getting better without actually surfing

[mike2266]

I just started surfing but because of my job I don't get much time in the water. What can I do to get better without actually surfing? Do indo boards help you out with your surfing? Should I practice pop ups or what?

[PapaW]

Welcome to the forum!


Yep Indoboards and board sports in general will all help.

Additionally, get to the swimming pool, yoga etc... Seach the forum for "Surfing Exersises" or "Training"

[Laguna]

Welcome to the forum, I suppose any sort of fitness helps such as the gym or swimming. When I cant go surfing I read a lot of surf magazines, use this forum, watch surf movies and play kelly slater on the ps2 , I find that it all helps learn more about surfing.

[HitAndRun]

There are stuff you can do, but time in the water is what really counts, if you wanna get better theres no way youll improve if you dont go out often, i see people get stuck at surfing and never improve because they go like once a week.

[Laguna]

Ye, you cant just go once a week, try your best to get out there as much as possible. Sometimes when busy I can only go once a week, but when ive got no work and its good i'll go everyday.
You just got to try and make time to go, like plan your day better (when there is some surf that is, when its flat - it sucks )

[dondiemand]

Yoga does wonders, try it

[surferdude_scarborough]

i would kill to be able to surf once a week. at the moment im lucky if i go once a month.

i think the thing to do would be to think about your lats session. what you did well, what you did not so well. and from that you need to think about what to concentrate on next time you go out.

seems to work for me

[iomarti]

Yes I think it does help to think back to your last session..

Although I went out really early this morning and the surf was really perfect for a beginner like me, but I surfed really badly. My last session was a really positive one, so it was really annoying.

A combination of being over tired and the fact that the guy I fancy was likely to be surfing as well - so i was a bit over conscious of trying to surf well. Which inevitably meant that I surfed the worst I ever have for ages

MARTI x

[PapaW]

People make the mistake of going to the gym and weight training too heavy. This builds all the outter muscles mainly and in turn makes you stiffer and less flexable. Authough there are *some* benifits yourbetter off sticking to the rowing and running machines in the gym.

Yoga however focues on flexability and training for the internal torso and stomach, and back muscles as well as trimming your legs and shoulders. which are all mainly used in surfing and bodyboarding. think about it. When are you coing to be doing heavy lifting in the sea!!! Its all about condition, stamina and cardeovascular fitness.

[David S]

To be honest I think you really need to surf as much as possible to improve, swimming regularly will help your paddling but that's all.Yoga apparently helps too.
My surfing improved at snail's pace until I made the commitment to try to surf every day last year.Within a month I had ditched my mini-mal and moved on to a big shortboard and my surfing improves every session (but still slowly - I reckon it takes years to get good).
If you can only get to the beach weekly or less then stick to a thicker,longer board and watch lots of surfing DVD's.

[PapaW]

Aye for sure it does center around actually gettting out. never the less the exercises etc will help anyone even thoese gettign out loads.

[grub]

There is nothing better than getting out there and doing it... Yes you can swim, indo board, skate or what ever but I am of yet to find an exercise that actually works the same muscles as surfing...

I feel that in the first couple years it is very important to get as much water time as possible... If you are like me and surfing is all you are doing, expect 2 to 3 weeks at a minimum of 2 hours, 5 days a week just to get your fitness up and muscles going. I only get out about once or twice a fortnight now but for the 4 years I would be out at least 5 times a week for a minimum of 2 hours at a time... before this I would surf around 4 hours a day all year round, family and work commitments now cutting in on my time so make the most of it whilst you can... good luck to you and above all enjoy your self.

[Redshift Spec]

There are stuff you can do, but time in the water is what really counts, if you wanna get better theres no way youll improve if you dont go out often, i see people get stuck at surfing and never improve because they go like once a week.

So your saying if you dont go surfing more than once a week you'll never improve? What if you live 2 hours inland? You'll never become a good serfer? I beg to differ, granted it'll be a slower process but its still worth surfing if you can only do it 6 times a year

[oslo]

getting better without actually surfing?

The answer to that, is no.

Sure there are loads of things you can do make it easier for you to learn, but as for surfing skills; only surfing helps.

[HitAndRun]

There are stuff you can do, but time in the water is what really counts, if you wanna get better theres no way youll improve if you dont go out often, i see people get stuck at surfing and never improve because they go like once a week.

So your saying if you dont go surfing more than once a week you'll never improve? What if you live 2 hours inland? You'll never become a good serfer? I beg to differ, granted it'll be a slower process but its still worth surfing if you can only do it 6 times a year

If you go 6 times a year you will only be able to take the white water on a pop out board, (definetly not surfing) as a beginner who wants to shortboard (or longboard) you have to go as much as possible.
if you go 6 times a year you will never acctually improve, and maybe be able to catch the face after like 10 years.

surfing is a sport you do constantly, if you dont surf constantly then your not a surfer, your just someone who surfs once or twice every six months and never acctually improve.

[grub]

... if you dont surf constantly then your not a surfer, your just someone who surfs once or twice every six months and never acctually improve...

mate, I get what you are saying but it is a bit of a narrow view, I think you hit that one and ran for your life When starting out, yes you need to go continuously but there are mile stones that you reach that you don´t generally regress from (similar to ridding a bike). You may be rusty, low in fitness, paddling power etc. but I will alway consider myself a surfer, even if for some reason I don't get out for six months... I will always be dreaming of surfing and how I can improve... "if you don't surf constantly then your not a surfer", what a load of crap.

[HitAndRun]

How could you be a surfer, if your not acctually surfing?!
im sorry but time in the water, and the feel you get for the sport is what really counts, you cant say that becasue you dream and think about surfing all the time, your acctually a surfer.
A surfer is a guy who surfs Period
there are plenty of guys out there that think about surfing all the time, they have a board, but they just dont go surf, can you call them surfers? no becasue they dont surf...
I can understand if its flat for months, and you cant travel, but if the conditions are good, i see no reason not finding the time to go surf

[grub]

...there are plenty of guys out there that think about surfing all the time, they have a board, but they just dont go surf, can you call them surfers?

Beats me...

• Can they surf
• Have they spent a good part of there life in the water
• Do they spend there time thinking and planning there next session

The major part of surfers these days just consider the act of surfing as making a surfer... not so long ago the best and most dedicated surfers were regarded not as surfers but "waterman" who encompased the whole outdoor life as a principle... an example for you, I have a mate who came over to live in Australia with me for a year... Born Canadian, lived a good part of his life as a Professional windsurfer through the 80's in Haiwai... will and has done just about anything on water or land... great surfer but hasn't lived by the ocean now for a few years and spends most of his spare time now in a tent with his family, when ever we chat it still revolves around the ocean... what makes you more of a surfer than him

Surfing is more than just a sport...

[HitAndRun]

Good point, there are exceptions no doubt about it, but in my case i can never be landlocked, the idea of not being able to surf for months or years is unbearable, i always need that refuge, that good feeling when your in the water.

[grub]

I feel you... the only constraint I put on my wifes decissions in terms of global location is being within 1 hour from a break... should have put more emphisis on Langage though; possitive note, learning Portugese makes Brazil more accessable for the future