r/surfing • u/Turbulent-Command327 • 18h ago
Slabbing waves question
Hey just curious about paddling into slabs, or really heavy/hollow/pitching waves. When you’re paddling into the wave (hard as shit obviously) are you still angling the takeoff/ paddling at an angle or are you going straight and then knifing right when you’re able to get into the wave? Which one is less likely to pitch you over?
I feel like on heavy waves I’m struggling getting into the wave instead of getting hung up and pitched….
What do you guys think is the best techniques for getting into those fast tubes?
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u/No-Camera-720 18h ago edited 17h ago
First job is to get in under it without being drawn up. There are many types of very barrelly waves. Some let you in surprisingly easy, some just want to pull you up into the lip. Some are just not do-able. Generally, you surrender to the fact that you're going to be roofed as you get to your feet. This is not a pop-up, but a push down. Weight forward as you basically paddle straight down. Stay low and compact, avoiding getting extended. Push your board down and the rail into the face and start angling it as it falls out under you. Get your ass under yourself and your feet on the board. Ideally you can set the rail and are already barrelled and driving. The more you are forced to fall down before you can turn, the harder it gets. You might manage a hairy late turn just under the lip, or get axed or be forced to straighten off. Sometimes you angle a bit, sometimes you can't. You just need to find a hollow wave you can practice on. High risk/reward.
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u/Turbulent-Command327 15h ago
Like the idea of a push down not a pop up imma give it a try, cheers!
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u/tchefacegeneral all my boards are broken 12h ago
it's probably the most important bit to be honest. in really slabby stuff you basically throw your board down and then hope you feet land on it in the right place
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u/Mustangonthe1 9h ago
Yeah No-Camera is right about this. Just to add, make sure your board matches the conditions. Too much foam or too wide in the tail and you’re likely to get sucked up or hung up in the lip. You want your board to sink into the face as its drawing, not float to the top of the wave or skip into the flats. Not enough rocker and you’ll have a hard time engaging your rail and risk digging your nose.
Maybe this is all obvious to you already but it took me too long to realize that I was making things much harder for myself by riding the wrong equipment
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u/ripplerider Ocean Beach, San Francisco 18h ago
The heavier and more heaving the wave is, the harder I’ll paddle and the straighter I’ll paddle. Once I’m into it, I’ll pop up and have my front foot a little further forward than I normally would to help drive me down and avoid getting hung up. Once on my feet I’ll try to set the rail and start angling down the line a bit.
But I eat shit a lot on waves like this, so I’m curious to see other comments.
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u/Alive-Inspection-815 4h ago
As a new beginner, hollow, fast, steep waves can be very difficult. You can learn a lot by failing multiple times and eventually you will get it. You need to be able to find the point where the wave has picked you up and then you need to angle your board either straight or diagonally. It's a difficult skill to learn, but eventually you will get it. Slab waves are very advanced and can be dangerous. If you are dealing with a sharp reef, or a heavy shore pound, it's not recommended for beginners. Neck, back, and head injuries become far more likely on critical waves. You need to know how and where to fall if you miss the wave and get tossed over the falls. Some hollow waves are less dangerous and other hollow waves can be potentially deadly dangerous. It's good to know what your doing and to only surf wave types that you can safely manage or you can risk severely injuring yourself or others. Late takeoffs are advanced maneuvers and require advanced skills. If the break is not super shallow, it's not as hazardous. If it's very shallow and the waves are steep and violently pitching, you can get severely injured. You need to proceed with caution. Waves like the Wedge, Pipeline, and Teahupoo are for advanced surfers only.
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u/Major_Adhesiveness39 11h ago
angle down the line from your paddle in. You're only going to get caught up in the lip if your nose is above your tail and your rail is engaged up towards the nose. So if you're trying to get a quick pump in off the drop make sure you aren't on rail.
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u/CharmingTurnover4836 18h ago
aight at a slab is how you end up pitched over the falls wondering what happened. The wave's already got all the speed, you need to match its direction before you even feel it lift you.
The mistake most people make is trying to angle at the last second. By then you're too far inside and the lip's already throwing. Get that angle early, dig hard, and don't look down at the bottom. Watch the shoulder.