Now that you have had the taste of the waves rolling beneath your feet, the wind rustling through your hair, don’t you want to do it all the more? Maybe something more exhilarating? If so, why not try SUP surfing? Now that you have taken to SUPing, it’s going to be quite easy. Here are a few tricks to help you be that next great SUP surfer:
- Practice the Basics: Getting the basics right will take you a long way. Unless you have them you won’t be riding the waves as you have yourself riding them in your mind, you simply won’t be progressing much at all.
“Practicing the basics is key to making sure you’re on the right path in improving your performance,” says Noa Ginella, Naish SUP pro team rider. Ginella continues, “Make sure that you have your pivot turns down, find your balance point on your board and when you’re starting off make sure that you’re working on getting a good stroke.”
- Always surf with someone better that you: When you’re surfing with someone better than you, maybe a friend, not only will you be having fun but will also be learning tricks of the trade from that person without even realizing it.
Even pro-surfer say that if you are just starting out, then going out with a friend and having fun is the best way because if you have fun then you’re going to want to go out for another session and the more sessions you have the better you will get.
- Cross train with other types of Surfing: SUP surfing means that you’ve got to take care of loads of stuff all at once, paddle positioning, crowds, equipment, etc. The best way to cope with it is to cross-train and take the traditional approach to the sport and practice on a longboard or a short board.
- Downsize Equipment: Slightly downsizing the equipment can be very useful when looking to improve your skills. When you start off as a beginner it’s likely that you started on a board around 10.5 feet which after figuring out the basics on can be a bit sluggish to try and whip around. So, the next step would be to try and step down to a bit that is a bit smaller, which in turn makes it more maneuverable.
- Learn to position yourself: Being successful out in the lineup has a lot to do with how you position yourself and how you actually paddle into the waves. If you’re not positioned at the right angle when you’re paddling into the wave you can end up getting tipped over sideways, burying your nose, or even missing the wave altogether. “You want to make sure you are getting enough speed to be able to catch the wave but you also need to make sure you are not turning your board sideways,” says Caio Vaz.
Get yourself through these few steps and soon you’ll be riding the surging waves like the Devil. Till then, keep practicing.
