How Many Lessons Do Beginner Surfers Need?
How Many Lessons Do Beginner Surfers Need is a question often asked by people who want to get serious about surfing and want to know how long it will take. It depends on many variables.
Surfing is a very physical sport and very technical to the beginner. In being physical, it demands strength, flexibility, and stamina. In being technical, it demands a person learns fast and has good communications between their brain and body.
The Physical Aspects of Surfing
Being overweight is a real hindrance. It is the opposite normally of being fit. In gaining weight the person has probably stopped exercising and will have trouble lifting their body off the surfboard. They will also like most adults not have flexibility.
The beginner surfer learns the pop up in the dry land lesson. It consists of a sequence that starts with putting hands on the board in a man’s pushup position, pushing up, putting a foot on the board under the surfer’s but flat, and then standing on that foot lifting the hands in the air so the other foot can get to the front of the board.
This sounds simple and most can do it on dry land, but in the water their brain stops communicating with the body and the person thinks instead of doing the count I give and doesn’t get the sequence in the right order. This is why in the water instruction is so much more important than dryland or videos.
Catching Waves is First
The surf experience begins with catching the wave. I push new students into several waves to see if they can get the sequence for standing up correct. Once they get the idea, I let them catch their own waves. This adds a complication and beginners now have to focus on the timing of catching a wave and the count of going through the stand up sequence.
Some because of their lack of physicality need a lot of training out of the water to get in surf shape. Some need more practice and instruction to get the sequence correct. The problem many face, is in the water they get a little anxious and rely on thinking and instincts instead of following the sequence they were taught. Innovation does not work.
Many students are up on the first ride and some go on to catch real waves in their first lesson. This is rare and needs the physical aspects and great communication between the brain and the body. After riding foam waves to the beach, surfers paddle out to catch bigger foam waves and then can start with small real waves.
How Many Lessons to Take
Many students take lots of lessons and their progress depends on their fitness and their learning ability. For those who are committed to learning to ride real waves, regular lessons are good to correct the bad habits all beginners lapse into. As they ride more waves, they start doing what seems easier and soon they are doing things incorrectly. Lessons keep beginners on the right track to progress.
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
Explore the Surf Lesson and Fitness Coaching Package
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
Everybody Can Surf
To read a great book for getting in shape to surf or getting in better surfing shape, read my new book Everybody Can Surf, a Health, Fitness, Nutrition, and Surfing Adventure
Description:
Get healthy and fit to surf or set a goal of surfing to improve weight, fitness, nutrition, and health. This guide by a surf instructor/health coach/personal trainer gives the short version of how to lose weight, get strong, build stamina, develop nutrition, and learn to surf. Surfing is a lifestyle enjoyed by millions and so is fitness. Fitness creates opportunities to enjoy life through lots of different kinds of recreation. No need to stand on the sidelines while others are having a great time. Start your program to health with easy steps and progress at your own pace. That is the secret to maintaining a lifestyle. Do it at your pace. This book will start you on the path.
Buy the E book on Amazon for $2.99
Buy the Paperback on Amazon for $6.95
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