Spicing it up.....stuck in a rut....

[Big H]

So......for those of you who surf a lot.......what do you do when you get into a rut?

Lately I've found myself on the same kind of wave....been going to my favourite break and it's been relatively the same conditions for the last couple few weeks. When I get on the wave I find myself doing the same moves, looking for the same things to react to and pretty much riding it the same way.....I still am a learner, so it isn't a bad thing in that reps builds confidence, competence and consistency and I do my standard rides better all the time....


.....but it is dry.....


Broke the cycle and went to a different break today....found myself doing the same things on the wave....there was excitement when I was first there trying to sort my take off spot and getting a feel for the waves but the whole sesh turned pretty boring as I found myself in the rut....


I'm going to watch some training vids, free surf vids and try to get an idea of what I'd like to do in place of my standard moves.....surfing the other side of the island once the rains fully come and the winds shifts will be enough as I'll be riding backhand and can try the same moves but only backwards.....


What do all of you do to keep it fresh?

[drowningbitbybit]

I find that changing the people that I surf with helps. You end up in a slightly different spot (even if you're at the same break), the dynamic is different, and you end up surfing in a more mellow/more radical/more whatever style just due to the crowd you're hanging out with.

[drowningbitbybit]

Another tip is to change ruts... sometimes if my mojo is suffering a bit, I try to work out a whole new move, and just go out there and get a bit obsessive about it for a week.
Planning it beforehand helps as you don't automatically go through the same routine, so I'll watch a few videos online, pick up some tips on forums, plan it all out in my head and go through the move on dry land. Then get out there and give it a go.

Go for a big move or change in technique - not a tweak, that won't hold your interest. Go big.

And then after a week, I'll either have added a move to my repertoire or after a week of frustration, I'll be really pleased to go back to my normal style

[oldmansurfer]

I read an article recently that said you should push beyond your normal on something like 40% of your waves. I don't know what to tell you. I am a cautious surfer and I don't like to fall down and I only surf 1 hour a week. But what I think is you should push your limits and take a chance on falling down every so often. But realy what to attempt on a wave still depends on the wave. Mostly I am surfing waves that I need to react to just to keep the wave from getting ahead of me so I look for those moments when I can do something other than a speed turn. I think if I surfed consistent waves then I might be in the same boat because as it is I am happy to do standard turns mostly. I enjoy a good turn off the lip and a good bottom turn and a good cutback. I guess I want to do more but need the waves. I know what to say now....Get old then you will appreciate any time you spend surfing.

[dtc]

I think it must be time to start surfing those 1ft deep barrelling Indo reef breaks. Without a helmet. That will hold your interest....

DBB has some good ideas, start focusing on something different. Try some airs or vertical turns or something, practice and practice just that.

The other issue can just be you are getting over the initial blast of enthusiasm for surfing, instead of being new and exciting all the time its now part of your life and seems a bit more 'mundane'. Its like moving to a new city - the first 6 months its all exciting and new and fun, you hunt around for recommendations for places to go and things to see; then after a while you start noticing the annoyances and how you have been to the same restaurant 5 times and haven't been to some obscure tourist attraction and its becoming just like your previous home. Or a new relationship goes from 'thinking about him/her every second' to 'I suppose we can go to that movie (although I would rather sit at home and read a book)'.

You can take a break, wind it down; or readjust the mindset from 'this is going to be exciting' to 'this is going to be enjoyable'. Or go surf in England over winter and then you will gain a new appreciation of Bali!

[Tudeo]

I experienced this feeling some years ago when using a longboard, my old BIC 7'9" Malibu. The surfing was fine, I could do anything I wanted and the board allowed for, but the thrill was gone. It just was too easy.

Riding shortboards, what did it for me, is a whole different experience because, even if u wipeout all the time, u get a glimpse of what's possible on a shorter board. Chasing that dynamic, still out of reach, surfing is what keeps the thrill for me. Often after surfing and wiping out most of the time, I go home with a big smile on my face knowing next time I'll get it right.

[Big H]

Part of the rut thing is that the waves have been small lately....and then there is the daily thing; if you do something every day the specialness wears off....it's great to be out on the water in the waves, don't get me wrong....just have to pinch myself sometimes to remind me what is "normal" is awesome......

Anyway, I broke the rut by changing boards, going smaller and being more aggressive going after the wave.....working on getting deeper in my bottom turn with a more dramatic, abrupt and forceful drop wallet reach then deep squat at the apex then pushing out harder than I'd been doing.....doesn't take much; I'm back grinding again and this move has got my interest.... I've been getting some results and new things are opening up now that I'm starting to come out of my bottom turn with more power and speed but more importantly I've stoked the stoke.

I guess it's just a matter of engaging the brain and pushing yourself to do things that aren't comfortable.....I'm not good at all so there are only a few things that I can do on a wave and if I can link a couple of them it was a good wave.....apparently to keep developing I need to sort out what I should be working on to open up new avenues and set the bar higher for myself.....good times.

[oldmansurfer]

Glad to hear you are stoked again. For me it has been an el nino year and the multiple hurricane generated surf hasn't been the right angle for my beach. In between the hurricanes there have little time with our normal tradewinds that generate the surf on the side of the island I am on. However I quit surfing for a while and I know others who were forced to quit due to health issues and I find myself just really grateful to have any waves at all. So I may go out in waves that no one else wants but I enjoy it. I need the exercise and there isn't any more fun way to exercise than surfing. I guess I have a perspective of having been a good surfer before so I don't have much expectations for my own performance because I am only surfing one hour a week and i know how long it takes to learn. Hope you continue to find your stoke

[Big H]

Glad to hear you are stoked again. For me it has been an el nino year and the multiple hurricane generated surf hasn't been the right angle for my beach. In between the hurricanes there have little time with our normal tradewinds that generate the surf on the side of the island I am on. However I quit surfing for a while and I know others who were forced to quit due to health issues and I find myself just really grateful to have any waves at all. So I may go out in waves that no one else wants but I enjoy it. I need the exercise and there isn't any more fun way to exercise than surfing. I guess I have a perspective of having been a good surfer before so I don't have much expectations for my own performance because I am only surfing one hour a week and i know how long it takes to learn. Hope you continue to find your stoke

Thanks OMS....the daily exercise aspect is there for me as well....not getting any younger and I need it to keep me fit and mobile....plus it is fun as hell....just sometimes I guess I take it for granted.....looking around the lineup there are people on vacation finally in a place that they dream about....have to appreciate what I have.....but yeah, stoke is back, was electric today.....