SURF ADVENTURE: Going Native

Photo: Ann Newland

I am off to the Jungle to teach the native children how to surf. 

There is no electricity or phones so I will not blog until ???

HAVE A SURFED-OUT SUMMER

D.W.

SURFING TIP: Surfing From Head To Toe

CUT-BACK

I actually wrote this to help the instructors I teach to observe the students more closely so they can troubleshoot any problems they may be having. 

 I thought this would be helpful for you to observe your own BODY POSITIONING so that you can surf more effectively.

HEAD / EYES -LOOK WHERE YOU ARE GOING

NECK - LOOK OVER SHOULDERS

1. MAKE SURE NO ONE IS ON THE WAVE

2. WATCH THE WAVE FOR ANY CHANGES TO HELP JUDGE TIMING ON THE TAKE-OFF

SHOULDERS - USE TO GUIDE DIRECTION YOU WANT TO GO IN 

1. CAN REPRESENT USING LIKE EYES

 2. IF SHOULDERS ARE TOO OPEN MAY CAUSE STUDENT TO FALL BACKWARDS

ELBOWS- TUCK ELBOWS IN TO PREVENT BOARD FROM HITTING STUDENT

1. WHEN GOING THROUGH A WAVE, DUCK-DIVING OR TURTLE TURNING

2. NOT USED TO PUSH-UP OVER A WAVE OR TO GET UP TO FEET

3. WORK LIKE SHOCK ABSORBERS WHEN IN THE PUSH UP STANCE GOING OVER WAVES OR GLIDING BEFORE GETTING UP ON FEET.

WRIST - STRONG AND FIRM FOR PADDLING ( IF LOOSE IT IS LIKE HAVING A BROKEN OAR THAT WON'T PULL THROUGH THE WATER ) 

ARMS - FOR BALANCE 

1. EXTENSION OF SHOULDERS FOR MORE TORQUE AND DRIVE

 2. REACH AND FOLLOW THROUGH WITH PADDLING 

HANDS - GRIPPING BOARD WHEN GOING THROUGH WAVES

1. PUSHING UP TO GET ON FEET

2. CAN ALSO REPRESENT EYES TO GUIDE DIRECTION

WAIST - PIVOT FROM WAIST FOR MORE TORGUE IN TURNS

1. BEGINNERS CAN BE TAUGHT TO USE WAIST ON UP AS ONE UNIT FOR BASIC TURNS

2. DO NOT BEND FORWARD FROM WAIST - USE KNEES ( THIS WILL CAUSE STUDENTS TO FALL FORWARD )

HIPS / BUTTOCKS -  FOR DRIVE AND WEIGTH ADJUSTMENTS

1. KEEPING HIPS TUCKED IN HELPS KEEP THE STUDENT CENTERED AND BALANCED

2.  STICKING BUTT OUT (STINK - BUGGING) MAY CAUSE STUDENT TO FALL FORWARD  ( IMPROPER POSITIONING )

3. THRUST FORWARD HELPS WHEN HANGING TEN

KNEES - USED AS SHOCK ABSORBERS FOR BALANCE

1. USE KNEES TO BEND AND SQUAT FOR PROJECTING OUT OF TURNS

2. DO NOT GO TO KNEES WHEN GETTING TO FEET

3. IF THE STUDENT IS HAVING TROUBLES GETTING TO THEIR FEET MAKE SURE THEIR BACK KNEE IS NOT STRAIGHT MAKING THEM EXTEND TOO FAR TO GET UP

ANKLES -  LOOS AND FLEXIBLE

FOOT  - PROPER PLACEMENT IS FOUNDATION FOR THE REST OF THE BODY POSITIONING

1. TOO FAR APART DOES NOT ALLOW STUDENT TO TURN 

2. TOO CLOSE AND THERE WILL BE NO STABILITY

3. FRONT FOOT POINTING FORWARD WILL CAUSE STUDENT TO FALL BACKWARDS

4. USED  ON LONGBOARDS TO WALK UP AND DOWN THE DECK TO KEEP THE BOARD IN TRIM AND GET TO THE NOSE FOR NOSE RIDING  

5. PLACE OVER THE FINS OR ON TAIL OF BOARD FOR TURNING 

TOES - FOR SAFETY KEEP TOES AND BALL OF FOOT ON THE TAIL OF THE BOARD

1. TO GO OVER WAVES ENABLING STUDENT TO PUSH OFF TAIL

2. PUT WEIGHT ON THE TAIL TO PREVENT FROM NOSE-DIVING 3. USED TO HELP MAKING SLIGHT WEIGHT ADJUSTMENTS FORWARD OR BACKWARDS WHILE IN THE PRONE POSITION