I can speak as someone that learned to pump last summer weighing 195, and I am over 50 years old.
I was fed up with the prone guys getting all the 2:1’s 2 years ago. So I made my own boards, got on Axis 1300 (AR=10), and 1201 (AR=11) and started getting 4, 5, 6, 7 and up to 8 waves per catch. I can last ~ 30 seconds pumping which at 10 mph, 15 feet per second, gives me a 150 yard outbound range.
Key takeaways:
- Get the latest High Aspect Gear. Aspect Ratio >>10+. High Aspect IS more efficient.
- Make sure that your equipment is LIGHT. I had to build my own boards to get my SUPs under 11 lbs.
- Keep your feet shoulder width apart. As Oscar Johansson said “think of how you would stand if you were jumping onto a box. You would have your feet together, not wide.” Work on balancing the load between your 2 feet. For me this meant bringing my front foot BACK significantly. I use straps so I have a very long front strap that gives me 6” of leeway which is “a lot”.
- Rest on the wave before the pump out. I learned to catch, then lock out my legs and arch my back. Pump out using as much ankle flex as possible. Minimize the barrel pumping. High aspect foils help with the more vertical pumping technique.
Next objective ‘Lose the weight and try harder.’
