Hey, Beth.
My duck-diving is starting to really kill my back.
In heavier surf, I have for years been using a deep duck dive, which employs one foot on the tail and my two hands grabbing the rails of the board up near the front. I find I get much better scoop (and thus greater depth and speed) than the standard push-with-the-knee technique. The problem is that when you’re kicking down with your foot and pulling up with your hands, the fulcrum is your lower back. And it’s just like stooping over to pick up a pile of books. Ouch!
Now that I can’t get away with that any more, have you got any ideas for me? duck-dive ergonomics?
Thanks, Bertrand
ANSWER:
Hey Bertrand,
I have not yet had any low back problems while duck diving in bigger, heavier surf (yet!). I actually just got out of the water—and probably did 1,000 duck dives at Ocean Beach—and my back feels okay. I am pretty religious about going to yoga 2-3 times per week and doing my sit-ups 4 times a week to keep it all strong. You should consider a regular stretching and abdominal work out program.
However, I just asked my fiance, who is a 20-year-plus surfer dude, and he has had similar complaints of back pain while duck diving. He claims that his back bothers him most when he starts his duck dive a bit too close to the white water, so he is unable to get the nose of his board (and the rest of it and his body) deep enough. This results in an exaggerated arching of the back to resurface quickly. He has been trying to start his duck dive about 5 feet earlier so he can get everything underneath the oncoming white water sooner (and deeper) to avoid the impact of the white water. Then you don’t have to push up through the impact of the white water that just hits you. It is definitely worth a try.
As for pushing down with the knee, that seems to only work in really small surf and I try to avoid it as much as possible.
I hope this works. Let me know.
Hasta, Beth
(Posted 4-9-03)
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