When entering moving water, especially in ‘shore break’ conditions, care must be taken to avoid injury or losing your grip on the rescue board.
As you move forward from the shore and into the water, you should either:
- hold the board at your hip with the nose slightly raised
- drag the board by holding the strap closest to the nose.
Note: Excessive dragging may damage the board.
If there is a longshore current or a strong wind, always hold the board at your side so that the prevailing conditions carry the board away from you, rather than allowing the board to be pushed onto you. Try and maintain control of your board where possible.
Follow the steps below to enter the moving water with a board.
- Place your board (deck/straps up) on the water while holding on to the straps on both sides.
- Approach the board from the side; ease your chest onto the board while still holding the straps.
- Slide your legs onto the deck.
- Lie down on the board (the prone position). Check the nose of the board is not ‘nosediving’ or lifted too high, and pull or push yourself up or down the board to ‘trim’ the board.
The timing of entry is very important where there is a ‘shore break’. Wait for a lull and, at the right moment, run into the water, lie on the board and start paddling without stopping or losing momentum. This combination will move you and the board forward through the break zone effectively and is often much safer than stopping to lie on your board and then paddling from a stationary position.
Note:
- If the water is shallow, you may need to ‘bunny hop’ alongside the board until you reach deep enough water to mount the board.
- You may feel more stable with your feet apart and resting on the outside of the board.