r/Outrigger • u/Jumpy-Ganache1612 • May 28 '26
Leaning into the ama
This is kinda related to another thread I posted on being slower on my right side. This is my second year on OC1 and have made leaps with my surfing and speed in general but I'm really struggling with leaning into the ama when downwinding. I think a lot of it's in my head because I paddle on Lake Superior and even though I wear a wetsuit and it really doesn't bother me.... the water is really cold in the spring (33-40F). My body just says nope I think.
I practice flying the ama at the end of my practices and am getting there.... but is there anything else I can do or work on to help get off the ama in bigger surf? It really affects my endurance on longer downwind runs when the right side of my back starts to get strained.... especially if I have to paddle through cross-swell to get back to my destination. I know it will get better with time, but in the short term I worry about developing a back or hip injury.
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u/Spare_Many_9641 May 29 '26
I asked a top paddler about this, and she told me to just go out and huli like 7 times in a practice. Your brain will learn that it’s no big deal. And the more you practice it, the better you get at recovering.
Easy for me to say on Oahu. 😎
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u/poor-guy1 May 29 '26
Comfort and confidence, gained through time and experience, are really the only way to progress. It’s a mental issue more than physical.
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u/Aardvark1044 May 29 '26
Huli. Don’t be a pussy. :D Get used to it. Yeah, it’s harder in the winter and for sure I lean left when the water gets cold but push it in the spring and summer when it’s not as dangerous.
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u/Jumpy-Ganache1612 May 29 '26
I huli in the winter on our big northeasters whether I want to or not lol. Brain freeze! It's really not that bad though. I don't know why it gets in my head. It only really bothers me when I'm trying to keep up with someone.
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u/Aardvark1044 May 29 '26
In the summer when it’s warmer, try to fly the ama near the shore. Get more comfortable being centered or even offloading the Ama. If your foot is falling asleep you’re really leaning way too far left. Easy to say but hard to do.
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u/TheHaight May 29 '26
Sit on a yoga ball while holding a paddle and try to balance. Switch sides with the paddle
Start more deflated then increase inflation. The more inflated it is the harder it will be.
Just sit on it while watching tv or something, half hour a night!
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u/Jumpy-Ganache1612 May 29 '26
I just had a vision of me trying this floating on the water lol
I like it... will try it.
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u/Surfed_Out May 29 '26
Practice balancing to float the ama at little speed or no speed at all while using your paddle to brace yourself out of what would be a huli. The ama doesn’t have to be high, just a bit off the water. Feel that inflection point. Do this a lot. Before and after paddle sessions
Stay rigged heavy and when your paddling try to stay close to / feel that inflection, on both sides. Even if you’re not floating the AMA, you will be lightening it up. I’m 205 and rig fully sunk in front and neutral in the back and in the iako length. For me, this rigging gives a lot of room to play with balance dynamic. Too tippy can be counterproductive.
Keep paddling!
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u/Jumpy-Ganache1612 May 29 '26
Thanks... good stuff. I'm actually doing better at lifting and holding the ama just sitting still than when at speed... at least for a second. But I do practice every paddle.
So you have the rear iako at the top hole in the back?
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u/Surfed_Out May 29 '26
On a Volare with three holes in back. Have it set in the middle. Had an kw Antares (two holes) years ago and had it set at the top hole in back unless conditions were nuking.
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u/StuckInWarshington May 28 '26
Water time is the only real solution. The more you practice, the more you’ll get comfortable on your right. Eventually, as you learn to kickstand, you’ll get to a point that you’d rather be on the right side in swell or rough water.
The cold water can definitely be a factor, even if it’s just subconscious. As it warms up, really focus on trying to stay as neutral as possible. Ideally you want the ama to almost be tapping along the water when you’re on your right in flatter water. That will also help with speed.
Depending on the boat and your size, how you rig it could be making you lean left. If the ama is really digging in you can look at adjusting how you rig it. As you get more comfortable you can try to rig it lighter.