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Learning to Surfskate: An Introductory Guide for Novices
For those who have never embarked on a surfskate adventure, this guide serves as the ideal starting point to grasp the essentials. You will discover how to use your weight to propel forward without the need to push as you would with a skateboard. You'll master the art of connecting fluid turns and how to position your body for optimal control—movements that correlate directly with surfing techniques like "bottom turns" and "cutbacks".
Surfskating offers a land-based alternative to engage in the fluid turns, body management, and equilibrium familiar from surfing. Utilising a special surf skateboard, its front truck permits pivots distinct from a regular skateboard truck. Whether residing far from the sea or when the waters are calm, surfskating allows you to hone your surfing skills, build leg strength, and refine your timing.
Overview
Initiate Surfskating: Positioning and Balance
Surfskate trucks are sensitive to even the slightest foot movements, presenting a notably different experience compared to regular skateboard or longboard trucks. One initial push sets you off, and subsequent forward motion is generated through the surfskate pumping method.
Your posture is the keystone of all surfskating motions. Position your front foot just behind the front truck bolts with a slight forward inclination. Place your back foot over the rear truck, with the toes angled more laterally. Maintain bent knees, relaxed shoulders, and keep your gaze directed towards your intended path. Adopting a low, balanced posture ensures quick responsiveness to directional changes.
Mastering the Art of Pumping for Speed on a Surfskate
Diverging from traditional skateboarding techniques, gaining speed on a surfskate doesn't require foot-pushing. Instead, momentum is achieved by rhythmically shifting weight from heel to toe.
The "pumping" action in surfskating involves:
- Leaning into the turn while pressing through your toes and upper body.
- Synchronising shoulder and hip rotations with the board.
- Extending your legs upon turn completion to generate forward propulsion.
Visualise sketching an S-shape on the ground; every curve provides an opportunity to accelerate and prepare for subsequent manoeuvres.
The Fundamentals of Bottom & Top Turns
Bottom and Top Turns are fundamental elements of surfing, and a surfskate provides a distinctive way to rehearse them.
The Bottom Turn arises at the wave's base, redirecting the surfer towards its peak (aka "The Lip"). The Top Turn occurs near the lip, propelling the surfer down the wave once more.
Seamlessly combining these turns is vital for fluent surfing. As they recur continuously on a wave, they form a core component of surfing mastery.
Propel forward, descend into your knees, and carve a deep turn in one direction (Bottom Turn). Subsequently, rise into the opposite turn (Top Turn). Continuously linking these turns creates a pathway reminiscent of surfing a genuine wave.
Tips for Bringing Your Surfskate to a Stop
Halting on a surfskate requires adapting to its exclusive front truck system. If accustomed to decelerating by dragging a shoe on a conventional skateboard, the reaction of surfskate trucks might come as a surprise.
Essentially, the high manoeuvrability of surfskate trucks allows for effortless carving and sharp turns, necessitating a distinct method for reducing speed.
Luckily, pausing a surfskate is straightforward. Below are three safe and efficient techniques to halt your board:
- Step Off Into a Run - At low to moderate speeds, initiate by stepping off with your back foot and jog forward to dissipate momentum. Always spot a clear landing area ahead.
- Grass or Rough Surface Stop - Direct your surfskate onto grass or a rougher terrain where friction quickly decelerates your pace without putting pressure on the trucks or wheels.
- Carve to Reduce Speed - Employ wide, controlled turns to progressively decrease speed. This technique is optimal when ample space surrounds you but won't assist in abrupt halts.
With practice, you will develop assurance and maintain control over your surfskate at all times. Achieving proficiency in stopping early in your surfskate journey empowers you to focus on turns, pumping, and other manoeuvres without fretting over how to slow down.
