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Paddling out

Surfing / Popular

Pick your route, time the sets and use the channel.

What coaches agree on

  • Look for a channel, rip, or gap where the waves aren't breaking as often, and paddle out through that instead of straight through the whitewater.
  • Check which way the water is moving along the shore before you go, and start from a position that lets the current carry you toward your channel rather than away from it.
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Common mistakes

  • Paddling out without timing the sets - heading out while a set is still rolling through instead of waiting for the lull right after one passes - burns your energy and can wash you straight back to the beach.
  • Bailing on the board and throwing it away when a wave hits is a common shortcut, but it can strike and injure other surfers and leaves you without flotation.