Once again, you need to set up the tube with a solid bottom turn and aim for where the tube is beginning to form, Currumbin dropknee guru Michael Crawley in photo I has done just that. He has set up perfectly in position to get pitted at Pipe in Hawaii. He stays in control by remaining centred and turning his board with subtle adjustments to line up with the throwing lip. By trailing his arm closest to the wave face, he creates a stall which will help reduce speed and let the lip engulf him.

Photo 2 shows Crawls pitted in a sucky beachie in WA. To get in this position, he has pulled into the barrel and grabbed hold of his outside rail. This allows Michael to hold his edge into the wave face as the wave begins to get holiower. He has also crouched lower by leaning back and tucking his head down to prevent being knocked off by the lip.

Without the aid of a skeg, his trailing flipper will help steer and at the same time the majority of his bodyweight should be leaning on his inside rail. To make the tube from this position, Michael needs to build speed and head for the tube opening.

Backside pits are a lot harder than frontside, and success relies on whether you can hold your edge throughout the barrel.