How Surf Skating Improves Your Surfing

From Pavement to Waves

You don’t have to hang up your board and quit surfing just because the waves aren’t coming in or you can’t get to the ocean! On dry land, surf skating is the ideal approach for developing your skills. With the use of a specially made board, this fun exercise helps simulate the movements of surfing and keeps your body in shape for your next session. Both beginner and expert surfers can benefit from surf skating by feeling more at ease and self-assured when they return to the lineup. Let’s examine what surf skating is, how it can improve your surfing, and the fundamental motions you’ll need to learn!

What is Surf Skating?

When surfers began looking for ways to surf even on flat waves in the late 1970s, surf skating was born. This pastime quickly gained popularity, and soon a large number of skateboarders and surfers were participating. With a more adaptable truck system than a standard skateboard, surf skates allow for smoother, deeper carving and turning. You may practise your surfing skills even in calm ocean conditions thanks to this design, which gives you the impression that you’re riding a wave. Even though you’re only sliding on the concrete, it seems nearly like you’re floating over water once you get on a surf skate!

Why Surf Skating Helps Your Surfing Skills

Surf skating offers some great benefits for your surfing skills. For starters, it helps you to build muscle memory since you can practice the same movements you use when catching waves and turning, making it feel more natural when you’re back in the water.

Also, good balance is key for surfing, and surf skating is a great way to improve this. As you ride the board, you’ll use your legs, arms and core for more balance, helping you feel more comfortable on your feet when you’re on your surfboard.

The smooth movements you practice while surf skating really help improve your surfing technique. You start to develop a natural rhythm and flow that makes it easier to keep your speed and control as you’re on the waves.

And the best part? You can work on your balance, turning and cutting techniques anytime you want, without having to wait for the perfect surf conditions. Having the opportunity to really experiment and get comfortable with the moves you’ll need when you’re out there riding the waves!

Get Started with Surf Skating

Are you ready to give surf skating a shot? It’s easier than you might think to get started! Here’s how:

1. Choose the Right Board

First, you need the right equipment. Look for a surf skateboard that is specifically designed for this sport. A wider deck and flexible trucks are ideal for smooth carving, and softer wheels provide better grip. Renting a board as a beginner is a smart idea to test out different options.

2. Find a Good Surface

Next, look for a smooth spot to practice, such as a local skate park, an empty parking lot, or a paved path. This will help you get comfortable on your board without a lot of distractions.

3. Start with the Basic Movements

  1. Start with pushing off. Place one foot, your front foot, on the board just behind the screws of the trucks and use the other to give yourself a gentle push with your back foot. If you’re having trouble getting rolling, ask a friend for a little help!
  2. Once you’re moving, focus on balancing. Shift your weight until you find your center, keeping your knees slightly bent.
  3. Then, work on carving by shifting your weight from your toes to your heels. This will help you make smooth turns, creating the feel of riding a wave. Remember to always look in the direction you want to go, your front arm should naturally follow.
  4. As you enter a turn, bend your legs and push your heels down into the board while extending for momentum. This movement will feel familiar if you’re used to surfing! When you can do this technique, you’ll be doing a bottom turn. This is what you would do to head back up to the peak of the wave. The bottom turn is usually followed by another turn in the opposite direction, helping you get back down to the bottom of the wave.

When you’re comfortable with these surf skate movements, you can practice pumping to generate speed without pushing yourself off the ground.

4. Build Confidence

Finally, remember that it’s all about practice! Feeling a bit wobbly and uncertain at first is normal, so be patient with yourself. The more fun you have, the quicker you’ll improve, and soon you’ll feel like a pro both in the water and out!

So, surf skating is a great way to level up your surfing skills when you’re not in the water. It helps to improve your balance, flexibility, muscle memory, and even pro surfers love to mix this sport into their training! Ready to take your skills to the next level? Sign up for lessons at Surf School in Bali, and let’s get you riding those waves!