Beginner Surfers Deal with Anxiety
Beginner surfers deal with anxiety mixed in with their excitement. The though of surfing is exciting, but entering the ocean and the pressure to perform seems to cause some anxiety.
I give students a count for executing their pop up I want them to say out loud. Counting out loud slows down their brain and urges them to follow the sequence and not make up their own technique. I tell students the pop up sequence I give them works and their own instincts are all wrong.
The Fundamentals for Beginners to Develop Poise in the Water
Beginner surf lessons start in shallow water with foam waves breaking at waist or below depth. There should be no fear of drowning or ocean creatures. The only thing that could hurt students is their surfboard and we cover how to safely handle it.
The dryland portion of the lesson covers issues they will face in the water and how to do a beginner pop up to ride to the beach. The count students memorize give them each step from catching a wave, to popping up, to riding to the beach. Many students start riding on the first wave.
What makes students even more comfortable is when they start paddling out to catch waves. They learn how to judge the incoming waves and pick the right one. Now they are using their judgment to feel the ocean. This increases confidence dramatically.
Students that have various anxieties at the beginning of the lesson can soon look like they are in total control of their environment. It is a great transition to observe and one of the most satisfying aspects of teaching.
For Oceanside Surf Lessons, see the Home Page