It would seem everyone can learn to surf but there are reasons Why People Can’t Learn to Surf. Surfing is a great way to get safely outdoors in pandemic times and it seems like a good way to get exercise since many are gym shy and it is on so many bucket lists.
There are a few reasons people who take lessons to surf are not able to stand up and ride on the surfboard. I would say this includes at least 20% of those who try from kids to seniors. Surfing is more technical and more tiring than anyone expects, but that doesn’t prevent people from riding the surfboard.
The First Major Obstacle
The first major issue is being overweight. There is a power to weight ratio that asks whether you can lift your weight off the surfboard. The pop up requires the student to first push their upper body off the board and then put a foot under the body to lift on one leg as the hands rise and the other foot moves to the front of the board. All this while traveling on the wave on a semi-unbalanced platform.
Some people don’t have the strength to lift their upper body very far (a push up) nor to lift their body on one leg. This is complicated by the fact that as people gain weight over a long time, they stop exercising. They lose flexibility and haven’t done anything that requires some coordination or agility in a long time. The flexibility is required to get the first foot flat on the board under the body. This cannot be done without flexibility. So the student doesn not have a leg to stand on, so to speak. Wonder whether you are overweight? Check your status on the Body Mass Index calculator.
The Second Major Obstacle
The next major issue which is a surprise is some people can’t learn. This goes from kids to seniors. It is not specific to any age or category but more about the person’s experience learning new physical movement like dance. The prime learners are typically girls at age 14 that are involved in lots of physical activities like dance, gymnastics, soccer etc. Their brains and bodies are always learning together.
Surfing is a sequence of movements. it is timing and rhythm. They have to be put together in a smooth order to get from catching a wave to standing up to riding on the surfboard. There are lots of pieces and each has to be just right for the whole thing to work. In the water, students can be coached on each piece. They often get that piece but can’t remember or stay focused on the other pieces. They often can’t get all the pieces.
In a nut shell, some people’s brains and bodies can’t communicate which is a form of coordination. Everyone can take care of the daily movements to complete their chores, but introduce a tricky new physical process and their brain and body won’t work together. I blame this on screen time with kids. They have become addicted to screens and no longer go out and play for entertainment. Adults have become addicted to screens also often because work and remote work demand it.
One Solution
I have two books I have written to address these issues as an answer for many people who want to surf but can’t get by the two big hindrances. In Get Fit to Surf and The 3 Week Plan, I address losing weight, getting stronger, getting flexible and getting aerobically fit. In the combination of these activities, a person can get their body in surfing shape. They learn how to do the pop up and can practice in their living room.
People can learn to surf if they do some training. They may not be the ones who get up in the first lesson, but with training they may be surf fit in a month or two. This then depends on their desire to get physically fit and their desire to get fit to surf.
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
For Surf Lessons in Oceanside, see the Home Page
Visit me on Instagram
For getting in better shape for surfing see GetFittoSurf.com
Sign up for weekly Tips on Losing Weight, Health, and Fitness Newsletter
See my new Health and Lifestyle website Markap Health and Lifestyle
The Surfers Life
Why do surfers surf? What is it about the culture that attracts and holds millions of people in the world? Why is the culture growing and how has it infiltrated our world with clothing, music, fitness, and stoke?
Buy on Amazon in Kindle or Paperback. $2.99 or $6.92
The New Surfing Trilogy. 3 books in 1 E-Book
Lose weight, get fit, and learn to surf. All in one concise summary of 3 books, Combines The 3 Week Plan, Get Fit to Surf, and Learn to Surf Guide.
Buy E Book on Amazon for $6.99
The Perfect Start for losing weight and getting fit is the E Book The 3 Week Plan
Buy on Kindle for $2.99 or Paperback for $6.95
Get my new book Get Fit to Surf
Its time to get back in shape. This book discusses strength, flexibility, stamina, and nutritional needs for getting in shape and losing weight. It is the great guide to get back to fitness for all your recreational desires. If you can surf, you can do most anything.
Buy on Kindle for $2.99 or Paperback on Amazon for $6.95
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 $6.95
Everybody Can Surf
To read a great book for getting in shape to surf or getting in better surfing shape, read my new book Everybody 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 $2.99
Buy the Paperback on Amazon for $6.95
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 $2.99
Buy the Paperback on Amazon for $6.95
Read a Book in the Markap Series
Self-Leadership, Happiness, Start Now.
Start Now is the process of losing weight, building strength and stamina, developing cardio fitness for surfing, recreation and health. Buy the E-book on Amazon for $2.99 and the Paperback for $6.95. Get into surf shape, start a new lifestyle, and enjoy life at a new level of health.
