Surf Critique please

Questions and answers for those needing help or advice when learning to surf, improving technique or just comparing notes.

Surf Critique please

Postby seeker » Sun Mar 20, 2016 10:55 am

Hi everyone!

Unfortunately I only have a GoPro nose mount as not many friends around me like surfing :( The below is a relatively short ride I shot today. I have been surfing for few years, but with big gaps. Used to surf a short board, but the last year I have been surfing a 10' foot mal which I snapped recently. On this video I rode sort of "performance" mini mal 8'2 foot with quite a bit of nose rocker and a pintail, so it has manoeuvrability, but keeps the paddling advantage. Looking for any comments for improvement that you can see on the video. Greatly appreciated, thank you! :D

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Re: Surf Critique please

Postby Surf Hound » Sun Mar 20, 2016 4:11 pm

:D Not much one can do with that video perspective as there is no visual of what the wave is doing. Basically you have asked for tips to improve your driving while providing a video of your tires and rear view mirror. One tip I can offer - surf with your right foot forward as that is how all the really good surfer surf - goofies rule. :D :D
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Re: Surf Critique please

Postby oldmansurfer » Sun Mar 20, 2016 7:23 pm

Looks like you are doing ok but dug a rail on the end and fell.
So what is worse.... dying or regretting it for the rest of my life? Obviously I chose not regretting it.
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Re: Surf Critique please

Postby drowningbitbybit » Sun Mar 20, 2016 8:33 pm

Ooh, coolie on a small uncrowded day! 8)
You'll probably find me surfing, but if not, I'll probably be in the photography studio
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Re: Surf Critique please

Postby RinkyDink » Mon Mar 21, 2016 12:39 am

You're a better surfer than I am so take my critique with a grain of salt. I have a bad habit of popping up to my bent knee and then standing. I know it's a bad habit, one that I'm trying to break, but I think it's because my leg strength/core strength is crap. It looks to me that at the 4 second mark you might be popping up to your knee. I could be wrong so you might want to check that yourself when you pop up. I like your angled takeoff. There are surfers on this forum who could benefit from watching the angle of your takeoff and copying it. You can compare your takeoff with Kelly Slater's if you're into it.

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Re: Surf Critique please

Postby Big H » Mon Mar 21, 2016 1:43 am

Seeker....what do YOU think? Are you stuck on something? Do you feel like something is lacking?

Good job on not running that guy over.... :lol:

....pop up in one, keep your head up and checking the wave when paddling for it rather than head down and get some bigger waves? Like hound said, can't see much but watch Rink's Slater video and look at his head and eyes as he's paddling for that wave.....the wave he's going for is more critical; you can get away with that head down paddle on those little rollers, but get into juicer more jacking stuff and you'll need to watch that wave all the way in to time it right....good to practice from now.
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Re: Surf Critique please

Postby waikikikichan » Mon Mar 21, 2016 2:11 am

Pros : Good scanning with your eyes.

Cons: Breath while your paddle, don't grit your teeth. Relaxing your mouth, jaw, neck loosens ups your shoulders to paddle.

GLUE FOOT. You need to move around on longer boards. Not walk like a noserider, but to take a small step forward or back.

:06 you move the triangle made between your feet forward
:09 you do it again but roll onto the side of your front foot.
:012 and :014 same thing. That roll onto your front foot means you could take a step, but the glue foot is restricting the movement.
Watch longboard videos and you'll see them left the toes on their front foot and pivot on the heel to open the body and twist. Leaning front and back is just transferring weight front and back not rail to rail which is how you turn a surfboard ( just like a motorcycle ). When ever you turn your back foot should be over the fin. To speed up, sometimes you need to take a step with either the back foot or front foot forward to get the board flat/planing.

:16 Heavy back hand grabbing the wave and lean back. No twist just lean, so you dig a rail and flip over.

Your front hand is flailing all over the place. It needs to point in the direction to lead the turn, not be a balance after the turn to keep from falling off. Look where you want to go before the moment arises, point to it with your front hand, body, hips, knees and feet follow. Front hand steers, Back hand drives ( powers ) the board.
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Re: Surf Critique please

Postby seeker » Thu Mar 24, 2016 5:12 am

Thank you guys for your feedback! Especially waikikikichan for such a detailed review! will work more on these and then hopefully will post some videos from another angle :)
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