Surfing Waves

Living away from the coast I skate gentle hills to keep my stoke alive and work on a few skills that help my surfing – trimming, carving and pumping. The Inertia article adds “style” to the list of elements that transfer from skating to surfing. I haven’t given much thought to this. What do you think?

https://www.theinertia.com/surf/why-skating-is-so-freaking-good-for-your-surfing/

I agree with the list they have.....I love skating.....can't replicate the 3D aspect of surfing, being able to sink the tail or catch a rail...in that way skating is a lot more forgiving.

Except for results of wipeouts

That's a blah blah blah article to me. Just a bunch of words, some guys opinion. Personally I skateboarded before I started surfing but once I did then I skateboarded much less. I never felt like oh I can't surf so I am going to skateboard but then I lived within walking distance to the ocean for most of my life. I think there are those surfers who think skateboarding helps them to surf but I think the only way it does that is if you imagine you are surfing when you skateboard (other than helping with balance a little) and that is just my opinion

oldmansurfer wrote: I never felt like oh I can't surf so I am going to skateboard but then I lived within walking distance to the ocean for most of my life. I think there are those surfers who think skateboarding helps them to surf but I think the only way it does that is if you imagine you are surfing when you skateboard (other than helping with balance a little) and that is just my opinion

If I lived near the ocean I would absolutely give up skating and just surf. That said, I deal with living inland by slaloming hills. Skating not only helps with balance. It builds leg strenth for turning and pumping which helps me get longer rides in the water. There are also skate skills like the Coleman slide that are fun by themselves...now if I can just figure out how to do it without flat spotting my wheels!

I haven't seen a skateboard that replicates rail action, but maybe taller trucks+springs+brake pads on the edges of the deck might recreate the feeling. If anyone has money to burn, I have the degrees, we can partner up

When I started skateboarding I used to skate with a surfer and he would do these tail slides to take speed off going down a steep hill basically angle the board across the road and when you get near the side you do a sliding turn back the other way and keep going. Initially I couldn't do this turn and but picked it up within 15 to 20 minutes of trying. His only instructions to me was "it's a surfing thing." It's nothing so spectacular as the Coleman slide but fun and functional but we would use it on much steeper hills.

So folks will know what we're talking about.

We had no pads gloves helmets or shoes when we skateboarded

I use 'em all but resist putting duct tape on my butt.