Tutorial: Frontside Tube Riding

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TUTORIAL
Frontside Tube Riding

Getting Tubed

A lot goes into getting in and out of the tube. From reading the waves, positioning, skill and technique, there is many moving parts. Fitness and endurance will play a a huge part when these opportunities’ arise too. We’ve all been there - its been a long session and there isn’t much fuel left in the tank. A wave loams up and for one reason or another you’ve blown what could have been a good tube ride. Your positioning was off, you blew the take-off or your body position and lack of speed didn’t give you the juice to make it out! Let’s dive in into successful frontside tube riding…

Speed

Having speed is a key element of tube riding. But, how much speed is required? This largely depends on ‘control’. Having control of your speed will determine getting into tubes, where the read on it is that its going to be drawn out, which will require speed entering the tube and maintaining it, and accelerating out, if it starts to run away from you. You may also need to wipe off some speed to stay in the barrel longer or a combination of the both. Good speed control is about acceleration and deceleration and this comes down to body positioning and technique.

Body Position & Technique

There are a some rules of thumbs you can follow when it comes to tube riding. From the master himself, Gerry Lopez, have your leading hand pointing to the exit. Obviously, there are exceptions to the rule but this is a good place to start if your struggling to make the exit. If you’ve ever had to take evasive action due to a car coming into your lane to avoid a head on collision and you have to run off the road, its best focus on a space between 2 trees. This is your exit and your body will follow. The same is true to exit the barrel. Eyeball your exit, focus on it and let your body take you there. Keeping your lead shoulder in is another technique to set your body position for a successful ride to conform your body closer the the shape of the inside of the wave.

As explained before, a key element of successful tube riding is speed! Position your body, in particular, both your feet, further up your board and put more weight on the front foot and less on the tail area. This will increase your speed and improve the chances of your making the exit!

Reading The Play

Reading what’s going to play out on a wave is critical if your tube hunting. Unless your surfing a spot where the majority of waves are throwing up tube after tube and its as predicable as getting taxed on your wage, there is always going to be an element of reading the wave to set yourself up for the tube. There are all types of scenarios where your read will determine your actions. You could be lining up the tube straight from the take-off, a steep hollow section could be looming up down the line, you could be back-dooring a section or even coming off the bottom to hook a turn under the lip, setting your rail and pumping through the section. In all of these scenarios your ability to read the wave well and take action will set you up for success. If you have read the play right and your in the tube, drive toward the exit and don’t give up, even if you don’t think your going to make it. Making these ones are usually the best ones!

Lets Break It Down

1. The Take-Off

   Every wave is different and reading what the wave is doing will dictate your strategy, position and technique. As an example lets assume your surfing a shallow reef pass like Cloudbreak, Tavarua, Fiji. The waves are moving fairly quickly, its mid-low tide and the waves are steep and hollow. If your positioned to take-off on the peak you going to have to commit 100%, paddle hard and take off on angle pointing down the line. Angling your take-off is going to get you into a better position in front of the wave to lessen the chance of the wave running away from you when you engage the bottom turn and set-up for the tube.

2. The Bottom Turn

   A well timed bottom turn is going to put you in the sweet spot and this goes back to having a good read on the wave. This will come with practice, however, turning too soon may see you out-running the barrel and turning too late will have the lip coming down on your head permanently parting your hair! We could go deeper into the bottom turn but we’d be here all day. Check out this tutorial from Josh Kerr. Bottom Turn Tutorial

   

   Cloudbreak, Tavarua, Fiji

3. Pulling In

   If you’ve executed the bottom turn and your pulling into the sweet spot make sure your not too high on the wave face and not too low that the lip is going to come down on you clipping your back. Generally speaking you should be positioned half way up the wave face. Obviously, each wave is different and the barrel may not be top to bottom so when your not half way up the wave face you’ll be in the position of best fit for the barrel itself. When you find yourself getting tubed you need to maintain your speed and the light at the end of the tunnel! Keep your eyes on the exit!

   

   Gif by HallmarkChannel on Giphy

4. Speed

   We’ve talked about speed as being a key element of tube riding and how you control that speed will determine your success. Staying slightly higher in the barrel, weight transfer to the front foot and positioning both feet forward on your board will all help maintain increased speed. Controlling your speed also includes slowing down. Wiping off some speed by dragging your back hand in the wave face is common and effective, sometime even both hands if your more advanced. Depending on the size of the tube and how much room you have to move stalling by putting more weight on your back foot is also common.

5. Hold The Line

   Always have the intent and belief that your going to make it. Hold your line, keep you eyes on the exit and ride it until you fall or hopefully get blown out to hoots on the shoulder!

   

   Photo by Brandon Compagne on Unsplash

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