the 10 lessons for a beginner were great and I would like to thank everyone for their in put…now what should a intermediate surfer learn? In the last one there wasnt much on technique…surprised me a little …there was some on technique but not much…maybe we are all slow with the typing and have to keep it to a minimum… go off on this one and write as much as you like…aloha Cheyne
I’m not sure if this is what you’re looking for… but skating bowls has greatly improved my backside balance and approach to the lip. Also, timing is everything. If you’re having a little trouble following through your snaps going backside, it might be because you’re trying to watch your spray - keep your eyes on the wave and the transitions. Look to where you want to go next. Square off your shoulders to sections you want to do turns and snaps on. On frontside turns, look over your outside shoulder while you make your turn so that your eyes are on the wave and not on your spray. In barrles, when you fall, try and fall in front of your board.
These are some techniques that I find myself using, so they may or may not work for you. Hope they help…
wave jugdement
generarting speed
handling dead sections so you can get to the face after a dead section
cut backs, of the lips, tube rides, carving, etc
riding point and reef breaks
the square off the shoulders is good…what gets to a point first? the eyes…tube rides is advanced …beginners get to the point of takeoff and make the drop and turn…yahooo intermediate work out the moves…and advanced combine them…is that close?just for instancebeginners the first turn crouch down low go right to the bottom then look where you want to go if forehand put pressure on the toe stay low and turn your shoulders the direction you want to go…also reading which direction the wave is going…so you turn with it…who has another maneuver veiw?
Hi Cheyne…some advice from a 40 y/o shortboarder from FL
-
decrease tension by relaxing your arms, eyes and face…this will help smooth out the typical intermediate spazism.
-
try to flow with the wave instead of trying to attack it - self video helps
-
strengthen your legs and bend the knees
-
develop or maintain some soul
-
don’t forget to travel
-
be fit
A few more that I thought about…
Open your mind to other means of equipment. All too often, beginner surfers are thrust into either the shortboard or longboard spectrum and forget about everything in between. I too am guilty; all I’ve constantly ridden my entire 10 years of surfing are shortboards. I have ridden longboards, skimboards and body boards as well though. However, I’m becomming more open minded to the “ride what best suits the conditions” frame of mind. I’m beginning to explore the single-fin style boards, those that guys like Rob Machado and Donavon Frankenrider ride on a regular basis and I hope to have my 5’10 finished and glassed with in the week or so.
Now back to technique…
A good duck dive is very important. Try to duck dive with your feet instead of your knees; this saves the deck of your board from major preassure dings. The deeper you go, the better. Also, it helps to open your eyes so that you can “steer” though the imploding lip. I wear contacs when I surf, so I usually don’t do this, but it helps.
FIX THAT DING YOU DUMMY! And please do not stick wax in it… Suncure works fine on small cracks and chips, but you need the real deal for anything big.
When getting tubed, keep your eyes open. I didn’t do this when I first started pulling in - just natural reaction made me close my eyes, but I got over it. We all know the “pig-dow” style of riding a backside barrel, but a lot of times I tend to grab my rail just forward of my front foot when riding frontside barrels too. It keeps you tucked up against the wall and keeps your rail set when the lip shifts.
In larger surf, time the sets before you paddle if there isn’t a channel. Watch others before you pick one off. Don’t hesitate, you’re going to get worked eventually whether you like it or not.
Cross train, and make sure its something about balance, stamina, and flexibility. I do Tai Chi, but most martial arts, yoga, pilates, mountain biking, soccer, etc. all are good. Its the best gift you can give your surfing. Yeah, sure, its 95% a paddling & sitting sport, so swimming & paddling sure help. But its your legs & flexibility that you need when it counts - no matter what equipment you ride. So put in the time, its worth it…
1-10 share…ambrose…honest
im just wondering …are you doing a school report on how to go from a beginner to an advanced surfer in a certain number of steps?..am i the only one that …awwww nevermind. …no wait i got it , 1st step…practice.2nd step…oh its the same as the first step…damn thats not a 500 word essay is it.?
cheyne a couple more tech ones…
on low/moderate turns lead with shoulder turns
learn how to shift your back foot up and back from neutral/drive position to turn position…basically learn how to find the sweet spot on the board
these are great lessons for anyone thanks everyone…im doing this because i teach surfing to all levels and it’s just good to know what people think is important to learn about surfing and the culture…this has helped me to improve my teaching…aloha to everyone who contributed…if you have more go right ahead
Cheyne,
I would say, (in no particualar order)
Flow with the wave and feel Soul and style!!,
Once again how to surf and feel confy without a legrope,
Use and ride different boards (singles, fish, twins, thrustas, bonzers etc. mals)
Fix your own dings!!,
Learn the basics of design and shaping, and have a crack at designing or shaping a board,
Experiment with fins,
TRAVEL!!!
TRAVEL!!!
Happy Surfing,
Josh.
The position of your take off the better you get the more to the inside you will take off. This is important as it can set you up for the whole wave. Also dont under estimate yourself. Nex time you do a bottom turn look at the point you think you will be doing your re-entry etc. Then look a little more to you trailing shoulder direction. You will be surprised at what you can do and how verticale you can go.
Practice those bottom turns on bigger waves. It’s easy to do them on small to medium waves but it gets a bit more difficult on the bigger stuff. Lastly read the wave plan your moves ahead and do them to suit the wave. I have see too many people do cutbacks when they have a fat wall ahead of them.
Aloha Cheyne - a friend of mine had a good tip that seemed to work pretty good for me. He told me to use my front hand to lead me in the direction I want to go. Pointed out to me in a couple surf videos that even the top guys do it. (Maybe even you?) If that lead hand is out in front of you and pointing the way, your body will follow. It forces you to open up your front shoulder and breathe and helps you learn to use that front shoulder and the twist at your waist and power through your hips. I found it worked especially well to help my cutbacks be tighter carving turns rather than flat and lacking power. I showed a friend how to do it on a skateboard, and it really improved their turns. Open hand, not ‘pointing’ with index finger, but all fingers straight and pointed forward. Just like guys talking surfing on land and describing how they were carving that last wave…
waxfoot
Your eyes turn your shoulders, turn your hips, turn your board.
When the body is relaxed from tip to toes this will help develop more fluid and automatic turns.
There must be more to it; I’ll try to remember.
Remember to breath; look around.
“Ride the direction the wave is going.” G. Lopez
I know its a old topic lets revive this thread…
Beginner/Intermediate.
1. Stretch before surfing.
- Watch the surf for a couple of minutes before heading out,
Not just looking for a channel but suss it all out, look for the shallowest part in the sand bank, look at the guys who are ripping and look what there doing right, where are they paddling, where are they taking off?
- PULL WATER! There is no point splashing around you’ve got to be pulling water to go somewhere.
Tip you can teach them this on the sand by telling them to pull the sand back.
-
JUMP UP! Its very important to get them to jump up rather than slowly get up.
-
Bottom turn! It’s the foundation for a good ride!
-
If you’re going for a Reo or Re entry/snap LOOK AT THE LIP not down the line.
7. Bend your knees.
-
Ride single fins, they help with style and show you how to surf rail to rail to get speed rather than random hopping.
-
As always… Don’t be completely reliant on your legrope.
-
Only bail when nescercerry, bailing is a danger to others.
-
HOLD YOUR BOARD.
-
Skating is very good for balance and turning.
And check out
Happy Surfing,
Josh.
When traveling to a new spot: Sit and watch on the beach the way the waves break on the reef, sandbars,point, etc. study. Get out there and find your spot in the line up and wait for waves. If your not getting anything try muscling in to were the biggest locals are sitting. Punch out the biggest guy you see. This should solve your problem about not getting any waves. (Joking) Josh why are you starting this thread again ? Cheyne was making a video at the time.
Didn’t know he was making a video, I just thought because this was 6months ago the newer members might have some tips to help Intemediate surfers.