Beginner video

[DG031]

Hi All

Just uploaded this video of one of my sessions. Any tips or comments would be great.
Been surfing for about 3/4 years. Had various smaller boards but got this longboard at the start of this year and enjoying it.
The board is an "all-rounder" 9.1x 22.5 x 2 3/4 with a thruster set-up. Im a 1.69 tall weight about 80 kg and 30 years old.
I hope to eventually get the hang of cross-stepping then nose riding but my instinct to shuffle is still strong.

[dtc]

It’s obviously impossible to comment on whether you surfed the wave well

Everything looks pretty good except I think I only spotted your upper body actually rotating maybe once. As said I don’t know whether you should have been turning more sharply because I don’t know what the wave was doing, but on a long ride like yours a few turns would be expected (accepting you may only be just getting to that level in your surfing)

So I guess my comment is that your upper body is a bit stiff. Your front arm is hanging down, should be more or less horizontal. Your back arm as a result has to do a lot of the balance work,

But stance looks good, nice bendy knees, head is up.

[oldmansurfer]

Are you having fun? Then it's all good. The cross stepping thing is something you can practice although I never did but at least you move around a little. I think your form looks good however I am not a surf instructor like dtc or Waikikichan If we had a video from the beach showing the wave we could say something about your wave choice and maneuver choice. The from the board perspective is difficult to analyze because you can't see very well what the wave is doing or what you are doing in response. I like how your arms stabilize as you body moves underneath them. You seem comfortable and coming along well for 0.75 years?

[dtc]

however I am not a surf instructor like dtc or Waikikichan

ha, I'm not a surf instructor, just someone who reads too much and over analyses things (and perhaps likes telling other people what they are doing wrong....)

for the OP, when I mention the front arm being down/locked, waikikichan (who is actually an instructor and thus much much more knowledgeable) has a blog in which he often comments about the common issue of a locked front arm. I think you will find some of his posts quite useful, linked below

http://alohaki.jugem.jp/?search=locked

That said, I agree with oldman, on the whole you are looking good.

[waikikikichan]

If you look closely before each attempted turn, the OP squats ( or sits ). That’s okay along with the for mentioned twist of the torso/arms by DTC. But as the main action or lead action, no.

It will help your backside turns and cross stepping if you adjust to point your front toes at more 10-11 o’clock. ( now it’s more like 9-10 o’clock ).

[DG031]

Thanks for the feedback everyone !

@oladmansurfer Yeah sort of. I started a lessons in 2014 then had a few short boards. I even had a mini-simmons for about a year. Eventually managed to get a 7'6 mini-mal used that for about a year and now I'm using this 9'1 all rounder. Only started catching proper waves after changing to the mini but even that was a lot of work. My progression has been relatively slow but I've persisted because i enjoy it and I have more fun as my ability increases.

@dtc/wakikikichan. The link to the blog is very informative. I need to work on opening my upper body up so I can get some proper rotation. Also I think I'm turning from the center of the board, often when I try a turn my rail digs in too much and I end up falling over so will also work on that. I'll post another vid in few months time, hopefully with some improvement.