| 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 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 occurences at
the beginner level and trimming the surfboard is the progression that
will help you correct these problems. |
| First of all set up the surfboard
on the beach as described below. |
- Build a sand castle in the soft/damp
sand that is approxiamately 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 transfering your weight from the front
leg to the back, slightly rocking the surfboard 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. |
| 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. |
