Backhand Attack

Its the classic case of feeling more comfortable on your forehand or backhand but seems to really be exaggerated with the SUP for me.

Backhand really struggling with engaging the rail to get it where I want it, have seen some clips with footwork being important, is it really just moving feet around and time on water.

Nothing more satisfying then a well linked backhand attack, when you nail it you really know!

depends on waves souwester, if you are meaning the local beacheys, you aint got much time. id say first thing is try and get used to paddle on the backhand side, i.e. if going left, paddle on left and really weight it up and pivot off it. back foot more on rail, backhand (left if speaking like above) pointing up the wave with head facing then throw it forward and then down wave whilst paddle is swapping to your toe side to bury and assist in getting that board around.
Best place to try this and get used to backhand more is some mellow down south waves like Yall's, or mettams during winter.
WATCH WATCH WATCH youtube, guys like Keahi. how he is distributing his weight and feet and paddle.
practice in the lounge room, the movement is a great stretching manuvour in front of tv. i used to use the kids paddle, or use a broomstick to get used to that switch over.
Bear in mind you ride a pretty big board, the wider they are the harder to switch over in this way. plus you may find you have to move your back feet not only left to right but foward and back.

Other way, which i still use quite a bit at waves like boatramps or exmouth bombie etc with plenty of sting is keep ur paddle on your toe side, bend knees get down low with straight back in gorilla stance like Kelly and really load up the heels and use your shoulder and body weight for engaging bottom turn and into top turn, then use paddle to bury and pivot to go off the top.

sheesh been so long since ive supped. been having fun surfing but talking bout this makes me keen for some down south fun sessions... soon.

One of the best backhand vids that I have watched over and over is this one featuring a young 'Noah Yap' from Hawaii.

Haven't heard or seen anything from him for a long time and I must admit that I would really like to see how his SUP surfing has progressed as he has gotten older.

I just posted this video on the SoloShot thread, and it got some "backside" questions, so I figured I might as well post it again here, for those not following soloshot talk.

This is a 1 wave vid from a session last week.... slo-mo, then normal speed.
I normally use the paddle on heelside for the bottom turn, but this wave I didn't.

I am not a ripper like the kids in the other vids.... but I figure guys that good, know how it works.
My comments below, were answers to questions from folks who want to get better at surfing backside.

In many ways, I consider surfing "backside" on a SUP, easier than "frontside"

To make any driving turn:
It is necessary to commit your body out over the rail.

backside you can hang your butt way past the rail and all the weight is applied directly to the rail, through your immovable heels (red line)
while your head and shoulders are leaning back in towards the board. (blue line)





Frontside, your weight is also applied to the board through your heels.... but they are closer to the center of the board (red line)
while your head and shoulders must be way out past the rail to apply the same leverage (blue line)





I believe that "recovery" from a turn, is easier backside because your center mass is leaning closer to the board.

I think frontside is perceived to be easier because you are "looking" that way.

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Souwester said..
Cheers for the advice guys - some pretty good tips there.

Caution - Im down south next Saturday on a strike mission if your willing and able? You gotta get back not the horse mate

STC - as always you go that extra mile to help a SUP brother out, love it.

Ill be out at yalls from sparrow fart. If busy may go to more secret spots during day. PM me if u needa hookup.
where were you this morn? few sloppy waves at Metts. Your post got me inspired so i SUP'd.
On a Sunova Flow now, sheesh pointy noses harder to paddle straight and get on waves compared to my speeed punt but the extra 5 litres is very helpful for less than ideal days.