Learning to Ride a Surfing Short Board is a goal for many new surfers. The younger surfers are the more inclined they are to be thinking of a short board. After all, this is what their friends are riding and this is what the Pros ride.
Riding the short board comes after paying a lot of dues. It takes patience and persistence to learn surfing techniques and then advanced techniques. Surfing is more technical and exacting than everyone expects. Boys are often frustrated because it is difficult and they are not great at it right away.
The Fundamentals of Progressing to Riding the Short Board
When beginners lose patience with the correct techniques and begin to make up their own, they get into bad habits and techniques that will defy progress. Many young kids like to put a knee on the surfboard instead of mastering the pop up by putting feet only on the board. This often leads to a poor stance on the surfboard. A poor stance leads to falling off immediately in real waves.
The beginner starts on a soft top board riding foam waves. Then he progresses to riding small real waves. After he can catch small real waves down the face he can also learn to point the surf board towards the pocket or catch them at the corners where the wave is not as big.
As the now intermediate begins to ride bigger waves he stops just driving the board in the pocket and begins to learn maneuvers. At this point the pop up is getting smooth and reliable. Maneuvers start with bottom turns, cut backs and accelerating. Bottom turns are for turning from the face to the pocket and for riding up the face for tricks.
Cut backs are for returning to the power of the wave, stalling to wait for the power, and style. In between each maneuver, the surfer learns to accelerate for speed by pushing the nose of the surfboard up and down the face with his front foot. As the surfer is practicing these maneuvers, he is also attempting to ride bigger waves.
Most short board riders are satisfied with waves up to 6′ as a regular diet. As waves get bigger, more courage and confidence in the skill set is required. Mistakes result in real punishments. The surfer is also working on conditioning, strength and flexibility. Cross training brings measurable improvements to the water. Simple exercises like push ups, squats, dead lifts, burpies, and planks support surfing muscles and flexibility.
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Get the Learn to Surf Guide Course in Kindle, Paperback or Audio
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.
Kindle price $2.99 on Amazon. Paperback price $6.95 on Amazon. Audio download price $7.95
Overweight People Can Surf
To read a great book for getting in shape to surf or getting in better surfing shape, read my new book Overweight People Can Surf, a Health, Fitness, Nutrition, and Surfing Adventure
Description:
Get healthy and fit to surf or set a goal of surfing to improve weight, fitness, nutrition, and health. This guide by a surf instructor/health coach/personal trainer gives the short version of how to lose weight, get strong, build stamina, develop nutrition, and learn to surf. Surfing is a lifestyle enjoyed by millions and so is fitness. Fitness creates opportunities to enjoy life through lots of different kinds of recreation. No need to stand on the sidelines while others are having a great time. Start your program to health with easy steps and progress at your own pace. That is the secret to maintaining a lifestyle. Do it at your pace. This book will start you on the path.
Buy the E book on Amazon for $5.99
Buy the Paperback on Amazon for $7.99
Seniors Get Fit to Surf
Description:
Seniors often ask if it is too late to learn to surf. Age is functional not chronological. If people have been exercising and maintaining body strength, surfing can be accomplished. If people have not been exercising, then getting in shape to surf could be a life changing move. Learn how to develop strength, flexibility, and stamina to learn surfing. If you are in surf shape, you could pursue most any recreation.
Buy the E-book on Amazon for $5.99
Buy the Paperback on Amazon for $7.99
