After watching a documentary when I was a little, I also wondered why do surfers put their hand in the wave. Have you ever wondered about that, too?
Why do surfers drag their hand in the wave? To slow down when they’re heading into the shoulder of the wave too fast. They call it hand-dragging. It is among the basic techniques you can apply to stall a surfboard.
If you’re interested in surfing and want to increase your knowledge about the sport, read on to learn more about hand dragging and stalling below:
Stalling And Hand Dragging
Among the most valuable skills to master in advanced surfing is stalling. Stalling a surfboard demands the body to be deeply involved with the surfboard and the wave directly in front of you. Once you do it properly, it lets you create drag and slow down to the barrel’s speed.
The likelihood of barrelling heavily relies on the wave’s behaviour. It is simpler to ride wider, perfectly peeling barrelling waves than occasionally falling lips freight train cylinders. Regardless, the capacity to decelerate at the proper time will maximise your tube time and help you to get thoroughly covered just in front of the foam ball in both circumstances.
The line between letting the liquid curtain surround you and moving quickly enough to avoid demolishing will always be razor-thin. It’s a good idea to learn to stall a surfboard, so you don’t get hit by rocks or other obstacles when pulling out of a wave or kicking out of a wave.
There are five basic stall techniques that you can use, and hand dragging is among them:
1. Hand Dragging
If you’re heading into the shoulder of the wave too fast, you should drag your hand into the wave to slow it down. It will help you avoid flipping over and keep you on your board.
If you find yourself in the barrel of a wave, extend your inside arm into the water to stabilise yourself while using your other hand to hold onto the outside rail.
2. Arm Anchoring
Turning your body on a powerful vertical wave can be difficult. To stay in place, put your arm in the water and use it to turn your body slowly. Once you’re facing the direction you want to go, start paddling to pull yourself into the barrel.
3. Knee Dragging
However, speed management and control of hollow waves could be challenging. Instead of utilising your hands, arms, or butt, use this technique. Get your front knee in touch with the wave’s face to act as a brake.
4. Butt Dragging
This technique has been used the most in tube riding. It’s especially handy for steep take-offs when you must keep close to the wave’s face.
If you wish to stay close to the wave, simply lean your bottom into the wave and match its pace. You’ll need to be patient, though, as it may take a while for the chandelier to envelop you fully.
5. Foot Pressure Over the Tail
It’s one of the most common ways of slowing down a surfboard. You can move the friction to the board’s back by applying the brakes to the tail. You must proceed slowly; if not, you will soon lose too much speed and crash. The result of stalling a surfboard by placing all of your weight on the back foot and elevating the front of the board is demonstrated by a straightforward hydrodynamic test.
Touching The Wave
Now you understand why most surfing movies you have watched before showing the main lead touching the wave with his hand. Overall, this technique can help balance and reduce speed, and it has to do with stylish points.
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