Beginner Surfers Learn Secret to Success
Surfing is technical but Beginner Surfers Learn Secret to Success. In the dry land lesson beginner surfers learn the technique for popping up on the surfboard. In the water they learn the timing for catching waves.
The main obstacle most beginner surfers face is their mind’s tendency to race and their instincts to stand up too fast. The anxiety about starting something new and the objective of standing up plays out too fast and beginners rush the process.
The Beginner Learns to Slow Down
The secret they learn is to slow down and do each step in the sequence. They find when they slow down the process, success arrives. My main effort as an instructor is to get the students to focus on the process and let their instincts go.
The timing for catching waves and popping up is a sequence. The surfer spots the right wave. Beginners stand in waist deep water waiting for foam waves. They then roll over and paddle a few times to get momentum. Then when the wave arrives they paddle hard to get in front of the wave.
Learning to Glide Before Popping Up
Once in front of the wave, the secret I have learned to make students slow down is they put their hands on the board in a man’s push up position and glide for five seconds. This is longer than necessary but gets past their instinct of paddling and then throwing their hands in front of their shoulders into an already pushed up position. This is the number one move to failure.
Once the student glides, he is gathering his poise and is rid of the notion to pop up as soon as the wave hits the board. Once the student is gliding, he puts his rear foot on the board and stands while lifting his hands. Now he has the room to place his other foot near the nose of the board. This slower motion also helps him get into the right stance.
Getting the Right Stance
The right stance is like pushing a tall box. I give students this image and say they must arrive upright and pushing the box. This keeps them from the second biggest problem for beginners and that is riding the surfboard like a skateboard. That stance is one hand trailing behind the body. The problem with the incorrect stance is it puts the butt over one rail and the weight on the heels so the surfer falls off the butt side.
Every student has said once they learned to slow down, it was easy. This is also the problem surfers who try it on their own face. They have no idea of the sequence or the timing. I often see them standing on the board before the wave arrives. They jump up fast and fall off faster.
Surfing is timing and rhythm and when the surfer experiences it he knows that is the truth.
More Posts
Oceanside Surf Lessons for Beginners
Beginner Surfers Learn the Pop Up
How to Progress to Surfing the Short Board
For Surf Lessons in Oceanside, see the Home Page
To in surfing shape see my website Get Fit to Surf
See me on Instagram
The Surfing Trilogy combines three books into one E-Book. Learn in one easy to read concise volume how to lose weight, get fit, and learn to surf.
It combines the books: The 3 Week Plan, Get Fit to Surf, and Learn to Surf Guide
Buy the E-Book on Amazon for $6.99
Want to get in great shape for surfing and an improved lifestyle? Start with the Free E-Book The 3 Week Plan. It is the perfect start for getting in great shape and losing weight.
Consider Coaching and the Surf Package the combines Surf Lessons and Fitness Coaching
Learn More
Get my new book Get Fit to Surf
Its time to get back in shape. This book discusses strength, flexibility, stamina, and nutritional needs for getting in shape and losing weight. It is the great guide to get back to fitness for all your recreational desires. If you can surf, you can do most anything.
Buy on Kindle for $2.99 or Paperback on Amazon for $6.95
Get the Learn to Surf Guide Course in Kindle, Paperback or Audio
A great 29 page course on the fundamentals of catching waves, doing beginner and advanced pop ups, riding real waves, how to do maneuvers on real waves, which surfboards to ride, and how to progress. Great for lesson preparation, after lesson review, or learning on your own.
Kindle price $2.99 on Amazon. Paperback price $6.95 on Amazon. Audio download price $7.95
Seniors Get Fit to Surf
Description:
Seniors often ask if it is too late to learn to surf. Age is functional not chronological. If people have been exercising and maintaining body strength, surfing can be accomplished. If people have not been exercising, then getting in shape to surf could be a life changing move. Learn how to develop strength, flexibility, and stamina to learn surfing. If you are in surf shape, you could pursue most any recreation.
Buy the E-book on Amazon for $2.99
Buy the Paperback on Amazon for $6.95
Receive Weekly Active Lifestyle Tips on Nutrition Merchandise, Losing Weight, Getting Fit, Recipes, Meal Plans, Exercise Videos