5 Effective Ways to Improve Your Surfing
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced surfer, at some point you struggled surfing your favorite wave. And no matter how skilled you are there is always room to grow because everyone wants to be not just good but great at what they do.
Today, with access to the internet you will easily find several guides, tips, and hacks that will help you on your surf journey. You might even take inspiration from several surf movies and try to imitate them in real life. This article has a great compilation of surf films that are mostly documentaries and features many professional surfers.
Now that you are reading this article, we will explore some effective ways that can help improve your surfing skills, ability, and level.
Know Your Equipment
One of the most important ways to improve your surfing is by understanding the types of equipment you have. When you are learning to surf you will probably use a longboard as they give you better buoyancy, balance, and support so that you can ride your wave better.
But as you grow in your abilities, you will opt for better boards that allow you to showcase your skills and improve your movement in the water. Each wave requires a certain type of board that will help you ride your wave longer and have a pleasant surfing experience.
Fitness is Key
Whether you are young or old, it is never too late to surf but if you want to stay in the water for hours you need to have a certain level of fitness. Now, this does not mean that you need to head over to the gym to work on your muscles but it is important to stay fit.
Because it involves a lot of paddling that can take a toll on your upper body muscles, core, and even your lower body. So while you are learning to improve your surfing skills, focusing on your fitness can help you become a better surfer.
Master the Pop-ups
The pop-up is one of the most important techniques that you need to learn when surfing. You may have the best surfboard out there but if you cannot get on the board properly. Make sure that you practice your pop-up on land as it will help you understand your stance better.
Even if you are an intermediate surfer, perfecting the pop-up will help you surf in style and even do some surf tricks. But if you are not able to get to your feet easily then you need to focus on mastering this essential surf technique.
Be a Part of a Group
Just how many surfers take inspiration from movies, documentaries, or even YouTube videos while growing up. Make sure that you spend time with people who are better surfers than you so that you can learn from them. These pros usually have several years of experience behind them and watching them surf will give you some insight about the different surfing techniques they use.
However, it is important that you also keep a distance as they will be much faster and quicker than you are and if you come in their way it can be disrespectful. But being around them will build your confidence and push yourself into becoming better surfers
Practice Practice Practice!
The easiest way to improve your surfing is by practicing and spending hours in the water. If you do not have the time to make daily trips to the beach, you should make time every other weekend so that you don’t lose out on your progress.
Surfing is a fun and exciting sport, but if you do not give in the time that is needed to perfect different techniques, you will struggle in the water. If you are a newbie make sure that you find beginner-friendly beaches and if you have experience, choose waves that match your surfing skills.
People surf for different reasons, for instance some individuals are passionate about the sport and some prefer to learn it as a hobby. In any case, it is important that you give your best and always be in search of ways to improve your skills.
And above all, don’t stress on people moving ahead of you because everyone learns at their own pace. So have fun, keep learning, and enjoy the beautiful waves that unfold.