New surf students want to know How Beginner Surfers Progress. Surfing becomes addicting to some and they want to learn as much as possible and ride real waves. Surfing progress is slow.
The basics learned in the first lesson are the same basics to ride real waves. So it makes sense that the lessons learned are not just for beginners but for advanced surfers and have to be taken seriously. The beginner learns the timing of catching waves, when and how to pop up, how to stand on the surfboard, and then how to ride to the beach.
Mastering the Beginner Techniques
If the beginner masters these techniques, they can progress to paddling out through foam waves and catching bigger ones. After a few days of that, they can begin seeking small real waves in the 2′ to3′ range. Once beginners can ride down the face of small real waves, they can start moving up to bigger real waves as technique, strength, and courage allow.
The pop up has to be smooth or surfers will not ride bigger waves. The pop has to land the surfer in the right stance on the surfboard. Feet should be shoulder width apart, weight equal on front and back leg, and most important, the hips and shoulders have to be squared to the front so the surfer can see their hands in front of their body.
What Slows Progress
Progress is slowed if surfers ride the surfboard like they skate or snowboard with one hand and therefore a shoulder trailing. This puts their weight over one rail (their butt side) and the weight on their heels which causes the board to turn over. They will fall off the butt side every time and not advance.
The second thing beginners to do inhibit progress is not release their hands to put their front foot on the board. They want to hold on until both feet are on the board. This causes the arms to block the front foot from getting close to the nose. It will also cause the surfer to fly off the front of the board because his hands and feet are on at the same time putting his head in front of his toes instead of being upright in the yoga down dog position
Surfers have to have the strength and stamina to paddle. Once they start paddling out, they paddle to get through the waves then paddle to catch waves and then paddle out again. The paddling is what is tiring not riding the surfboard. The surfer must also learn how to get through the big waves on the way out. Getting pounded (being in the impact zone) is very tiring and discouraging. Waves have to be timed and surfers turn turtle to let big waves go by or release their board if no one is behind them.
Riding Real Waves
Once the surfer starts riding real waves that are bigger than 3′ they learn to bottom turn off the face to ride in the pocket. Another method of getting in the pocket is pushing the nose toward the pocket after catching the wave and before popping up. Another way to catch bigger waves is to catch them at the corners. The surfer paddles out to where the wave is unfolding and lets the pocket roll under him. He wants to gradually move closer to the apex (where the foam first comes over the lip) because this is where the power is and gives the surfer the right of way on the wave.
As the surfer progresses, he becomes more comfortable in the ocean, learns how to fall, stops pearling his surfboard, and in general feels more confidence in his competence. Progressing slowly is important to gain these feelings so one doesn’t want to move to smaller boards too quickly or you don’t go through this progression.
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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