I've been having a ball surfing my 9'3 in the small clean conditions when its too small to take out my shorty. But I'm now considering leaving the shorty behind 
and take out the SUP in more sizeable over head conditions.
My question is what's your strategy when wiping out??
Hold on to the paddle at all cost? Garret @ Cloudbreak from a recent posting comes to mind 
Do people break alot of paddles like that? If so is one extra enough on a ten day surf trip to Indo
I'm sure I'll figure it out myself but just had me interested if others out their have got some tips
Try to hang on to your paddle as close to the handle as you can. Let the wave take the blade towards the beach. Sorry does that make sense?
Coz if you wipe out and hang onto the shaft in the middle, it might break if you hold the paddle parallel to the beach. Ive had this happen to me in some pretty big waves. also if you dive under a wave hang onto the handle.
Just a tip
bloody hell i asked jacko about getting out the back or wiping out and he told me to ride it like harry potter.
Windy Miller told me about a thing you can do with your paddle if your getting held under.
I'm not sure how to explain it properly but maybe he can?
What you try to do is to hold your paddle as if your paddling and use it to kinda lever yourself to the surface. It does work.
We paddled out to some very big surf just before cyclone Bianca hit. It was fkn huge! I rescued a shortboarder who was almost drowning after losing his board. You could hear my knees knocking together in fear hahaha. I had probably one of the longest hold downs. When I was about to hit the panic stage I remembered Millers tip. It worked! But as I surfaced for a gasp of air, I was hit by the next wave and the next and the next hahaha.
Anywho give it a go next time
hmmm, i dont end up thinking about half of this stuff, i just hold on.
maybe why i got clocked in the back of the head with it while underwater yesterday.
Thanks for all the tips lads, Like aus301 said I probaly won't think of anything more technical than 'Hang on' & 'Don't snap your Paddle'. Like most things you figure it out for yourself eventually.
But does make me feel more comfortable about getting out amongst it
Hold on at all costs but, every known and then you will get such a flogging that you accidently let go, so my advice, have a spare! Ten foot is big!
