Learning to surf is more technical than new surfers expect but there are 5 Techniques Beginner Surfers Learn. The techniques are often quite different than beginner surfer instincts which is why most cannot learn on their own.
One of the biggest challenges of teaching people to surf is their own instincts are wrong but they have difficulty focusing on what they learned in dry land once they hit the water. The ocean is intimidating and once they are moving fast on a wave, they don’t trust what they have learned. After they have failed while trusting their instincts they will open to learn what is correct.
How to Get on the Surfboard Correctly
The first technique for beginners learning in waist deep water on foam waves is to get on the surfboard correctly. If you look at everyone trying to learn on their own next to you, you will notice they don’t have their feet at the back of the board. This causes them to pearl time after time (nose of board under water). The beginner holds the board up with one hand over the top and one hand underneath. He then rolls over on the board in one motion so the board and body hit the water the same time. In this process he rolls his feet onto the tail at the back. His body is straight as a pencil and balanced on both sides of the center line.
Catching the wave is simple if you have the technique. Most beginners have no idea of timing. They don’t know when to stand up. The process is simple. When the foam wave is 20 feet away, the surfer rolls over perfectly so he can begin paddling easy to get the board moving. He looks to the side to see when the foam is going to hit the tail. Then he paddles hard until he feels the board take off in the wave and the nose coming up on top of the water. (When the wave hits the board, it lifts the tail and points the nose down)
Where to Place the Hands is Crucial
Once the board is riding level on the water, the surfer can put his hands on it. This is the biggest trick for beginners. They want to throw their hands in front of their shoulders in an already pushed up position. Then they try to get their feet under their body. Most of the time, they will push the nose under the water or fail to stand. The hands must be next to the rib cage while the body is still lying on the board. No push up movement is necessary for two to four seconds. This allows the body to get poised for standing up.
The secret in the beginner pop up for standing up is to get the back foot flat on the surfboard so the surfer can stand and get his hands off the surfboard before the front foot is moved forward. After resting in the hands next to the rib cage position, the surfer pushes up and moves one foot under his butt (about 3 feet from the tail of the board) and places it sideways and flat. Then he stands on that foot so he can lift his hands off the board. Most beginners want to hold on until the front foot hits the board. This is the point where they make their mistake.
The Hands Must Be Released While Standing Up
The surfer has to stand and release his hands before placing the front foot. Most beginners do a one two action where the back foot and then the front foot are placed and the hands are still on the board. This causes them to fly off the front of the board. If the surfer doesn’t stand and release his hands, he will not get the front foot placed correctly.
Next is the riding stance. Most beginner surfers want to ride in the “snowboard” stance with one hand trailing. This causes the butt to sit over one rail and the surfer to fall off the side. The body has to be square on the board like pushing a box. Both hands have to be in front as though pushing a tall box ten feet. Legs are shoulder width apart and now the hips and shoulders are square to the front or parallel to the beach. In this posture, the board will go straight and the surer does not need to have much balance.
Read Other Posts:
Beginner Surfers Learn on Soft Tops
5 Steps to Improve Surfing Performance
3 Ways to Catch Real Surfing Waves
Training to Ride the Surfing Short Board
Short Board Surfing Techniques
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