Can All Teens Surf?
Parents and kids often want to start the surf experience and wonder if kids and All Teens Can Surf. It varies widely just as it does with adults. With young people, there is usually just one factor that limits their abilities.
Teens are usually agile because they are active in school sports, travel teams, and dancing. Their brain and bodies are working well together to create coordination. The only aspect that holds them back is their threshold for fear.
Fear is the 800 Pound Gorilla in Surfing
One surprising aspect of learning to surf is many kids and adults are afraid to stand up. They are in the water and a fall is not hurtful. There is this precarious feeling as the board is rushing through the water and the student places their hands on the board and then places a foot on the board to rise to a standing position. Something happens at this moment that many can’t handle.
I often wonder if parents have told their kids to be careful too many times or if every time they were about to do something a little risky they were told “no”. This sets a subconscious fear of doing something unfamiliar or what the brain may consider risky. Few worthwhile things in life don’t entail risk and this framework could set kids up to never push their limits.
Fear of the Ocean is Usually Overcome with a Little Exposure
Many people have a little fear of the ocean and many arrive at lessons saying they are nervous. After being pushed a few times into the waves, most realize they aren’t going to die or drown. We start in waist deep water. Then they can proceed to move forward.
I am often surprised that kids can’t memorize the sequence necessary for standing up. It is important they focus on the sequence and not rely on their instincts. Everyone’s instincts are wrong when it comes to surfing at the beginning. One of the reasons they can’t memorize the sequence is anxiety. Sometimes its fear of getting hurt, but just as often it is fear of failure.
The Ability to Learn is Crucial
The sequence to memorize is paddle, stop and glide, push, back foot, stand up, front foot. This sequence takes a surfer through the process of catching a wave, placing their hands on the board, and then getting their feet on the board one at a time. There is no way their instincts can help. They have to learn and follow the sequence. I have students say the sequence out loud and ask them not to think, just count.
Some kids are chargers and have little fear. I suspect they have been given more room to risk in their lives. If a young person wants to learn how to surf and they have fear, learning could be a great growth experience that will benefit them in all aspects of their lives. Entrepreneurs learn to risk and they like to be vulnerable because of the feelings they experience. The same is true with extreme athletes. The feelings experienced from risk is what makes their engagement so addicting.
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