Surfing doggie-style

Jacksquid · Post by **Jacksquid** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 7:16 pm

Here's a comment/question for you more experienced KBers out there.

I recently swithched my "style" and I know I'm faster and make better turns than I did before. My question is, am I doing this wrong?

I used to pop up and surf like a stand-up sawed off at the knees. On small waves I would hop to the middle of the board but everything seemed sluggish and I would bog. Lately, I've been sitting on the tail every time, but I'm pressing my palms into the nose area of the board and pressuring the front edges left and right as well - you know, doggie-style. Most of the time, I am very low on the board and I unweight alot to make direction changes and then get down again. Is this right?

All I know is I'm having a lot more fun, but since I don't surf with KBers I am clueless.

The other thing is I've been scratching my ear with my foot, and I'm afraid where this may be heading.

Squid

gumby · Post by **gumby** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 8:21 am

If you are having more fun that's what counts.

My first question is what type of board are you riding? Were do you surf. Is it a long board wave? Check out the pics. and veido on this site. You know the leash should match your collar.

skansand · Post by **skansand** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 8:40 am

have you ever surfed with a heavy-set mexican kneelo named andy?..hes from mission beach and surfs on all fours almost every wave....even when its big!!...some boards require a different approach to rip on...everytime i get on a new board ill be scootin up or down,spreading my knees a little farther apart and just trying to figure it out..

Jacksquid · Post by **Jacksquid** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 5:24 pm

I haven't sniffed any surfers' butts yet, but I have stared at a couple

.

I surf a 5'10" keel-finned metal flake purple fish and 5'10" fins-forward tri. Actually, the more I think about it, I really use a tri-pod technique involving two knees and an additional member (uh-oh, here we go again...) that uses very little pressure on the nose until some acceleration or direction change is needed. The whole thing is so involuntary now, to be honest, I don't know what the hell I'm doing, other than catching waves, getting longer rides, and having a good time.

I think what I really need to do is to surf with some kneelos who know what they're doing. If any of you are around in the San Diego area, give me a shout and I promise I won't stare at or sniff in any inappropriate areas.

Squid

Beeline2.0 · Post by **Beeline2.0** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 5:28 pm

Beeline2.0 · Post by **Beeline2.0** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 5:35 pm

ross · Post by **ross** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 10:05 pm

i agree with Beeline,
Get down low and go,go go.
it could be the particular design you are riding that may require you to do these things. Does the board slow up when you take your weight off the front of it?
without trying to incite a riot, i'd say most modern kneeboarding is done with ankles positioned over the side fins. The upper body will be low and forward. remember to work on strong quadraceps that is where all the speed comes from.
As for gaining speed. its just like a skateboard in a half pipe.
take a gradual climb towards the top of the wave,as you approach the top third of the wave -unweight. by that i mean use your quads to lift your arse away from your calves/board.keep the upper body low and forward.

as your board reaches the top of the wave. you will feel it wanting to drop back down the face. after a while you begin to get a feel for this sensation, at this point, bum back down on the calves, chest almost on the quads and chin less than 12 inches from your deck. In other words full compression, for your run back down into the trough.

as you approach the bottom of the wave lighten up on the calves a little(but not as much as you do at the top of the wave

).

And repeat. I should mention that the climbing and dropping angle you choose should be more horizontal than verticle.
Verticle turns happen after the speed.
good to see your having fun with it.
as for the hands, thats a personal choice. Get some one to film you surfing that should put an end to your canine tendencies

Jacksquid · Post by **Jacksquid** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 8:27 am

Constructive and useful comments, Ross.

Sometimes I feel like I'm in a dark room peering through the keyhole at the dazzling light outside and almost understanding. The weighting and unweighting from top to bottom of the wave (compression & decompression), getting coiled and uncoiling for more vertical S-turns, all makes a lot of sense. I'll focus on that. I figure the other thing is to just keep surfing. Time on the water seems to be the best teacher. My teacher, unfortunately, often gives the test before the lesson however.

I really don't ride like a stiff-legged poodle on all fours (that's just me being self-deprecating), it's just that I found staying crouched helps for some reason, sometimes one hand behind my back and the other lightly fingering the nose. There's something about getting tucked, feeling the pressure on the rails and the vibration of the water underneath, and doing the horizontal burn high on the wave face that has me hypnotized right now. I get that brief moment in time when all seems unified and right in the universe. Then I get spanked, humbled, reduced again to mortal status, and go looking for that feeling once more. This is such a cool sport. I also like that not many others do it (KB). What's up with that?

Squid

gene west · Post by **gene west** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 11:01 am

knee boarding has always been subculture,coming out of the underground. Our history is rich and deep and I for one am glad we're not mainstream. Sure we hear some flak ,but with a lower center of gravity and low profile, we're faster and usually deeper than anybody!

southpeakbrad · Post by **southpeakbrad** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 6:31 pm

Hey Jack,
I sometimes dawnpatrol during the week in your parts. If your morning walk is early enough you can meet me we can share a couple of waves together. Always fun to surf with a fellow kneelo. Afterwards maybe we can play with my Frisbee

Brad

Beeline2.0 · Post by **Beeline2.0** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 6:33 pm

Bill E. · Post by **Bill E.** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 9:23 pm

Then I get spanked, humbled, reduced again to mortal status, and go looking for that feeling once more.

Is this the feelin that the dogs get after the swellin has subsided

Its bad enough to grab your rail....but to present your dark hole....

toofast3 · Post by **toofast3** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 9:53 pm

Like beeline said, any time you want to head north to Oside, there is always a few of us out and we`ll be happy tolet you off you leash. I sometimes put my hand on the front of my board for 2 reasons. 1....to keep my balance when i`m trying to tuck into a small barrel. 2....to help keep my face off the board when i`m trying to tuck into a small barrel. I`ve had 2 broken noses because my face was just a little to close to my board

gumby · Post by **gumby** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 10:12 pm

Squid take up soulthpeaks offer. He can show you what you are doing wrong and right. Worst case he has a rolled up news paper and some Kibble and bits to make you feel at home.

gene west · Post by **gene west** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 10:29 pm

Hey squid---if you want to get wet tomorrow,send me a p.m. Maybe we can do a session and I offer any assistnce that seems necessary....geno