Pulling a mat up on its rail while at trim speed is a simple and easy way to hold in, generate more speed, and/or re-direct the mat into the juiciest part of the wave. It's like a bottom turn, but it it doesn't result in a large change of direction. It reduces the wetted surface area of the mat, if only momentarily, and allows the mat to aim up into the pocket. Most every mat rider executes this move, often intuitively.
The above video clip is of Mr. Dirk at the LA County Mat Meet earlier this year. In the last half of the ride, Dirk slithers around the section that lets down in front of him, then banks the mat over to redirect his momentum. He does that two more times along the wall as the wave tapers down in size. A classic example!
In the second "close-up/slo-mo" part of the video, you can see Dirk's mat start to drift out of control for just an instant as he picks a line between the two board surfers, then when he banks the mat over, the rail resets itself and he's off again. :)
Following are images that are variations of the same move...
4 comments:
lesson learned now i'll try it in action in the morning. i do this thing with my inside arm off a bottom turn where i point it out then bring it back in to grab the front of the mat again. it's weird i do it unthinking all the time. it does'nt slow me down or mess with my turn but i don't see any other matters on the pics doing it. i think its residue of my board surfing. anyway thanks for the tip
Lotta great rides that day. This one of Dirk is practically a seminar in finesse. Watching in full screen, you can see me filming Dirk from the water at the :28 mark. Dude was screaming by so fast, I almost missed the shot!
I'm keen to learn how to extract more speed from those situations where you're in high-line trim with lots of inertia but the standing wall and fringing lip begins looming further and further out in front. Maybe a close-out is imminent, but you never want to concede without making an effort. Basically I want to pump and stay as high and tight as can be, without forfeiting any inertia or creating any friction. It's kind of technical, and really fun.
I had a damn good session on a surfboard today. This post makes me want to go out and hit that same spot on my mat tomorrow!
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