After reading Rogelio’s and Matt’s posts about proning on midsized boards in the Show Your Hull topic, I thought it might warrant its own heading. Surfing mats, boogies, and paipos are one thing but Roger (Proneman) and Matt Miller (Matt) are riding 7’+ surfboards specially designed for being ridden while lying down. Having been forced to ride prone while rehabbing shoulder surgery I’m finding that last ride to the beach to be the most fun of the entire session.
The Surf
For me, waves under 2’ are best, either white water or wavelets with little shoulders, tubes and sections. Smooth is the call as your stomach (well mine anyway) won’t absorb bounce or backwash like knees and ankles do. Overhead waves (2’+) start getting a little bouncy and need quicker adjustments to trimlines than the smaller stuff. Plus, at 3’, the surf is big enough to draw crowds of wankers that want to stand up!
Reefs and points are best but beachie reforms will do the trick especially if you can ride the white water from the outside bars as a jet assist into the inside fun zone. I surf at a place where the waves break 100 to 300 yards off the beach. With the right tide, that is a huge playground of untapped stoke.
The Board
The board has to be long enough to keep your feet from dragging. A true alaia will do the same thing but there will be work involved since float is your friend in the under 2’ range. Anything that will rob the board of trim speed is verboten. Flat rocker and single fins are best. A twin fin with straight ahead keels will also work. Foil is surpisingly important since once you are in flight there won’t be much jockying about. If you stay in the under 2’ surf, the outline is not that important. Once you get in overhead or double overhead surf, you might want a little more width aft of your hips since that will be your pivot point.
My personal fave is a “hull” (surprise!). A “hull’s” flat rocker, single fin, s-deck and knifey rails seem to work perfectly. You haven’t lived until you set a highline trim on a burbling 18-incher! The bottom roll will allow fairly easy turns but the key here is trim.
The Technique
You need to find the trim balance point. That’s where it all starts. It might not be the same at the paddle trim so you get one shot at scooting to the prime spot. After that you can adjust your weight distribution by raising a lowering your legs. A minimalist approach to piloting is best. Sudden shifts are your enemy…smooth is the groove.
Why?
Well, everyone has to get back to the beach sometime, might as well enjoy it. The perspective is really neat, you feel and see things happening you miss when you are standing up. It’s a real challange to milk as much speed or distance as you can from such a little propulsion source. Nice way to get some exercise when the surf gets dinky. Cool thing to do while you wait for your back/shoulder/hips/knees to heal.
But mostly…because it’s fun!
