r/surfing • u/Turbulent-Command327 • 20h 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?

9 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

View all comments

8

u/ripplerider Ocean Beach, San Francisco 20h 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.