Stance....hands, legs and feet...carver skateboard

[Big H]

Been working on following the info in these two videos lately....have found them very useful and am seeing positive results from the info used. I have also found muscles in my legs that I'd forgotten about! Been following and drilling the principles in water, but it is on the carver skateboard that I can really put a lot of time in riding (half hour on the skatey equals a half hour riding time....no idea how long that would take in the water....). Kinda squeezing the knees together and the mental image of keeping the hands outside the body line on either side (exaggerating the movement at first) has helped me make inroads.....These are the vids:

Part 1 - Legs

Part 2 - Arms

[Big H]

These videos are from the "Surf Simply" Tutorial series....google it up on Youtube; they have a something like 9 total videos which focus on theory rather than visual demonstrations as so many videos do....useful for those who do better when they understand the "whys" behind an action (more complete mental commitment to an action if it is well explained to the point the person really believes it to the bottom of their understanding maybe? ) I learn both ways, these two videos clicked for me and filled in the gaps that other videos, even good ones (110% Surfing techniques....I have all three videos and they are fantastic) do not cover to this degree of detail in explanation. Anyway, I wanted to share something that was working for me.


...and about the carver skateboard.....I can't say enough good things about that....it has helped me in general fitness, toned up and strengthened my legs and core, helps with balance as well....I can work on things like stance and hands and arm use on dry land and it translates so well to actual surfing; I pop up and a sense of familiarity arises that has come from the skateboard that I recognise as such and muscle memory can and does takeover for moves like bottom turns, cutbacks and linking bottom and top turns or bottom turn to shallower carving top turn to cutback.....it isn't exactly the same but pretty close....I'm still no good at surfing but this is helping me improve faster......best part is that it is really fun; I try to do 20min to a half hour a day on the way home from work...I find an empty road or parking lot and just go for it....not a chore at all, something that I look forward to. Cheers!

[drowningbitbybit]

I've been thinking about upgrading to a carver. My current s'board is like a funboard - not short, but not long, can turn but doesn't rip...
We just moved house and we have no money... but there's always some money for a new toy somewhere

[Big H]

Highly recommended.....I am thinking about the mini simms skateboard they (carver) has that W-chan recommended.....I bet that turns on a dime....so much fun and not that much space required as you can keep turning back on yourself.....

Skating on that I try to simulate surfing in that I keep my legs flexed to some degree.....I don't stand tall and lock them out.....this has proved really beneficial for in the water as I can make it to the inside without "taking a break" and can stay low all the way in.....and again, and again, etc......better than I could before anyhow....

[Big H]

I just came across this in the "Surfing Speed" tutorial section of this site.....can't wait to try tomorrow...

(video at the bottom of the linked page)

https://surfing-waves.com/surfing-speed.htm

[312T4]

Hi I've been doing the same thing with a Carveboard.

I'm a later in life beginner who can only surf on weekends when the crowd is at peak.
My progress have been slow but constant. I have 3 tools that helped and still help a lot: the skate, the goofboard and the gopro.
The skate helps with manouvres, the goofboard with balance, feet/lower legs fitness, and stance, and the gopro because you can see what you r doing and correct yourself.
I'm very very happy about my progress. Now after 3 years (rate: 6 to 10 hours a month) I think i definitely left the beginner stage and i believe i'm in the average recreational surfer group.
I believe in the usefulness of those instruments - if you dont live near the beach-. You just have to keep in mind your goals and have a bit of scientif approach.

[pmcaero]

I have the cheaper surf-skate, the one from Atom, and I think it's a valuable tool for general leg fitness and for pumping the board.
In terms of turns, it turns more like a snowboard than a surfboard, as in you can still put your weight forward and turn with your toes/heel

[312T4]

Hi guys,
I found a similar discussion also on FB so I thought it was time to write a goofboard review on my blog.

http://serendipitysurf.blogspot.com.au/ ... eview.html

it may help someone
Cheers

[Big H]

How many slams you take on that? It looks like an ankle breaker.

[dtc]

Hi guys,
I found a similar discussion also on FB so I thought it was time to write a goofboard review on my blog.

http://serendipitysurf.blogspot.com.au/ ... eview.html

it may help someone
Cheers

Ottimo lavoro

[jaffa1949]

Nice blog and it really is useful to the beginner surfer. Enjoy both the surfing and the writing!

[312T4]

@Big H
not much, if you start keeping your hands on a chair or something. The board has stops on the bottom so that it doesnt fly away, unless you are reckless. But I'm old, I dont like the ground.

@Dtc
Did you just google that?

Thanks guys.

[Big H]

I'm old too That's why I ask....took a slam on my skateboard the other day in years past I'd have bounced up and away from....I just lay there on the ground in the parking lot for like ten seconds contemplating what a 44year old was doing flat on his back in a moderately busy public parking lot and mentally reviewing my bits and pieces to see if there was a problem before making any quick moves. I like gadgets, have an indo board....Maybe this is next. Cheers!

[dtc]

@Dtc
Did you just google that? .

Maybe...

I have now read through your blog in more details, very interesting and well written. Hope your health issues have resolved.

[312T4]

Well written? Too kind.. but my english is broken and my italian is fading....

Yes, I'm well now, thanks. Lots of pain, surgery, more pain, 6 months of pure frustration.. I missed at least 2 very good swell..
But now it's all good.
And improving

[pmcaero]

I'm old too

I learned this the hard way this year learning to snowboard...now I wear a shirt with impact protection pads and underpants with same every time I snow/skate-board. Actually for skateboarding I also wear wrist guards and kneepads.

[Big H]

I don't wear underwear......a lot would have to change....