Surf Lesson | Learn to Surf

Falling Off and Dismounting

When learning to surf there are a few occurrences that are almost guaranteed to happen to any beginner:-

1. your leg-rope will get tangled around your leg and annoy you immensely.

2. you will nose dive the board from time to time when catching waves.

3. you may swallow a bit of saltwater, and

4. you are going to fall off.

First of all when you fall off you should always cover-up. By placing one arm over the front of your face and the other across the top of the head will help prevent your surfboard or another surfers surfboard connecting with your head when you fall off.

When you fall off you will most likely end up underwater, at this time you should cover up and remain covered up until you have broken the surface and become aware of where your surfboard is and if there is any other waves or surfers coming towards you.

Falling off the surfboard is a common practice and part of learning to surf.

Previously it has been suggested the place for a beginner to surf is in waist deep water, because of this reason when you feel you are falling off the surf board it is important to try and fall backwards into the wave.

Water depth can vary from wave to wave so it is important not to dive in head first, if you do feel like you are going in head first make sure you throw your arms out in front to break your fall.

Once you have mastered your surfing style you will find yourself surfing waves all the way to the beach. To take proper care of your surf board it is important to dismount off the board before running it into the sand.

The correct way to dismount is:-

• directly lower yourself onto the surfboard and drop your back knee onto the deck.

• place both hands back on the rails (chest line)

• step off to the back of the surfboard leading with your front leg.

• take a couple of steps holding onto the surfboard until your speed has decreased.

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