Just want to share this great article I found about reading the water, mainly focused on Down winding.http://www.kenalu.com.au/reading-water/
Hope you learn something, I found it a great lesson.
Cheers,
Ken. 
great read and although uses tech language once understood it is good insight. point down hill ride the valleys link link link
Yep - agree - good read. Learning from the "old farts" is always good. They (and me soon) don't have the speed and fitness of the new generation (jake, kai and connor) who are able to just paddle over the top of runs. So they have to be a little bit smarter and more efficient. The only thing i could add to their good analysis and tips is that it is sometimes better to paddle hard in the flat bits (and even uphill bits) because they usually turn into nice downhill bits...
No doubt downwinding is my favorite side of stand up paddling.. Probably the part that I enjoy about downwinding the most is reading the water ahead.. Way ahead.. Lining sections up.. Having the patience to hold back for the right moment to go.. Or having the speed to chase a section down and get myself into the perfect position.. and the pleasure of getting it right and the rewards that it brings is where the real DW fun is.. IMO... I see people downwinding all the time that just paddle hard the whole way.. Their head is down looking at the nose of their board.. or the water just in front.. and it seems like it's just a matter of luck if the catch a runner.. It's like they get what they get or miss what they miss and they don't think they have any control over that when actually they get.. I spent they whole downwinder yesterday beside my downwind buddy (Ann) and we were on our 12'6" boards.. She on the Jav and me on my Glide.. The whole time I was yelling advise about where to look and where to go.. We've done this a few times now and she's just starting to read the water ahead.. It not something you will be able to do over night.. It takes time on the water and lots of practise.. It's worth it..
