Remounting your ski is an essential skill.  Fall off in cold water offshore - you need to get back on that ski immediately before you get cold.  Fall off in the surf zone - you need to get back on fast before the next set comes in.

And yet, how to remount is one of the commonest questions - especially from beginners.  What's the "straddle" method?  How does it differ from the "sidesaddle" method? 

Here are some answers...

Straddle

The straddle remount is generally faster - which is good when you're going out through surf and a 6ft set is forming in front of you; it's also easier with some skis (especially those with narrow, deep buckets like the Fenn Millennium).

How to do it. 

Important: Turn the ski so that it's pointing into the wind and waves.  (This is almost impossible in strong wind though.  Just make sure you're upwind of the ski.)

Grip your paddle and the foot strap with one hand; the far rail of the cockpit with the other.

Boost yourself out of the water onto the ski and swivel yourself so that you're lying face down diagonally across the cockpit.

Now swing your leg across the ski 

And push your upper body up, swiveling your butt into the seat as you do so.  This is the most critical point and where you're most likely to fall off again. 

Grab the paddle with both hands.  Now you're stable - you can take your time before bringing your legs into the cockpit.

Pull your legs in - you're controlling your balance with your paddle. 

And you're off.  With practice, this takes a matter of seconds.

Sidesaddle

In extreme conditions the wind tends to blow the ski sideways - and if you can't hold its nose into the wind, the straddle method can become very difficult.

In this situation, the sidesaddle method can be much easier. 

How do to it.

Let the ski drift sideways at right-angles to the wind. 

Important: Move to the upwind side of the ski. 

Grab the footstrap and paddle with one hand; the far rail of the cockpit with the other.  Boost yourself up onto the ski. 

In contrast to the straddle method, as you get onto the ski, swivel your butt into the seat, leaving both feet hanging over the windward side of the ski. 

Now you're in a good situation - the ski is moving sideways downwind, dragging your feet in the water on the windward side.  You're completely stable and you can sit there as long as you like. 

Now bring your feet in - this is trickiest part because you're generally sitting to one side of the ski and you need to get your butt into the center of the seat.

Both feet in... and away you go. 

Some people also find the sidesaddle method easier with single-footwell skis.

Practise

Both methods have their place - but neither is easy unless you practise.  Find some warm water and practise both methods until you're confident that you've mastered the techniques. 

It's also important to practise while wearing the gear that you use in extreme conditions, like your PFD fully loaded with cell phones/radios and whatever else you take.

Comments (28)

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written by JC, June 02, 2007

Hey Rob, this article is 4 years late .
I wish I had such a nice article when I was starting out. I had to figured it out by myself!!!

Keep it up!
Javier Comelli
Atlanta, GA -USA

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Great to see both remounts in the clips
written by wesley, June 03, 2007

Rob, Nice job with the pics and clips. My buddies and I tend to use the side saddle method but now I am going to practice the straddle method with the deep bucket skis to see if I am better with this method. Thanks wesley, newport, RI, usa

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never to much practice
written by JJ, June 03, 2007

I think I'll start to practice both type of mounts each time I head offshore.

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Terrific pics and clips.
written by KW, June 03, 2007

Extremely helpful info for beginner surf skier. Beginners need more of this stuff.
Thanks.

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Great Idea
written by DSKC - Dubai, June 03, 2007

Rob, cool bro, as JC said, it's to late for us now, but , hey, as the saying goes, better late than never.
Word of caution! Carbon ski?s, (thinner, more flexible material used) tend to crack around the seat side, when using the straddle method, because of the sides being pushed away from each other. So if you are fortunate to have a carbon, I would suggest you practice the side saddle method.
?Paddle cool, and paddle strong '

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Dr.
written by GCH, June 03, 2007

Thanks Rob,

This is definitely the best sequence of photo's and instructions of remounting surfski's to date! Great coverage of Molokai as well. Congratulations to you and alan on the most informative site on this sport.

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Practice & some tips.
written by Alain Jaques, June 03, 2007

Practice is key, the more stable a paddler you are the more you might need to practice, because chances are you haven't fallen out in a while. I got quite a bit of practice demo-ing for the photos and each time I got better. My first unintentional fall of the day (while chasing a wake of a tourist boat) took two tries before I successfully remounted , and this in dead flat water.

My Tips:
Most important... remount from the upwind side. If you are downwind of the ski your legs will be dragging beneath it making the pull up much harder. Just duck under the ski if you are on the wrong side, but don't let it go...

Start with your arms straight, you need to get the momentum going to pull your body over the ski.

Take it slowly and deliberately. I use the straddle method and I pause once I am lying flat on the ski (like a starfish). In this position you are stable and can catch your breath before you sit up.

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written by MFB, June 03, 2007

I use the straddle method too. Learned that during ICF K-1 training days. Its easier to do on a surf ski but its tiring after a while. Thanks for the side saddle instructions, will try that out next time.

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can be practiced on waveski
written by tomb, June 03, 2007

Rob many years ago when I first started surfing waveski's I hadn't mastered the art of the Eskimo roll and so initially I had to remount when I wiped out or as was the case when I was begining lost my balance.
I actually used both methods to mount the waveski and it would actually be asier for those who have not done a remount to practice on a waveski.

Since starting to paddle surfski's have only come off once and it was just second nature to remount using the straddle method.

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Great!
written by Capt Jimbo, June 03, 2007

These instructions, in one form or another have been around and can be found - but are really hard to visualize. Thanks for a great contribution...

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Straddle Induced Injury
written by John Dixon, June 03, 2007

Great Article!

I've switched from "Straddle" to "Sidesaddle" for two reasons. First, I find the "Sidesaddle" works for a wider range of boats and is more reliable in interesting conditions. Second, I pulled a groin muscle using the "Straddle" method and was limping for 8 months. I was surprised at how easy it is to cause an injury like this in cold water with the help of adrenalin.

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Get it right first time!
written by John Blacklaws, June 03, 2007

Hi Rob. Shot for a great article and website! Just a quickie to add to your article, especially for those paddlers amongst us who are getting started: Remember that every failed attempt to get back into your surfski requires huge amounts of energy. After three or more failed attempts, you may find you just can't get in any more. Make SURE you get it right during the first (or at least second) attempt. Practice getting into your surfski in a variety of conditions. Do enough arm/chest strengthening exrcises to ensure you can mount the ski easily. Alain's comments (below) on getting into the ski with the wind behind you is really important and helpful in this respect.

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PFD boost
written by Johann van Blerck, June 03, 2007

If wearing PFD it's important that paddlers that are less agile, "bob underwater" for additional boost out of the water, particularly for the side saddle method where a higher boost is needed.

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leap frog
written by Tebera, June 04, 2007

It might not be the best for the ski but if you do not have the strength or the water is extremely choppy to pull yourself out at the seat safely/easily. You can push the stern down in the water and straddle the stern. Then "leap frog" to the seat. It keeps the face/brainmatter away from the (on my ski) nasty aluminum peddles.

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Suggestions for more articles like this
written by Rob Mousley, June 04, 2007

We've had a great response to this article - clearly it's struck a chord with many of our readers.

We'd welcome suggestions for more. For example, we're going to take some photos/video of some elite paddlers demonstrating the "ideal forward stroke".

Rob

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Right handed
written by Trinpad, June 04, 2007

Great article Rob and team, more practice required.

I'm right handed and tend to head to the left of the ski to remount. Anyone else suffer from that? I guess I need to practice mounting from the right.

More stuff like this please. How about staying on crossing heavy chop!?

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Right handed remount
written by Rob Mousley, June 04, 2007

>> Anyone else suffer from that?

Absolutely. I'm sure it's the same for everyone. Problem is, in the surf zone you need to get on quick from either side.

A couple of years ago I was taken into some fair sized surf by my coach in Durban - after an hour of being absolutely smashed by the surf I found my remounting technique becoming really polished...

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Plea to manufacturers
written by Alain Jaques, June 04, 2007

When designing your next surfski please consider the ergonomics of remounting.

The deep single footwells and high sides make grabbing the paddle and footstrap with one hand diffcult. Sharp edges around the seat are very unfriendly to the crotch area.

Also think about innovations to make the ski easier to carry on your hip. Tired hands find it difficult to grip the smooth wet surface next to the seat, if you lose your grip there the ski bounces off the rudder, how about some indentations or a rubber strip?

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Great article and excellent comments
written by KW, June 05, 2007

Rob, the remount article w/ pix and clips is terrific. Surfskiers in the US and especially on the east coast lament the lack of participation. Then, they do little to help the beginners. We, the beginners, need more articles like the remount article. I have a suggestion for an article: bracing. And two: how to practice bracing.

The Plea to Manufacturers by AJ is right on mark. Surfskis could be modified to be ergonometrically much easier for things like remounting and carrying with no impack on performance. If the participants and manufacturers want to keep this a niche sport, then continue the status quo.

But, if surf skiers and manufacturers want to make entry to the sport easier for people of all skill levels, then it is time to provide articles like Rob's, produce how-to DVD's (available in every other sport), write expert instructional manuals, and make the surf skis more user friendly. It is also important for manufacturers to encourage paddle shops/stores to sell surf skis AND provide instruction.

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forward stroke
written by tomb, June 05, 2007

Rob
As a beginner in this great sport any help would be great especially in paddling technique so any future articles along those lines would be appreciated

tomb

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What's that ski?
written by Rob Mousley, June 05, 2007

We've had a couple of inquiries about the ski used in the photos. It's a new design by a crowd called Honcho, built here in Cape Town. We'll have a review out in the next week or so.

Their website (currently under construction) is at: http://www.honchosurfskis.co.za/

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Honcho
written by LS, June 06, 2007

I did a short stint in the Honcho, although I'm definitely not experienced enough to provide any more meaningful feedback than "it's more stable than a Millenium".

However, at the risk of opening a can of worms when I'm fairly indifferent to the XLR8 issue: to my untrained eye, it does look a lot like the Mako6.

Looking forward to your review with morbid curiosity.

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Honcho
written by Rob Mousley, June 06, 2007

We'll be posting information about the development of the Honcho including the CAD drawings and photos of the plug being built up out of wooden frames.

I'm sure that it may have been inspired by the Mako6 (and I'm sure the V10) but this is no copy.

The design team included well-known Cape Town yacht designer Phil Southwell, Honcho owner Andrew Fyfe, with input from Jamii Hamlin, Richard Kohler and John van der Vyver.

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Honcho vs Mako6
written by Alain Jaques, June 06, 2007

I paddled the Honcho for about 5kms and I really enjoyed it. It looks very much like the Fenn Mako6 above water but the hull is certainly different. I lay them side by side and the Honcho has a rounder hull. I agree the deck looks similar but it is not identical.

While Rob fiddled with his camera I fell out and remounted 20 times and I am glad to report that it is more "remount friendly" than the 6.

The feel is also different, but more about that on the upcoming review....

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...
written by Robert Sharpe, June 06, 2007

Rob, excellent pics and discussion on the remount. I have a red7 and the problem i have encountered is trying to hold the foot-strap and paddle is a problem due to the depth of the footwell. Any suggestions???

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RE/Alain Jaques, June 04, 2007: "Also think about innovations to make the ski easier to carry on your hip."
written by Pete Cresswell, April 29, 2008

You mean like this?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2333/2422013532_583ce65b00.jpg?v=0

That's a slight modification of Huki's carrying handle.

It was aft of COG, but turned out tb right on the money when a paddle park was added and a paddle inserted.

The mod was replacing Huki's more robust handle with plain webbing - which doesn't chafe the thighs when paddling.

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"Sharp edges around the seat are very unfriendly..."
written by Pete Cresswell, September 05, 2008

I glued some foam to mine where they bite me in the ribs doing a side-saddle mount.

Works, sort of.... but introduces a new problem in that your bod no longer slides into the cockpit over that area: it tents to hang up on the rubber, especially when wearing a PFD.

Pending discovery of something that offers some padding, but is slippery, I reverted to rubber only on the opposite side from where I mount.

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So you think you know how to remount?
written by Kimbel Rowles, October 17, 2008

I recently moved up to a V10 Sport from an Endorfinn (plastic spec style ski). I thought I was an expert at deep water remounts as getting back on the Endorfinn is dead easy, with its shallow seat. Unfortunately, I hadn't taken into consideration the deep bucket of the Sport.

Here's how it unfolded - got the Sport in the water and I thought I was going great guns - didn't fall off in the river, caught some boat wash. Graduated to one foot bay surf with wind chop - didn't fall off. Tried to catch a smooth ocean swell ( which actaully lifts the back of the boat) and I was straight in the water - it was like a giant had hold of the back of the ski and just tipped me out. Then came what I have heard described as "the human rotisserie" - me trying to remount a ski with a deep seat - I couldn't do it - just that last bit of getting my bum from deck level down into the seat. Fortunately I was close to shallow water and managed to one-handed dog paddle to safety.

So I went to waist deep water and practised remounting until I could do it. Using the straddle method, I found that I had to pull up out of the water over the hump rather than over the bucket. Once I swivelled a leg over, I was then able to ease back into the bucket while keeping my feet in the water.

The moral of the story: Practice, practice, practice remounting before venturing into deep water with a new ski! I was only exhausted and embarrassed - it could have been much worse.

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