How to Do A Midlength Duckdive (The Lower Body Technique

The mid-length duck dive can be challenging due to the board’s volume. This tutorial emphasizes that the duck dive is primarily a lower body maneuver. The hands are used for initial guidance, but the feet and legs are what provide the necessary leverage to sink the board and maintain control underwater.

Key Takeaways & Tips

The Duck Dive is a Lower Body Maneuver [1:12]
The upper body only guides the board, but the entire maneuver is driven by the lower body. Your hands stabilize you, but your legs, thighs, and feet are what press down on the tail and keep the board stable and submerged underwater.

Initiate with Knees Connected to the Tail [1:33]
When waiting for a wave, practice holding your position with both knees connected to the deck over the tail pad. This pose provides maximum connection and leverage when you need to press the tail down using your foot or knee.

Use Your Foot to Push Down and Through [2:39]
Once the nose is pressed down, use your foot to press down and *through* the tail of the board. This action is the main lever that sinks the buoyant board and projects it forward underneath the wave.

Keep Your Lower Body Over the Surfboard [1:59]
A common mistake is letting your lower body swing off the board after the initial push. You must always maintain contact with or keep your legs over the board’s tail to effectively guide the board back up and out of the water.

Use Speed to Your Advantage [0:46]
Just like all surfing, a little speed goes a long way. Building up speed before you initiate the duck dive makes the entire sinking process easier and more efficient.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using Only Upper Body Strength [4:10]
You cannot use your upper body alone to point the nose down and sink a mid-length or larger board; your arms are not strong enough. The upper body is only for stabilization and guidance.

Losing Contact with the Board Underwater [3:11]
When submerged, you must keep your legs over the tail. Losing this connection means losing lower body control, and the board will become unstable, making it impossible to guide it through the wave.