Also have an amazing time at Playgrounds! I’ll be up on Saturday 🙏

Amazing comments, thank you Emily! So glad you’ve found the Oreo helpful too, 4x wave count is 🤌

Some replies to what I think were your main points: 

1. I 100% agree on wave speed math, I can’t paddle at the speed of a wave. especially the head high barrels I’m asking about. Let’s call it 6 feet so that’s 11mph according to the Rob Case video about this, top paddlers on shortboard are only 4mph

2. I 100% agree re your point re “hard paddling” being counter-productive. I found the Rob Case video re smooth form at 60-70% effort very helpful. But this is why I’m asking if I should take MORE strokes (to build momentum), not harder strokes. sorry if my original wording wasn’t clear!

Overall, I’m just trying to figure out if I truly can try get away with 2 paddles or if that’s going to create too big a speed mismatch that the Oreo can’t handle on a sucky head-high barrel. I could imagine taking <5-7?> strokes to get me closer to planing speed so that the Oreo can do its thing lower on the face before I’m sucked up near the top of the wave and the drop gets more critical

In my case (yours may vary!) I mostly focus on:

1. Get to the peak NO SHOULDER HOPPING

2. Smooth easy stroke (with great posture - banana, legs together)

3. Feel the lift from wave bottom and know it’s my friend now that I Oreo

4. Cobra arch upper body with hands down on deck towards belly button. (I’m looking down the line, and am on rail now)

5. Feel those legs press down on the tail as I cobra and board starts accelerating

6. Take your time and Pop (I personally kept a pop not walk up)

The weight distribution seems to take care of itself if I do steps 4&5

Either way, I’m so grateful for the amazing coaching on here. it’s massively improved my (mid) surfing and I’m having the best time because of OMBE.