Mastering the Waves

In double-overhead or dredging waves, you gotta go deep and hold on tight. The power is immense. You might need to really drive the nose down and get fully vertical to get under the rolling lip’s energy. Sometimes you’ll get pushed around—that’s normal. The goal is to get deep enough so the turbulence passes over you. Stay calm, trust your push, and be ready to paddle hard as soon as you surface, because the next one is probably right behind it.

Mushy waves need a different approach. Ditch your high-performance shortboard and grab a board with more volume—a funboard, fish, or even a longboard. Focus on generating your own speed by pumping down the line and using the whole wave face. It’s less about radical turns and more about stylish noserides and smooth carves. Perfect for logging, practicing maneuvers, or just enjoying a sunny day with your crew.

For sure, if you’re serious about scoring the best sessions. Beyond just telling time, a proper surf watch gives you critical intel: tide charts, sunrise/sunset, and a reliable timer. It lets you track your session length and know exactly when the next tide push is coming without fumbling for your phone. It’s a key tool for understanding your local break and planning your dawnies or after-work surfs. It’s all about maximizing your water time.

Hugely important! It’s the steering and hold system. A single fin offers smooth, drawn-out turns. A thruster (three fins) is the standard for good reason—it’s super versatile and drivey. Quads (four fins) give you insane speed and looseness, especially down the line. Twins are all about skatey, soulful flow. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different fin boxes and setups; a simple fin change can make your board feel totally fresh and new.