Do you try to paddle on toe side for frontside waves and vice versa? Since paddling on heel side is weaker for me, I tend to paddle on toe side unless I need to move to the peak by paddling heal side. It seems like this makes it a littler trickier to do an angled take off going backside (unless you are angling toward peak/fading), but I also find that on a steeper wave, I can set my rail better going backside and I think it's cause I'm forced to drop straight before turning down the line.
I've seen some pros will switch sides as they paddle into the wave, like start heelside and then switch - I've tried this but seem to lose wave while I'm bumbling to switch sides.
My standard is toe side front or backside as it is stronger as you state. That said those last few strokes needed to successfully drop will sometimes be on the heelside if that is what I needed. Sometimes the angle requires it though I can not state exactly what that is, just some kind of adaptation to get into the wave.
So during this mornings surf I paid attention to which side. If needed because of angle between boards trajectory and the wave and the paddle yaw action on the board, heel side is sometimes needed. That is to get the board pointed to the beach at takeoff the yaw from the heel side strokes might be necessary.
But mostly on the backside entry toe side matches nicely with your heels engaging the rail and tail.
For me, it depends on my relative position to the wave steeper part. I will choose a takeoff trajectory to get myself in the best takeoff position, and it means paddling on one side or the other. It thus depends on the wave, not me.
For instance, I am regular-foot, taking rights: if a big set comes, I will paddle towards the right (facing the beach) to get to the peak that is more outside than the average spot, so I will paddle on my right side - thus toe side - to paddle in a counter-clockwise hook. The opposite for a smaller wave that peaks more on the inside, I will thus paddle heel side.
toeside whenever possible... sometimes end up with a few heelside strokes to correct a poor approach angle. but thats when things have not gone to plan. Often when i muff a take off, its the heel side strokes that have put me off balance
Also I like to have the paddle over the inside rail side for a bottom turn, paddling on the heelside means i've gotta switch hands during the drop/initial part of the wave which adds complications my simple surf brain doesnt need
Yeah I'm crap paddling heel side and need more practice but hunt out the rights.
We have a reef that's a left and start off paddling on toeside and over paddle without swapping hands. After mid tide the wave gets a peek and right starts 
I am a toe-side paddler all the time. I thought this was a problem until I found out Colin McPhillips was 100% toe side. I am so uncomfortable catching a wave paddling backside that I have never looked back. I am totally in Beefarmers camp. There is some backside surfing towards the end.
I would avoid heelside but I surf shifty beach break so it's often a choice of catching/not catching wave way on shoulder vs paddling heelside to get closer to peak. Maybe 3rd option is get good enough paddling to turn both ways toeside?
Select to expand quotecolas said..
It thus depends on the wave, not me.
Out of curiosity, I counted how many times I paddled toe or heel side on my last video, all on right handers at a beachbreak.
- Toe side: 15
- Hell side: 9
You can see me switching the paddle during the drop on the heel side ones.
Totally not angry jealous of those perfect, little waves.
It all depends on the wave and positioning, pretty much like Colas explained. I am regular foot, so if I am paddling right towards the peak I will be paddling on the heel side to turn and keep the momentum. I cannot see how I could be paddling on the toe side in a situation like that, because I have no clue how to turn right whilst paddling on the toe (right) side, unless I paddle backwards, which will kill all momentum.
Select to expand quotetheSeb said..
Totally not angry jealous of those perfect, little waves.
To be honest, it does not happen often. The Hossegor coast is very open, so most of the time many different swells are merged, plus there are no land heights to block winds. And waves more than overhead create insane rips except for very few spots that get crowded...
But when it happens...
Select to expand quotecolas said..colas said..
It thus depends on the wave, not me.
Out of curiosity, I counted how many times I paddled toe or heel side on my last video, all on right handers at a beachbreak.
- Toe side: 15
- Hell side: 9
You can see me switching the paddle during the drop on the heel side ones.
Great video!
Select to expand quotetheSeb said..
Totally not angry jealous of those perfect, little waves.
It all depends on the wave and positioning, pretty much like Colas explained. I am regular foot, so if I am paddling right towards the peak I will be paddling on the heel side to turn and keep the momentum. I cannot see how I could be paddling on the toe side in a situation like that, because I have no clue how to turn right whilst paddling on the toe (right) side, unless I paddle backwards, which will kill all momentum.
I've only heard folks talking bout this, I think on Paddlewoo podcast- like maybe weighting rail and then overdoing the stroke technique you use to go straight, never tried.
I need to spend a couple sessions forcing myself to paddle backside for every wave, but easier said than done. Usually do just a few each session, but do enjoy novel feeling of dropping in relying less on paddle strength
What a great vid Colas, Anne-Marie does and excellent job behind the camera. You're ripping as well and with the cool tunes totally enjoyable.
Select to expand quoteKisutch said..
I've only heard folks talking bout this, I think on Paddlewoo podcast- like maybe weighting rail and then overdoing the stroke technique you use to go straight, never tried.
To go straight, the really important part is to paddle with the shaft in a vertical plane.
The C-stroke, J-stroke and other techniques where you curve the trajectory of the blade and its angle are less important, as they can stress a lot the joints and they decrease a lot the efficiency, so attempt them only as a complement once you master the vertical plane.
And trying to dig a rail is a recipe for disaster.
I am Goofy but I mostly get backside as there are not enough Lefts where I surf and have the most fun so backside is normal for me. However I am paddling my way and it works but some people don't like it but thats ok we are individuals. When I paddle for a wave I am not in surf stance my feet are straight, I move my left foot back when I actually feel the wave even if a little late I just slip it back.
I also swap sides with my paddle. If the board is tracking wrong onto the wave and that can also be late and I'm strong on both sides but stronger on my left side overall. You can't predict what side to paddle from you have to go with the moment so if you are. Not as storing on one side, only paddle on that side for long distances until it improves then it does not matter.
I had a Hernia Op last year and lost conditioning for Supping so I have been doing a lot of exercises to get stronger again and I focused on my arms and shoulders and it has made a huge difference in a few months. Paddling is easier and I have so much more power to help me catch more waves. Practice is the only way to swap hands quickly and accurately even if it costs a few waves and causes wipe outs.
I recognize that tech and do it too. Parallel stance and just as the wave starts lifting the tail slide/lift the back foot in place. So right that you can't plan ahead as the wave will decide. Unless you are all alone on a point breakSo surfing this morning I realized that I have developed a trick that I rarely use but works well. From a parallel approach for the last burst of strokes I step forward and rotate with my eventual back foot into a surf stance crouching. I have switch footed to frontside and do the burst toe side. Then just as the drop is guaranteed I rotate back to my backside. Works well in the clutch.
I can not successfully switch foot. This technique has led twice to ending up dropping in swichfoot. Started out cool but ended ugly.
I am natural footed and will always paddle toe side with my feet staggered right foot back on right hand waves, on left hand waves I have struggled a bit, if the wave is fairly slow breaking I will still do the same for lefts but if you have a fast breaking wave going left (backside) I have started paddling on the heel side with my feet slightly staggered left foot back and , then when I drop in I can just move my right foot way back and it helps getting the rail on the face quicker, my front foot will be just behind the centre of the board and slightly to the heel side!!
Thanks for all the discussion- one thing I notice is the more I go into surf stance the more awkward it is to paddle on heel side, but this is offset by needing less paddle power cause I can better shift my weight forward. But I can't catch super early or mushy waves like I can on toeside where I can paddle hard and shift weight
