i recall one of the first waves where i locked into the speed of a mat. was a left-hand rivermouth sandbar.... and looking back, i remember the first waves i hooked into, i rode pretty far back on my mat compared to how i ride now. over time i've gotten used to hopping up fwd so my head is up by the valve.

HOWEVER, those first waves were screamers... and i was the only person regularly making it through all the fast peeling sections.( there wuz boogie types and reglr shrt boards) and now i think maybe the "longer hull" you make by riding back aft has some function.

Thoughts?

There is some merit to that theory so I may test it out next time. However it would be hard to give up on the fwd trim technique. I really dig the sensation of having my head on the front edge of the mat.

Me too,though the valve really digs my head...

just got back from a late afteroon sesh and an early am sesh at a long right point... about headhigh, oily, and an easy, small crowd.

i played with it a bit... and unless it s a walling screamer, your legs drag more when you hang off the back. ... but you do catch waves easier hanging way back. ( i never stroke with my arms )

K. guess i answered my own question

superlights: i wicha on that ... cool to have head down and out front.

let my pal giver a go.... and was delighted that he struggled with it. my pal's pretty well versed in surfage... and he got a newfound appreciation for what i manage on the mat. he made a cool comment too: " there like a dolphin-skin sensation you get " haha.

I find that on really hollow waves its better to hang back on the mat as i find this keeps you higher up the face (stalling stightly)
This way theres more chance on getting inside the wave as opposed to getting hit by the lip when your too low on the face.
flatter waves, i find, require you to be further forward

I love riding my mat!