Adults Learn How to Surf
Adults learn to surf for some of the same reasons young teens learn. It is on the bucket list. It looks like fun. It is a great recreation when living or visiting the ocean. It is great exercise and conditioning. All the above are true.
Preparing for Surf Lessons
Preparation can be important. If adults are leading sedentary lives, they need to get into some practices to make their surfing experience more rewarding. Flexibility is the first hindrance assuming adults are not over weight. In the surfing pop up, the surfer assumes a modified down dog yoga pose and has to put their foot under their butt and stand up on it.
Some upper body strength is required but more in proportion to a person’s weight. There is a push up required while starting the pop up and a surfer should be able to easily do a few push ups.
Stamina is Good for Surfing
Surfing is physically demanding and stamina to paddle and recover is important to complete a lesson. The minimum exercise should be daily walking but even better if there is some active cardio like running, biking, swimming or a treadmill.
The best training is often gym work with a routine of squats, dead lifts, and chest presses. This gives a surfer the strength and flexibility to execute a pop up. If at the gym, the surfer added some cardio with a treadmill or other apparatus, the beginner training might be complete.
Ride the First Wave
Many new students are executing the pop up and riding the first wave. This is dependent on having the necessary physical capabilities, listening to and memorizing the pop up sequence, and then saying it out loud while following it in the water.
The sequence is to paddle, place hands on the board in a man’s push up position, push up, place a back foot on the board under your butt, stand up while driving the front foot to the nose of the board. At this point if you are standing in the right posture, you are riding to the beach. (see Dry Land video below)
Some adults take a series of lessons although two or three is adequate if the adult has the physical capabilities. Many take a refresher lesson once a year when they visit Oceanside and then are ready to rent a board and practice on their own.
Take Lessons with the Kids
It is fun for adults to take lessons with their mates or kids. A surf lesson can include kids from 8 years old through teens and young adults. Lessons can have as many as 6 participants. Include kids and their friends while mom and dad join in.
Once the family has taken lessons, they can usually practice on their own together and have learned a recreation they can take anywhere in the world.
Learn More:
For Oceanside Surf Lessons, see the Home Page
See the Post Surf Lessons Begin with Foam Waves
See the Post What You Learn in a 2 Hour Lesson
See the Post How to Progress in Surfing
See My Dry Land and In Water Demo video
See How to Catch a Green/Real Wave video