Once you’ve built up the confidence to surf in waters with larger, more aggressive waves, you’ll likely find yourself faced with the task of trying to paddle past large breakers. In aggressive waters, oversized waves breaking near the shore can make it difficult to paddle out. Whenever you get close, a large wave will come and push you back. So, do you solve this all-too-common problem faced by new surfers? Keep reading for some important tips on how to paddle past large breakers.
Beating The ‘Peak’
One technique that’s effective for paddling past big waves is to paddle into them with as much speed as possible. If you’re able to reach the wave before it peaks, you should be able to paddle right over it. Accurately gauging the peak time of waves is a skill that will come from practice and experience.
When you are out in the ocean with your board, pay attention to the waves so you can have a better understanding of their peak times. Using this information, you can then decide whether or not to try and paddle towards the wave to beat the peak.
Turtle Roll
Of course, there will be other times when you simply won’t have a chance to beat the peak. The good news is that there are a couple different methods for making your way through a large breaker. When you’re surfing towards a large wave that’s about to break, perform a turtle roll by grabbing your board near the top with both hands and flipping it so both you and your board are upside down. Being in the water upside down in a somewhat frightening experience, especially to inexperienced surfers, but the turtle roll is a safe and effective technique for making your way past large breakers.
While you are upside down in the turtle roll position, hold on as tight as possible and wiggle your torso into the wave. The force of the wave should roll your board right side up, placing you back on the surface of the water. Continue to perform the turtle roll until you’ve made your way past the breakers.
Don’t Lose Your Board!
Regardless of which technique you use to paddle past the breakers, never let go of your board. Losing your board in the breakers could result in the injury of other surfers nearby. Keep it attached to your body and hang on for dear life while you are swimming past the breakers.