Surfing requires balance. It’s not only that without balance you will fall of your board more often. Having good balance is the way to faster progress. This is true for first timers as well as for better improving surfers. Lots of things are moving when you surf and there is nothing solid to hold on to, so balance is even more important than in some other sports. Here you will find four surfing hacks that will help you improve your balance on a surfboard with minimize the risk of wiping out.
Start With The Basics
Sometimes, watching the pros surf massive or really difficult waves will get you stoked and motivate you to try the sport. But, if you’re a complete beginner, this is not where you should start. You should start with the basics if you want to learn how to surf.
The basics are the fundamentals that you’ll carry during every surfing session. For instance, you need to learn how to pop up from your board. The main thing here is to do it in a quick and fluid motion. Don’t let the fear of wiping out rule your mind. Focus on the standing up part. A good way to practice your pop-ups is to do it on the sand before you hit the waves. This way you will eliminate all the moving that happens in the water. You will be able to focus just on the standing up part. Do it until it becomes natural. Do it until you can do it in one fluid and quick motion. How to practice? Lie your board on a sandy beach as if you’re going to paddle on the water. Make sure that the board likes flat on the sand so it isn’t rocking. Pretend that you are paddling then place your hands next to your chest and pop up. Land with both feet at the same time over the center line of the board. It’s best to ask an experienced surfer to show you how to do it or get help from YouTube videos (we link to a good surfing tips channel in the next paragraph). Aim to perfect this motion while you’re still on the beach. Once you are in the water there are so many things going on when you are a beginner it really helps if at least popping up feel more natural.
Another basic one from the list of surf hacks is to stay perpendicular to the whitewash. Whitewash is what you will be catching at first and practicing on. This way your board will stay much more stable and it will be easier to stand up. And remember, becoming a good surfer takes time. Practice the basics, and you may see yourself getting better at balancing on your surfboard over time. You may also check out the following YouTube channel for beginner-friendly surfing tips – Amanzi surf.
Use A Balance Board
You don’t need to travel to the nearest beach to practice your balance. You can start your training at home. In this case a balance board will help you simulate your surfboard and help you improve your balance.
At first the goal will be to simply avoid falling from the balance board. Do this exercise at a relatively low height because in the beginning you will very likely fall of. Or mostly just step of, but even a fall is not out of the question. Start balancing on the board by holding onto a rail, a piece of furniture or your friend. This way getting on to the board and standing on it will be easier.
Many beginner surfers might find the first few steps to be the most brutal part of balancing on the board. Aim to focus your balance on your core instead of your feet. Focusing on your core may help you distribute weight evenly across the balance board. In contrast, focusing on your feet may increase the likelihood of falls because of the inefficient weight distribution.
The beauty of this training is you have the option to choose how much time you spend on it. You may attempt these exercises on the balance board for about five minutes per day. Otherwise, you may also want to dedicate yourself to a full day of trying to achieve that perfect balance on this board. Either way, with time you will gain confidence and improve your balance on the balance board. Then you can start doing other things on the board, not just standing. You can move the board under your feet, you can walk on it, you can stay low, imagine your are surfing, turn around etc…
Improve Your Reflexes
The sea tends to be full of hidden dangers. These surfing hazards may surprise you at the moment you least expect them.
Many beginner surfers fail to keep a keen eye on their surroundings, which inevitably leads to wipeouts. One of the tricks used by some surfing veterans is to practice their reflexes. A split-second decision may help you avoid certain hazards while you’re out in the open sea.
For example, imagine yourself surfing at your local beach when a rock seems to pop out of nowhere and is in your path. If you don’t have good reflexes, you might attempt to just jump from your board, or fail to avoid the rock. In both cases you can crash against it. Having good reflexes and good spatial awareness will help you spot the dangers and obstacles quickly and react soon enough to either get of the wave or surf around the obstacle without getting in any real danger.
Note that several exercises exist to help improve your reflexes. One example is to throw loose change in the air. Then, try to catch as many coins as possible before they hit the ground. Another method is to play videogames. Many videogames help you practice your reaction speed. In particular, first-person shooters (FPS’s) help you stay focused on your surroundings while providing training to improve your reaction speed.
Train Your Core
You may also choose not to use a board to help improve your balance as you surf. It’s possible to enhance your balance with some exercises you can do at home or at the gym. One exercise routine that should come to mind to help build your balance is yoga. The various yoga poses you’ll do should help train your core. Take the tree pose, or Vrksasana, as an example.
Start the tree pose by standing straight and firm above a mat. Ensure that you have a tall back while your feet are facing forward. Additionally, your arms should be straight at either side of the body. Next, take a few deep breaths as you focus your attention on a particular object in the room. Doing this step will help you maintain focus as you continue with the pose.
Now, slowly shift your weight to one of your legs and start raising the other leg. Align the sole of the raised leg to the side of the thigh. Avoid placing the raised leg on the other leg’s knee as doing so will increase the risks of falls. Focus on your core as you raise your arms straight toward the ceiling. Keep this pose for about 30 seconds to a minute before lowering your arms and leg. Repeat the entire pose once more for the other leg.
Consider practicing this pose every day. Along with other poses, the tree pose should help you maintain active consciousness on your core, which should help maintain your balance while surfing.
Conclusion
Remember to start with surfing basics to begin your journey in developing your balance. Also, consider using a balance board for balance training and practice activities that help improve your reflexes. You may also do other exercises, such as yoga, to help develop your core, which would, in turn, help build your balance. Follow these tips, and you might see your surfing skills improving over time.