Choosing waves when its massive.

[plummet]

When riding the big stuff I'm finding that letting the first wave in a massive set roll past and taking the next one is the way to go. The first big wave allways seems to be lumpy as hell. That wave cleans the water up and the next wave though it might be a little smaller is super clean and heaps more fun to ride. What techniques do you used for selecting big waves?

[Tone]

depends on how the waves are setting up. When I used to surf more I'd always take the 3-4th wave. If you screw up and get caught on the inside you don't need to take too many beatings. Second wave of a set could mean loads more on the head.

Just my take.

With a kite, you "should" be able to get out through most waves either by jumping over them or powering through. Though that totally depends on the break.

[Westozzy]

Depends on which one I leave for the windsurfer pumping his sail furiously in the usual stalled position, or lying in the water why I think of it...

Why?

[pj sofine]

I would just putt around on the outside and watch the humps come in. Took a while to learn to spot a winner.Then I would follow it in till the wave jacked up an away I'd go!

[Saami]

What Tone said. Ideally you want to ride the biggest wave of the set, or one of the waves following the biggest one - and as Tone said, that's usually wave number 3 or 4. That's kind of the general rule in surfing, and it's even more important when kitesurfing waves because if you drop your kite, you want the subsequent waves to break downwind of you and your kite (as opposed to breaking over your kite and you, which will be the case if the waves following "your" wave are bigger).

Never take the first one, unless you are feeling really cocky.