Learning to Surf on the Soft Top
Learning to Surf on the Soft Top is where all beginners should start. The soft top makes it easier to learn the fundamentals and is commensurate with the beginners surf conditioning.
The soft top surf board is high volume so it is easy to paddle, catches foam waves, and is easy to pop up and ride. The stability of more volume helps the beginner master their skills before moving to less stable lower volume boards.
Getting on the Surf Board
The beginner surfer wades into the ocean waist deep and waits for the foam wave. It is best to start from the standing position before paddling out to catch waves. When the wave is fifteen feet away, the surfer rolls onto the board with his feet at the back and paddles easy. Then when the wave is close he paddles hard to get in front of the wave.
The timing and rhythm are important in surfing. Left to their instincts, most beginners will try popping up too soon. Many are trying to stand up before the wave arrives. Then beginners are trying to stand up before they have caught the wave. They just start popping when they feel the push.
It is important to get ahead of the push by a few seconds and paddle until the board takes off, a feeling you learn to recognize. This same feeling is transferred to catching real waves where the wave comes under the board and the surfer paddles until he feels that the board is in the wave. A fundamental all surfers must learn.
Putting the Hands in the Right Spot
Once the wave has caught the board and it is moving in front of the foam wave, the surfer can put his hands in a man’s pushup position next to his chest. This is crucial and counter to beginners’ instincts. Beginners want to go right to a push up position with their hands in front of their head. This never works.
The surfer must put their hands lower on the body next to their rib cage. Now the push will get their chest off the board and allow them to get their first foot under their body to stand up. If the hands are too far forward, the surfer cannot get his first foot underneath.
Standing Up on the Surfboard
After the surfer puts the first foot on the board he starts to stand lifting his hands off the board. Lifting the hands is necessary so the second foot can get to the front of the board. If the surfer tries to put both feet on the board before standing up, the arms block the forward moving foot. Then the surfer is in the down dog yoga position and flies off the front of the board.
Once up, the surfer wants his feet to be shoulder width apart and both hands in front so the hips and shoulders are square and perpendicular to the sides (rails) of the board. If the surfer is in the proper stance, the board will go straight to the beach without any effort.
After mastering the basic skills the beginner can paddle out to catch bigger foam waves and then real waves. The soft top board is good for real waves and will last the surfer a long time before he needs to buy a hard board.
More Posts
Oceanside Surf Lessons for Beginners
Beginner Surfers Learn the Pop Up
How to Progress to Surfing the Short Board
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