Hi Guys
I’m able to catch waves up to 6ft with no major dramas, weight the rail to travel down and along the face horizontally but I can’t yet carve enough to go back up the face and down again.
I’m on an 11’2 Starboard at 90kg and I was wondering would a smaller board be the best way to go or is this just a technique I need to learn on the board I have now?
Thanks in advance for any advice
Cheers
Dave
Firstly where the heck have you been to surf 6 ft waves
Secondly no, you can carve a big board you've just got to make sure you get that back foot over the fin or centre fin. Also use the paddle and stroke the board round in an arc (swiftly). After a couple of goes you'll get the feel of your particular model of board. Like everything else just practice.
Thirdly you'll probably end up with a quiver of boards like the rest of us...start out being adamant you're just after the one utility board for the family and end up with an addiction to Stand Up Heh heh.
Thanks Kit
Didn't you get out up north over the weekend had some monster sets come through 
.
Yep already thinking of selling my kite gear for more stand up!
How was Te Ari point? That should have been working if there is some decent sand.
You need to use your paddle to turn the beast. As it was said before get your back foot right back but the secret with the big board is to use the paddle - as soon as you dig that in the board will turn very sharply. You will definitely find yourself falling off loads until you get the hang of how much you need to dig it in. Watch all those youtube videos that are posted on this site and others and watch how they plant the paddle in. Its a weird feeling at first though.
Enjoy!
Cheers Kev
I've tried that a few times and fallen in but at least I know I'm on the right track now 
The Forestry is just around the corner from Te Arai, so East coast. Yes Te Arai would have been working but I prefer the Forestry. There is a left hander there for us goofy footers, whereas Te Arai is predominantley a right hander. Of late the banks there have lead the wave to form late and crash heavily on the beach, so nice short punchy rides for 5ft shortboards but not all that cracky for a SUP...AND I don't want mine to get broken! That said Friday evening (when i snapped those very clear quality pics..) my wave of the session just happened to be on my back hand. It was as fast as I've ever been on a board and when I got back to the line up two shortboarders even commented on the speed of the board..so it must have been a good un. Very pleased with the C4 SV 10'
Gonna have to try it up there soon. I generally sup at Tawharanui that is good at low tide as the reef kicks in and gives it an extra 2-3ft even when every else is flatish 
but its gets pretty crowded with swimmers and surfers 
