Articles of Interest

The Internet provides a wonderful resource for anyone looking for information. We come across many articles relating to surfing and when we feel it is appropriate we like to republish these on The Surf Lesson web site.

Below is a complete list of articles that have currently been republished on The Surf Lesson web site. If you have an article or editorial that you feel would be appropriate please contact us at the usual address.

Your Surfboard In this surf lesson you will learn about Your Surf Board. The basic rule to remember for your beginner board is the bigger the better. A bigger surf board will offer more flotation and stability which will assist you in paddling, catching waves, standing and surfing. Rips and Currents In this surf lesson you will learn about Rips and Currents. A rip is a body of water that is pulling away from the beach and back out into the ocean. Currents run parallel with the beach, they can be quite strong and can drag you some distance if you are not aware of them. Body Positioning on the Surf Board To catch waves and surf it is important that the body is positioned correctly on the surf board. Correct positioning will assist in keeping the surf board stable and in trim and most importantly prepare you for the stand up. Pushing Up The push up is to prepare you for the stand up, it requires you to strongly push your upper body up creating an arch in your back and giving the maximum amount of clearance between your chest and the deck. Entering the Surf As a beginner you should only walk out as far as waist deep water and keep your feet on the bottom at all times. Wave Selection As a beginner you should start by catching broken waves or white waves, the waves you shouldn't be catching are know as unbroken waves or green waves. Catching Waves In one simple movement turn 180 degrees so you are now facing directly in towards the beach, angle the surf board slightly so the tail is lower than the nose, look over your shoulder and keep your eyes on the wave, now bend your knees and get ready to push off the sand. Paddling Technique Once you have got the feel of catching waves and you are confident your body positioning is right, it is time to start paddling on to waves. By paddling we are attempting to increase the speed of the surf board which will give it more momentum, this in turn will assist in catching waves and improve the stability of the surf board as we progress towards the next stage of standing up. Surfing Style and Stand Up Position For a surfer, the feeling of standing and surfing a wave can only be described as the ultimate feeling. Whether you are a beginner or experienced surfer the feeling is achieved by standing on the surf board and using correct techniques to benefit from the natural power of the ocean. Jump Up Method The jump up method uses strength and power from the shoulders and chest combined with a spring off the toes. For this method the knees are eliminated all together. Step Up Method The step up method breaks getting to your feet into two movements, it is slightly slower than the jump up but still allows you to achieve your desired result of standing up. Falling Off and Dismounting 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. Trimming the Surf Board 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) Changing the Surf Board Angle Changing the angle of the surfboard is the next progression and a major skill that will help you develop turns while surfing a wave. What we are attempting to achieve is to change the angle of the surfboard from facing straight towards the beach to angling and cutting across the wave. Understanding the Break Zone The break zone is the gateway to the deeper, calmer water where surfers can sit, relax and wait for a nice unbroken (green) wave to come their way. It is also an area that tests the skills of every surfer who wishes to paddle through it. Paddling Through Waves When paddling through a wave make sure you approach it with the nose facing directly into the wave, if you end up sideways or slightly angled the wave will get underneath your surfboard and force you backwards. Introduction to Catching Green Waves To catch green waves you must understand the speed of the wave, your positioning on the wave and when the wave will peak and start to break.