Finding the Best Take-Off Spot…

Posted on | June 21, 2009 |

Okay, this post comes from *Byron* (got it right, *Byron*?) via the Zone and concerns how to find the best take-off spot at any given break. It’s pretty cool, so give it a read!

Here is what I was taught from my father and teach my son. The first thing at any break is to study the break from the beach and watch where it first turns to whitewash and follow the whitewash across the wave. Determine from the beach the takeoff spot where you will get the longest ride. Once you have determined the takeoff spot look behind you for a reference point such as a lone tree, bushes, building, your car, etc. Once you figured out the takeoff spot and have a reference for it from the beach now your ready to paddle out. As you paddle out keep checking your reference point to see if it was correct or not. If it was not correct then you will have to make adjustments from the water such as moving 10 feet from your beach monument, etc. Once you have reached the break watch a couple waves break and see again if the reference point was correct or not. Sometimes adjustments are necessary because of distance of the break, bad eyes like me, shifting peak, etc.
Now that you are lineup and are positioned correctly time to catch your wave. Sit a little further out then normal and when you see your wave time to paddle. On your first wave try going straight a little longer than you normally would then make the bottom turn to head down the line. If you are behind the whitewash go straight and get off the wave. Since you were behind the whitewash on the prior wave try angling the nose a little in the direction you are heading on the next wave and take less of a bottom turn. Still if this does not work keep changing your angle of attack a little more until it gets you to the correct position on the wave. This may take you half a dozen waves or less but if you keep changing the angle of attack and the bottom turn you will eventually get it wired.
Some things to remember is do not get on the tail tooooooo much on takeoff unless it is a steep late take off. Being on the tail too much will slow the board down and thus you may get caught in the whitewash. Move the back foot up a foot or so on the board and see what happens (Adjust the stance forward on the board). The other thing is maybe once you make the takeoff you are coming up the face to high and resulting in a loss of speed. Try staying down or when you are coming up the face cut back down lower than normal.
These are some thoughts on my mind without seeing any vids and pics. Hopefully I did not confuse you. Good luck and thru practice you will ripppppppppppppppp.