Hello everyone! I started surfing in my late 20’s and I am now 38 years young. I wanted to share a beneficial exercise to progress in your surfing. Those of us that become obsessed with surfing later in life need all the help we can get. Those of you that grew up surfing, well, this article could still be helpful, but you are the lucky ones who will always have the upper hand.
The technical demands of surfing are unlike any other sport. You have to understand how the water works and how to harness that energy with grace. Surfing takes a lot of practice and you truly have to be in love with the process because it is not easy. A lot of us “get the hang of it” but are stalled out at a certain point in our progression. Sure, if we had a wave pool in the back yard we could consistently work on the technical aspect and become proficient and develop great technique and style. But we are subject to the ever-changing conditions of the ocean and the wind. Thus we progress a bit more slowly.
There is a wave pool in your backyard in a sense. You just didn’t know it. The shapes and contours of the landscape offer a great opportunity for training in how to mechanically respond to waves. With repetition you can refine your technique.
The wave is the pavement, the reward is worth the risk. Your surfing will progress, but please take care and wear safety equipment. At the very least a helmet and wrist guards.
The body has a tendency to try and break a fall by putting your hand down. This is the last thing that you should do. It is far better to put your shoulder down and roll. But my best advice is to take it slow and only do beginners movements to start off.
There are many different manufacturers of surf-skate boards and it is definitely gaining in popularity so I am sure there will be more to come. The board that I would recommend for surf skating is called a Carver board and is made in Santa Cruz, California. A full set up runs about $250 USD.
Stay tuned for some instructional posts on some basic techniques and where to start with your surf skate practice.
Have an awesome day.