Surfing Waves

Sup guys. First of all, i'll explain the situation: I am planning on doing a junior surf contest late august and they will be picking surfers for another contest (it sounds very official and makes out im good, its not like that at all ).

i would not call myself too much of a beginner but im obviously by no-means really good. I can stand up, ride the wave, turn - thats it. But i was wondering what i could do (tricks-wise) to not really impress but maybe just to look a wee bit different from the surfer that pops-up, angles his board to the right, rides the wave to the beach then jumps off. Maybe an easy manouver you guys could recommend? I obviously know the sorts of things i could try but id like you guys' opinion.

Any help would be appreciated. Cheers.

ok mate, firstly, what board have you got? longboard? shortboard? mal? fish?...

Dixons 6 ' 6 - Shortie.

well, its hard to do tricks if you don't surf too often, but just little carves may help, maybe try a little floater or summin? it's hard to say without seeing you surf, but tricks take time and practice so it may be hard? how often will you be surfing before this event? and are there categories, like beginner, intermediate...?

thats the good thing and i should have mentioned it, im pretty lucky because im going to fuerteventura to surf for two weeks on wed (obv not surfing everyday but most days i will be) What would you recommend?

cool, lol, that is lucky, well, just try out loads of stuff, watch some videos and try and do the tricks, i mean, its highly unlikely you'll be able to pull off big airs and stuff but maybe things like mild carves and possible little cutbacks...but you could always attempt a floater or something, its mostly all about timing..but still difficult

Sillysausage wrote:cool, lol, that is lucky, well, just try out loads of stuff, watch some videos and try and do the tricks, i mean, its highly unlikely you'll be able to pull off big airs and stuff but maybe things like mild carves and possible little cutbacks...but you could always attempt a floater or something, its mostly all about timing..but still difficult

yeah ive looked at all those things, all that stuff. Haha obviously wont be doing airs. . Im not absolutely crap and for a long time i have been ready to like take the next step but i just never knew where to start or what to do. I have a knowledge of what i could try but i was really after a what would be easiest and best for a surfer of my ability. What kind of standard are you at? Cheers mate.

Sorry but in surfing there are no shortcuts. You can't get ahead using cheap tricks, the only way you will get through a heat is by surfing better than your fellow contestants. The easiest way to do this is with solid 'bread and butter' moves like hard top turns throwing as much spray as possible. Just focus on generating speed and sorting out your bottom turns then the rest will follow.

if you went down the beach and saw kelly slater ripping it up, times that by ten and you'd have me:D (dreaming) but i'd say i'm probs and intermediate, can do some turns and floaters etc..but nothing to special at this time.

Broosta wrote:Sorry but in surfing there are no shortcuts. You can't get ahead using cheap tricks, the only way you will get through a heat is by surfing better than your fellow contestants. The easiest way to do this is with solid 'bread and butter' moves like hard top turns throwing as much spray as possible. Just focus on generating speed and sorting out your bottom turns then the rest will follow.

alright thanks man. I wouldn't say i was looking for shortcuts or anything, i was just wanting you guys' opinion on what tricks would be easiest to learn at my stage.

well, i agree, there arent any shortcuts, but it is possible to learn a couple of tricks in two weeks! a mate of mine just got back from fuertuventura (i think thats where you said your going?) and he said the waves were awesome, warm water, hot chicks and great surf. so it could be achievable, in this comp, is it first two waves count? or what?

thanks a lot sillysausage for carrying on and replying, its appreciated. Yeah that's where im going, nice one haha. In the comp its really just your best two waves that they look at. I was obviously wanting to get the next step for my own pleasure and ability, it may seem that everything is just for this contest. Its not at all. But i was wanting to get more involved and this will help me if i give the comp a good go.

no probs mate, i have nothing to do really, shite weather, no swell (not here anyway so i just keep looking on here and i'm reading a lot about a new board. the best thing to do in the two highest scoring waves is make sure you ride the two waves all the way down the line, and then after you've had two successful rides, start trying out new stuff. thats what i would do anyway, but i'm sure some people might disagree with me there. and mainly, just have fun

Sillysausage wrote:it is possible to learn a couple of tricks in two weeks!

I'm calling BS on this one! ...unless you'd like to spill the beans and finally I could pull that elusive carving 360 that I've been trying consistantly for the last 7yrs or so!

lol, a 360 is different to doing a couple of basic turns and moves

agreed you can learn turns in a couple of weeks . tricks are a different matter though. it took me until pretty recently to sort out a half decent cutback so ur best bet is to try n learn how to surf up and down the wave and maintain speed.

its perfecting tricks that takes time, so you can consistantly pull them off

Phil wrote:its perfecting tricks that takes time, so you can consistantly pull them off

True, the best thing to do would be to make sure you actually get the basics right, because if you keep falling you won't get a good score at all!! but one you've ridden two waves all the way, then you could give stuff a go

right. cheers guys

so you listen to the band Slick Shoes? really into pop punk?