How Many Surf Lessons to Learn to Surf is a question frequently asked by beginners. It is a great question. People are like snow flakes in that few are alike in physical conditioning, learning aptitude, courage, and Body Mass (BMI) to name a few of the conditions for learning.
The first lesson reveals everything. Some are not physically capable of standing on the board because too many conditions are working against them. Others progress so fast that they are riding the first wave and surfing real waves before the first lesson is over. How could we be so different? We are.
The Learning Curve in Surf Lessons
Surf lessons begin with dry land instruction. The new student learns safety and the process for catching a wave and standing up in the water. Many can do it on dry land because it is easier. In the water it is more difficult because now the board is moving in an easy to unbalance state and more strength and coordination are needed to stand up.
Four things certainly come together in defining a person’s capability to surf. Can’t get away from body mass. Surfers call it a power to weight ratio which means a person must have the strength to lift their body off the board. This requires the upper body strength to push up. Then the lower body strength to stand on on leg for the beginner while the other leg is moving forward.
Interceding this process is flexibility. People who don’t exercise and many who do are not loose in the hamstrings, buttocks, and lower back. Stiffness makes it impossible to get the first foot under the butt for the pop up. People who are overweight are probably not exercising so they not only have a burden of lifting their weight, they can’t support their weight by getting a foot under their butt to stand on.
A third factor that is common with everyone from kids to seniors is their brain can’t transfer what they have heard to their body. They are not accustomed to learning new physical actions and they can’t coordinate. The pop up is a sequence and it must be followed closely. Many people skip the focus of doing it correctly and want to do it with instincts. Beginners instincts are wrong and most soon realize they need to follow the sequence.
Given a person can physically pop into the right stance, the learning curve may depend on their stamina to keep learning. Surfing is very physically demanding. It may depend on their courage and ability to feel comfortable in the ocean. It may depend on their ability to learn. If all these are handled, the person moves quickly from catching foam waves to the beach and then paddling out for bigger foam waves.
Once a person can paddle out and catch foam waves, they can start looking to catch small real waves. The difference is big. Real waves require different timing and more courage because mistakes are punished. Real waves have more weight and move faster. There are three possible entry methods that can be learned to make it easier. At this point a surfer is moving into intermediate skills. It has been done in the first lesson by a rare few.
Visit the Home Page for Surf Lessons
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A great 29 page course on the fundamentals of catching waves, doing beginner and advanced pop ups, riding real waves, how to do maneuvers on real waves, which surfboards to ride, and how to progress. Great for lesson preparation, after lesson review, or learning on your own.
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A great guide to strength, flexibility, stamina, and leanness for surfing. Beginner strategies for getting stronger, more flexible, stronger cardiovascular system, and nutrition to lose weight. An improving surfer or one who wants to prepare must meet the whole body physical demands of surfing. Getting stronger improves ones ability to perform better.
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Description:
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My newest book. Many people these days want to lose major weight. They want to get fit for recreation or to surf. They need to get healthy. Getting healthy often begins with losing a major amount of weight. This is not easy, but with the right routine it becomes easier. The body fights weight loss as a self-preservation mechanism, but it can be manipulated into complying. I have lost 50 pounds years ago and recently 35 pounds to get below my high school weight. It feels great. Weight loss may also be the key to reversing diseases and disorders. Doctors will tell patients to reverse diabetes, lose 25% of your body weight (varies). What people don’t learn from doctors is whether they have metabolic or mitochondrial disorders. Both lead to serious health issues and disease. This books discusses all of this to better inform you if you have health issues.
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Description:
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