Most of the time paddling out back can be a very frustrating experience for a lot of surfers. It takes paddling strength, endurance and intuition. You should by now have a full understanding of rip currents and channels. Channels are basically gaps between sandbars or reefs where water is deeper and less likely to break and where there tends to be an outgoing flow of water. A competent surfer finds these gaps to get out beyond the breaking waves to the chosen 'line up'. Whilst sitting or stretching on the beach try and see where these gaps are, clues are still waters or slightly swirling water where it is not breaking, usually in between where the waves are breaking or the in flow. Debris or sand can also be mixed up in this outgoing current and this can also indicate the location of a channel. Plan your route, you will also need to time the regularity of 'sets' and how long the 'lulls' are or periods of calm in between sets. Paddling out in a channel with an outflow of water from the previous set in a lull is the ideal scenario. However there will always be a time when you will need to punch through, under, or over a wave to progress further out.

The 'Push Up Technique' is the best and easiest paddling out technique to begin with, intended to be used on smallish, spilling waves. It is the best technique to master and is applicable to the best learning waves. If you are really struggling to paddle out it could mean that the waves are just too strong or advanced for your current ability and this is a good warning sign of being over confident.

Paddle out, as a white water wave approaches make sure your board is pointing straight into the wave. Put your hands on the rail as if you were just about to pop up, and push up with your arms and legs as if you were performing a press up. Your board will be controlled by your arms and body weight. The white wash should pass between yourself and your surfboard with you lying back down ready to get paddling again. Most importantly this technique demonstrates good board control and keeps you on your surfboard in paddling position ready to get motoring before the next wave hits you.

The Eskimo roll is designed for slightly bigger waves or waves that you cannot push up over. Paddle strongly until the white water wave is just about to hit you. Grip the rails with your hands, take a deep breath and roll under the wave with your board. You should end up almost the opposite of the push up so your board is above you in the white wash being control by your grip. Your body and legs sink to the sea bottom and act as a sea anchor. Once the wave has passed roll back on to your board and carry on paddling out. The Eskimo roll is commonly used when surfing longboards, learner boards and mini mals.

Intended for medium sized waves and for colder climates! The Rodeo is a technique for riding over the waves in a seated position astride your surfboard. Paddle out strongly, sit in the middle to back of your board with your legs astride like horse riding, grip on to the rails with your inner thigh and with a hand. Sit so you are parallel to the incoming wall of white wash, as the wave approaches kick your legs in circular motions and twist so your board spins to face out to sea as the wave hits you. This technique takes a little practice and timing but is effective for keeping your head warm!

Important --- only to be used when the whitewater is small, in big surf using this technique will simply wash you off your board

The 'duck dive' is designed for lower volume surfboards and is really an advanced paddling out technique where the front area of the board is pushed under the incoming wave with your arms resulting in your body and surfboard submerged completely as the wave passes over you. Put pressure on the rear of the board with your knee or foot to push the tail so that the nose of the board surfaces behind the white water. When performed correctly you will break the water surface just after the wave has passed. Practice makes perfect and timing is very important.

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