Surf Lesson | Learn to Surf

Trimming the Surf Board

The progressive skills of surfing are about starting to actually surf waves. Stages 1, 2 and 3 teach you to catch waves and stand up, if you are achieving standing up on waves that's great, now it's time to start surfing.

Once again all new skills should first be practised on the beach and then attempted in the surf. Remember you are still considered a beginner.

Trimming the Surf Board

On the beach, again...

Trimming the surfboard is the first progressive skill that will help you get the best out of surfing a wave, it's not really good enough to just stand on the surfboard, you need to surf the wave. (That's what it is all about)

By now you have probably surfed waves and experienced problems such as:-

1. the surfboard slowing down and stopping while you were standing up, but the wave kept going.

2. the nose of the surfboard kept diving underwater while you were cruising along.

These are common occurrences at the beginner level and trimming the surf board is the progression that will help you correct these problems.

First of all set up the surf board on the beach as described below.

• Build a sand castle in the soft/damp sand that is approximately 30cm high, it doesn't need to be perfect looking, but it should be packed down so it is quite solid.

• Place your surfboard on the sand castle so the surfboard is balanced in the middle.

Secondly, carefully step on to the surfboard leading with your back foot and adopt the correct surfing stance and style. (feet facing across the deck, knees bent, hips forward, arms up and head looking forward)

The idea is to balance the surfboard on the sand castle.

While in the correct surfing stance you will find by pushing your hips forward you will place more weight on the front leg and the nose of the surfboard should slightly dip towards the sand. Simply by pushing your hips to the back will transfer your weight to the back leg and the tail should drop and the board now angled in the opposite direction.

Don't lean, bounce or step all over the surfboard, simply keep pushing your hips back and forth and transfer your weight from the front leg to the back leg. It is important to keep your back straight, head looking up and knees bent at all times.

After a few weight transfers you may need to step off, rebuild your sand castle and then replace your surfboard and start again. Eventually you should be at the stage where you are easily transferring your weight from the front leg to the back, slightly rocking the surf board and keeping the nose and tail out of the sand. This technique will allow you to trim the board and get the maximum ride out of the wave.

Trimming the Surfboard, in the surf...

Once again walk out into the surf, catch a wave and stand up, now while you are up and surfing start to feel the wave beneath you and where your weight is placed. If you are slowing down, transfer your weight through the hips and onto the front leg. You also may need to bend your knees giving more compression on your front leg and down onto the surfboard.

If you feel the nose is being pushed into the water too much, transfer your weight through the hips, this time to the back leg.

Keep looking up, arms out, back straight, keep trimming the surfboard and SURF the wave as far as you can.

< Falling Off and Dismounting | Changing the Surf Board Angle >