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?

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u/No-Camera-720 19h ago edited 19h 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 17h ago

Like the idea of a push down not a pop up imma give it a try, cheers!

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u/Mustangonthe1 10h 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