a reason) and know where your big ol' schnoz needs to be relative to that spot every time you drop from your sitting position to go belly down and start digging. All the advice above about paddling deep and such is also spot on. It takes a lot of water in your board to really feel, unless you are John John Florence and you're riding a 5-10 in double overhead. My old longboard which I keep in the Outer Banks is probably 20% H2O at this point and I never miss a wave. My big wave mini gun is the same. I don't know about sucking on your board though. I'm not going there.

 

Might still be fatigue. Might've caught a bug. There's been stuff going around.

With all the 0-1 conditions we've been experiencing here in VB this month, I feel like I'm getting out of "surfing shape".

 

Equis, I've got plenty of training implements to assist with the conditioning localized to surfing muscles. Let me know if you'd like to discuss.

 

Thanks, EMass. I've doing more running combined with sets of pushups, pullups, and sit ups en route. Haven't been back in the gym much lately. Maybe once a week, if that. Surfing has replaced my time in the gym. After being in an office all day, I prefer being outside - surfing or not. I do get out and paddle when it's flat but have been out less this month than last due the continual flat conditions. I think what's been lacking is the struggle or challenge of paddling out and just being in the water when the surf is heavier.

 

Try scooping your hand under your board like your pulling something from outside to in on your downstroke.

 

Paddle like an "S". Go under the deck. Out in Out. Slight bend to the elbow.

Lastly, sounds silly but how old is the wax on the deck? Layer after layer will eventually soak water up, and if your riding with a year's worth, that could effect the board's weight.

I just scraped a crap load off my old LB and it actually made a difference.

 

what kind of stuff do you do to assist?

I'm looking into "yoga for surfers" and other conditioning and mobility type exercises.

 

Emass is in El Salvador right now so i'll help ya out. Surfing regularly and stretching before and after sessions, then between sessions go swimming as much as possible and focus on your technique, use as little energy as possible with the most gains i.e. efficiency, it's not about swinging your arms as fast as you can as it is about getting the most out of each and every stroke. Nothing will help you more than moving your arms through water, do that as much as you can and you'll unlock the key to paddling.

 

are you practicing good posture? shoudlers back and off the board? how about your stroke? nice and deep? under your board and not on the sides? if all else fails go get a wave jet

 

Take Heed: The God of the Ocean has spoken. Sound advice. ARCH your back. When I'm tired I start to slouch on the board and paddling falls apart. No power. I watched some ugly wife shot vids...