steep takeoffs are easier???

found this on Safetosea blog "Have you ever noticed how flat take offs are harder than steep ones?  The way the drop away of the board on a steeper wave assists a quick pop up, whereas those flat one's can have you ending up tripping over your front foot, leaving you feeling like a big goose."

It caught my eye because Swaylockian "everysurfer" just made the same observation a few days ago.  Said the way the board just drops out on a steep takeoff means less effort to pop up, as the board just kinda pops down, so to speak.  He's a late take off practically already in the tube kinda guy.

Now this must be one of the key differences between shortboarding and longboarding, because on my longboard (which I am new to) I find flatter takeoffs are easier than steep.  Steep takeoffs have me on my tip toes, hoping I can catch up with the board before it pearls, or the lip comes down on me!

steep take offs on a long board are in the equasion also,,, just need a bigger wave and angle in ,

I understand the reasoning, since I’m a late guy due to size mostly. A lot of times if done right, instead of popping up on the board, the take off looks more like the board drops under you and you simply stand up. “Simply” is much easier said than done. A nice drop like that looks VERY smooth. Most of the time it is really, make it or break it. Of course with the longer rail line, its is harder to turn mid face quickly so the angle helps. It’s all in the legs.

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Of course with the longer rail line, its is harder to turn mid face quickly so the angle helps. It's all in the legs.

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That's me - angled takeoff.  But everysurfer likens his takeoffs to a "corkscrew" - turn and drop at the same time. 

IMO, whether or not you need to angle into late take offs on a longboard is pretty much a function of rocker and length. On my 9’8" flat-rockered noserider, angling into a late take off is about the only way I’m gonna make it (so long as I don’t wind up in a free fall).  I have a 9’0", performance longboard that will handle dropping very late and straight down because it has LOTS of rocker. 

The “corkscrew” idea is the key to taking off late espacially on a longboard for me. I just make that rotation into the wave quicker to make the board fit, whipping it around under the lip. If there is not enough room top to bottom I know I have to get it turned coming in and find a place to put it. Angling down the line can be good but on a longboard but I want to be coming from a backdoor position because I will be too far ahead of the wave otherwise. Worse goes to worst Ill just grab the rail and side slip down the face under the lip knowing all that rail will project me out eventually. Beats going over and taking it on the head.

OK: I see what you mean by “corkscrew”.  Yeah, that works real well for backdoor/backside. I usually then grab the outside rail and slide into a “pigdog” stance as the wave starts to pitch. My boards have nose channel bottoms with a real sweet spot a couple steps back which really lets you generate some speed when the board is slotted.

Like I said, I'm new to longboarding, so Im just learning as I go.  I usually paddle straight to shore, then try to turn it about 45 degrees as the wave lifts my tail.  On late takeoffs I try to stand just a little to the inside rail, so when I connect with my board at the bottom, I immediately project up into the face.  Tried that with my 7' single fin egg, and turned right out of the wave!  Oops.  You gotta be a little humble to get back into this after 23 years - yer gonna kook out sometimes!

BTW - about that "pigdog stance" - I see guys doing that, and I'm green with envy.  My 55 yr. old body just don't gumby like it used to.  I get sore back muscles just from watching Shakira videos.  But I seem to keep watching 'em anyway, for some unknown reason =).

I want to be on my feet and all organized before any fearsome whitewater shows up, Waikiki style, then the next challenge is to not fall off while drifting thru the pack :)

"I want to be on my feet and all organized"

Agreed.  Wave judgement, positioning, timing and getting to your feet quickly are all important.  When I was landlocked for long periods I practiced the pop up on my living room floor.  It actually helped once I was back at the coast.

'X' marks the spot on the floor.  Lay down with your bellybutton on the X.  Practice popping up and planting your feet on either side of the X.  One quick move... no up on one knee, 2-part standing up routine.  Just pop up and plant your feet in the right place.  Shortboards in particular are so sensitive that any deviation from 'feet in the right place' can lead to disaster.

It's a big part of taking off under control.

BURPEES!!!

taking off earlier on a longer board opens doors

to wave entry options

1st is do ya angle?

do ya top turn?do you stuffit

to the bottom for a g-loaded

450degree fahrenheit bottom turn

pop a fade  to set up a swinging 

left go right…-…right go left.

 

dropping out of the curriculum

before completing the required 

courses ,is like going back to school

with 9 year olds when you are 35.

 

when I waas taking junior lifesaving

for the 4th tine when I was twelve

the thirty year old guys were really 

bummed when they were trying to

cool up to the foxy twenny year old

chicks in the class.  This is why

you gotta reserve a spot at a junk

beachbreak to practice take off 

varitals before going out at john and marys.

 

… ambrose…

 

donyt you do a cork screw

 

 in a stunt plane or a wind surfer?

 

or in the top of a wine bottle at the lodge

 

 

 

the bottom turn was premiered

with the addition of the fin.

anybody who was cool angler on a plank

was completely undone the moment 

straight  -  off   adolph burned

an accelerating lightning fast

180 direction change and

became a contender in the lineup.

angling way out on the shoulder

was once refered to as bicycling.

 

 

steping far enough back on the longer board

is a high imperative requiring a fair amount of 

‘‘walking the board’’ (this too is an imperative

part of the curriculum )

AAhh, but do you prefer to use the tail and fin to turn or is it the rails that ring your bell?

gives me a newfound respect for them old timers that dropped in going left on a right, then dropped one knee, threw up their arms, and cranked the board around in mid takeoff!!

someday...maybe

Dude Im a fan of the steep takeoffs. Especially considering im more a shortboard type of guy. However I will admit if you screw up the steeper waves will thrash you pretty hard too.

Steep takeoffs are fun, but there's nothing easier about them in my opinion.  Took 2 or 3 this morning on what were easily 8 foot faces.  Get to your feet, set the inside rail and pretty much air drop to the bottom.  If you have any trouble at all getting to your feet, it will get ugly quick in those conditions.

snagged from another thread.... feet in position stomping the tail.

 

Easier in terms of arm strength to push yourself into position.  Way harder in terms of skill and timing.

 

Wasn’t that fun today! Back for more tomorrow!

   Howzit John, And then there are nopaddle take offs which are probably the steepest of all. Aloha,Kokua

Always liked no paddle