Surf Simply's Question Time: When to Wax, When to Comb?

[@bojador]

This series is great. Either you’re very knowledgeable or you do some serious research on the topics. Either way you deserve some complements for that. Good stuff.

[@hunterdavis3003]

Instructions unclear just waxed my head now I’m bald

[@KennyTang125]

too true.

[@albertotay3631]

1st repeat question from this series 🙌. Thanks Harry for taking your time to answer my questions. The content you guys are posting is so helpful, keep them coming 🤙.

[@stormfalcon72]

I generally start using a wax comb after a few weeks (depending how often I’ve been surfing with that board) once adding more wax will simply be too much wax on the board and it just starts getting a bit thick and heavy. The comb actually not only provides grip but removes some of the excess wax. I also find that if it’s not too dirty, I can then start adding wax again for another round before it becomes necessary to remove all the old dirty wax and start fresh.

[@tom420guitar]

I have two questions: 1. What makes a good beach break? Maybe we could pretend you were designing the perfect beach break as an example. How does it become 'peaky'? What factors influence the types of waves you'll see there? The beach next to me was absolute dog poo for the first year I was living here. Just closeout shorebreak. But now there's an awesome sandbank about 50m out that's been around since about late march and the waves are soooo good on a lower-mid tide. Its moved around and a couple bigger swells have seen it disappear for a little while but it's back again now. 2. How does surf foot positioning differ to skateboarding/snowboarding? It seems to me that a surfer's' back foot tends to be facing a bit more forward than skaters and snowboarders. Their knee seems to point a bit more forward too. Just wondering if there are different foot placement angles to try that I'm not aware of.

[@johny848]

Very interested in this second question. Coming over from over a decade of skateboarding haha!

[@joacole]

Excellent Book, I bought it a few years ago. So much info and insights on how nature plays a big role in generating the waves we ride, I love it. Keep on posting this amazing material. Cheers!

[@LordPhoenix140]

About #3, a new updated edition of Waves and Beaches was just released early 2021.

[@ignaciodelavegamoran]

Thank you so much for your amazing answer, I'll check the book out. Don't worry about the pronunciation, you actually did really well.

[@laugri]

Hey Harry. I enjoyed this series of videos a ton! In case you ever make new ones, here is a question: could you breakdown when to use which maneuvers? For example, I know the goal of the cutback is to bring you back closer to the power zone on the wave. But what about re-entries, snaps, ...? Thanks, Laurent

[@intetics666]

Hi Harry, great to see the series keep going. Here is a question: you guys have an amazing volume calculator on the site from which I get a range of volumes based on my current level and weight. So having this volume number in mind, are there recommendations which next surf board type I should buy when I progress? I mean for example Level 1 should likely go for softboards/minimals, level 2 for fish, level 3 for shortboard etc. I understand that the board type would greatly depend on wave conditions, but still, it's unlikely that level 1 surfer would go into 15 feet waves, right? So I guess the surf conditions depend (or better to say widen) on the level as well. Thanks!

[@theimpaler5034]

Just a correction or you didn't mention as the sand shifts along the beaches so do the rips and the rips change and in different spots depend on swell direction at least here in Australia they shift also you can recognise rips by the dark blue colour compared to the breaks where water is a lot lighter and waves tend not to break in the rips unless surf is bigger

[@petermedt]

Dont know if you still do these, but I have a question. Recently I saw two surfboard reviews. One of firewire seaside and one of firewire evo. In both reviews it was stated that you should not go too large in size (and use the board as a groveler) because the boards then starts "to push water". I dont know how this works, but as an intermediate surfer it could have an impact on which board to choose - should I choose a bigger version of a board that is not intended to be a groveler - or should I go with a board that is intended to be a midlength board instead. I surf in Denmark where the waves normally have very little push. Many would probably say that you should surf a board as intended and therefore not choose a size too big, but sometimes its nice to choose a board that also is good in punchier waves those few days or that has some room for advancement and also works in smaller waves. Sometimes you can also see the benefits/features in some of the "by default smaller" version boards that you cannot find in the "by default bigger" versions out there. My question is if there is some truth in the statement that a board can start to "push water" in such a way that it has a noticeable difference if the board gets too big related to the size of the surfer? - maybe the boards length would make up for that in speed. Cheers!

[@martin_karner]

I have few questions with no answers anywhere. 1st - how to paddle like a pro? (technique, back arch, hand position, fingers etc) 2nd - how to have no back and neck pain after surf 3rd - how not to get less rash from surfing? (rash guard vs cotton tshirt or what to wear)

[@warwickwallace2699]

Lift your chest and engage your core to avoid neck pain from lifting your head up with your neck muscles. Neck and back pains will also stop as you get more fit and surf more regularly

[@Teeps_Tinkers]

Do soft tops interact differently on a wave compared too a hardboard that is the same dimensions

[@Bello..]

How a surfboard outline influences paddling and its performance for a given volume? lets say for example a 30L groveler x a more high performance shape with same volume.

[@MyMmmd]

Can you talk about moving forwards and backwards on a short board? I know you need to go back for turns and forward for speed etc. but tips on how would be useful. Am I supposed to be shuffling, siding, jumping? Moving one foot at a time? Any tips would be great. Sorry if you've covered this before.

[@matteocorneliani9505]

Hi mate, you are legend... Improving a lot of knowledge about this beautiful sport thanks to your channel. I ve got a question about how the waves changes before and after sunset. Can you explain how and why? I find always a window where wind stops and changes from off shore to on shore.. that's should be for the heating from sea and heart, its happens during sunsire too, right? I always discuss about it with a friend, I need your expert opinion to finish our discussion ;) I noticed that when swell is strong this doesn't effect that much, is true? cheers ☮️

[@richrolls22]

Great video, many thanks! Please can you advise on best means to avoid close outs , I often find myself paddling out and once out back, in spite of paddling across and away from the place I paddled out toward the peaks of the waves, I often still end up stuck between two waves meeting each other, any advise appreciated!

[@nayatimoodfilms3783]

question: how much does water getting into your board through a ding or a cut influence your surfing performance?

[@TheNormalUniverse]

Love your vids! Keep em coming!

[@LuciusSullaFelix]

Loved this video. Thanks. By the way, just ordered the book. 🤟

[@rkjohns1]

Hi Harry, thanks for this series, I find it very interesting and informative. My question is, can a consistent volume be used interchangeably between PU and EPS surfboards? For example, I currently ride a PU board that has a volume of 31.7L. I'd like to purchase a board from a shaper who almost exclusively uses EPS, but wonder if the volume should remain between 31 - 32L or should I go lower? Thank you in advance!

[@rkjohns1]

Just saw an earlier episode where you discuss this, and boy am I embarrassed for asking! Looks like there isn't a difference and I should stay within that 31 - 32L window for an EPS board, too. Thanks again!

[@pet_cow_5452]

You the man!!! Thanks!

[@RobSymington]

Question: is a functional stance bad for you? Surfers seem to have their back knee bent inwards to transfer weight. This position is what we’re told to avoid in other exercise. Is a 💩 stance the only way to avoid tearing something?

[@pierswoo76]

I'd rather have a dodgy knee than a poo stance any day!

[@aaroniha]

Ive had knee surgery on my right knee( my back knee) and surfing is no problem for me, I highly doubt that you would tear anything from surfing this way unless you take a weird fall and land on your board. But I mean im also a long boarder so I spend more time walking then just setting my feet but I would never recomend and poo stance

[@simwaxofficiel]

Yeah it IS so clear bra . #gogreen

[@xxx7917]

1 rub your hand on your deck is it gripping.no give it a quick scratch,still not gripping, wax the fucking thing

[@AJPification]

You UK people have got some serious human perception to do. You do know you are addressing surfers, right? We are not having tea with the queen here.