Surfing the Short Board
Learn surfing the short board by honing the basics into greater precision. The short board is an advancement that necessitates more physical skills, better techniques, and more experience.
Lower volume surf boards create three new physical demands. Paddling them is more work and longer sessions require more stamina that paddling high volume boards. The body has to be in advanced surfing physical condition to execute the pop up. This will include flexibility, upper body strength and core strength.
Surfing the short board requires that the pop up is smooth, swift, and accurate. Gone are the days when you can crawl up on the board like on a soft top. The lower volume won’t tolerate any imbalance.
Short Board Experience
Surfing the short board requires the experience of reading waves. Foam waves give a wide window in time to paddle and receive the impact. A short board needs the arc of a real wave and the window is a few seconds. The secret is paddling in front of the wave and allowing it to come under the board. Then a few powerful strokes will usually propel the board down the face.
Posture and Weight Balance
Riding the short board requires a new understanding of weight placement between the middle of the board and over the fins. In accelerating, and carving, the weight on the board changes from middle to rear. Watching how to videos is one way to get the idea and as techniques are practiced, videos keep delivering more meaning.
The size of the short boards can vary tremendously. They can retain the high volume width and thickness to make them easier to ride. They can get thin and narrow to change the performance dynamics. They can be shaped to ride small waves or big steeper waves. You can find your level and enjoyment and then get the right board.
Learning surfing the short board only begins the adventure.
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For Oceanside Surf Lessons USA, see the landing page
For surf camps, school, or series of lessons see the options
See a great YouTube video on short board techniques and strategies