Techniques Beginners Have to Learn
There are many Surfing Techniques Beginners Have to Learn to progress. Surfing is more technical than everyone expects and each step must be mastered to progress. Surfers often target short board surfing as their goal, but there is a lot to learn to accomplish that goal.
Physical conditioning and size play a role in learning to surf. Overweight people that want to surf should embark on a weight loss program. The problem with gaining weight is it is not usually accompanied by a fitness routine. Surfers need to be strong, flexible and have stamina. A lot of surfing delivers these attributes but not everyone can get to the water several times a week.
Start the Learning Process on a Soft Top
Learning on a soft top is a good start. It is easy to paddle, easy to catch waves, easy on the pop up and easy to ride. Each step to lower volume boards creates a learning curve and the necessity for more paddling power. Lower volume (shorter) boards sink further into the water and need more engine power.
The pop up to the correct stance is mandatory. When I teach new students and show them the pop up and correct stance, they have difficulty executing to get into the right stance. This results in falls. They often make up their own short cuts which may work in foam but that will the extent of their progress.
If you watch surfers at the beach or in film, their pop ups look clean and smooth. They don’t put a knee on the board. They don’t hold on until both feet are on the board with their butt in the air. They are facing forward and up right to ride down the face of waves. There are few variations of the pop up that will work.
Catching Waves is an Art and a Science
Catching waves is an art and science that surfer practice all their lives. It is about timing, rhythm and positioning. Surfers can catch foam waves just by waiting for it to arrive. The real wave has to be intersected as it arcs. Judging location and speed of the wave takes practice. The surfer has to paddle into position for the wave to come under his board. This is a matter of seconds to get in position.
Riding on the wave takes some maneuvers. The surfer rides down the face and bottom turns into the pocket. The surfer can practice accelerating on a soft top where he moves the nose of the board up and down the face with his front foot to pick up speed. The cut back reverses direction to return to the power near the falling lip. These three maneuvers can create all the joy surfers need without having to get more complicated. Yet, soon, surfers on short boards will want to rip the lip and try some 360’s and reverses.
The more advanced maneuvers are where the short board is necessary. The soft tops have too much bulk to whip around in the air although advanced surfers can do it. The importance of moving shorter on boards 6″ at a time will result in faster progress and retaining the stoke. Getting beyond ones capabilities with too small of a board, destroys the fun.
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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