Pro surfer Brett Barley breaks down the specific techniques required to fit into and ride the smallest possible barrels, where there is no room to maneuver. The lesson focuses on the crucial approach (maintaining speed) and the body contortion necessary for frontside and backside success.
Key Takeaways & Tips
The Approach
The main thing is to take off behind the peak and get locked into your position with speed to be able to glide through the tube. If you try to stall or make adjustments in the tube, you will sink and lose speed.
Foot Positioning for Speed
On the drop, your back foot should be further back, but you must quickly pull it forward after the drop. You want most of your weight to be further up on the board, as the further back you are, the slower you will go and the more you will get caught up in the foam ball.
Frontside Body Contortion
For frontside, the key is to tuck your shoulder and elbow inside of your knee. This allows you to drop your upper half down to your knee’s height and get much, much smaller and in a more streamlined position to the tube.
Backside Body Contortion
On the backside, angle your front foot forward, keep all your strength in your front foot, and hold the rail. You must keep your head down and your back knee dropped down toward the deck to fit the curve.
Alternate Methods
If you cannot fit standing up, the next best threshold is to drop to your knees (knee-boarding), which allows you to get ridiculously low. The final last resort is laying down.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Stalling on Small Waves
On a very small barrel, if you try to stall into the tube, it will pass you by. There is no room to maneuver, and you will sink and lose speed.
Arm Outside the Knee (Frontside)
Failing to get your arm and shoulder inside your knee means you cannot drop your upper half low enough. The lip will constantly hit your shoulder and head, even if the barrel is small enough to fit a person.
Riding Too Far Back
Riding with your foot too far back will cause you to lose speed and get caught up in the foam ball, preventing you from shooting through the tube.
Losing Body Parallel
To streamline, you must keep your body parallel to the wave face. If you lose this alignment, the tube will catch your shoulder and throw you off balance.