Graham Marsden well I promise you the difference is extreme. I could see the shop telling MOST people they don't need Swiss ceramics. I would agree with that. Unless youre on the advanced side of skateboarding or surf skating. But even the difference between a cheap set of Bones Reds and the stock bearings is extremely noticeable.

I make zero dollars off you buying something or not. But I experimented a LOT with everything: 4 decks, 3 wheels types/brands... then when I found dragons I tried them in 4 sizes. 55m, 58mm, 60mm 64mm.Ive tested bushings, pivot cups, different riser heights. You name it and if it can be done to a board then ive probably tried it.

I've tried Reds bearings, never skated swiss myself but just doing a spin test on a wheel in the shop Swiss spins for over a minute longer than reds off one hand spin. Carver gives you okay stuff to start, but just like my wheel recommendation... I promise you the difference is worth the cost. Again, not talking about Swiss, although you can get Nonbones Swiss ceramics for under 200 online places. I ride The Bones Reds, I have put them on all 3 of my boards, they are faster and smoother than carver stock.

I am simply providing you with my experience, because again....ive tried it...you can do with that what you will.

Bro I told you those Dragon wheels are the best! Now if you really want to blow your own mind. Invest in some ceramic Swiss bearings, or if you are still using carver stock bearings and don't want to drop 200 bucks on the Swiss ceramics at least get the 30 dollars bones REDs.

I am a firm believe that technique is the most important. But applying technique to GOOD equipment is miles ahead of riding the stock stuff. Carver wheels are notoriously bad...not sure why that is. But I went Dragons and won't ever go back.

Scott Wagenblast probably not. The one they are building here will be 10 mins from my house so I'll probably wait till then before I try one out. Till then, just the ocean and me.

I do have to get footage but my wife never wants to wake up early with me, my kids are too young to leave alone on the beach to record me, and the surfline cam is far enough away that I'm just a dot most times and it would not be really useful.

The surf coach I found says he may do some video break down for me so if that happens I'll share.

So 2 days of September left and we are in the middle of a tropical storm so with 100% chance of rain the next 2 days I thought I'd use my bowl time to type this final update.

Missed a total of 3 days of training this month. 1 was supposed to be a surf lesson that never happen. 1 was a trip to the urgent care with my wife and 1 was today cause the park is flooded and the tropical storm has the waves this morning too wild to make a short surf session worth it.

Results:

1. My paddle strength/endurance is probably the greatest improvement in the month. Between the strength exercises and the extra paddling around the line up I have been able to surf extra long sessions without fatigue. I am 46 year Old and while I did not consider myself out of shape, the extra attention to boosting my paddle endurance as helped greatly. Not just for the fact that I catch more waves or surf for 3 hours without shoulder or low back burn but it has also greatly improved my pop up. Now popping up at the end of sessions is as good as it is in the beginning of sessions. This has translated to more rides, longer rides, the ability to stop worrying about that pop up and focus instead on progressing in other areas.

2. Much more comfortable on my board in general. Weight placement, the ability to move and shift my back foot around, staying on and balanced in sections where before I probably would have fallen. Working on my compression and extension, all of it felt miles ahead of where I started.

3. My outlook on boards has changed. Where before I put an unnecessary pressure on myself to ride smaller boards and do more on the waves. I now am shopping for a good mid length. This came about from forcing myself to paddle out on smaller days where before I may not have gone and from riding the 7'0 soft tip I bought for my daughter's to learn on. The glide into waves, the paddle power, the easy of popping up has all helped my to realize that I have a lot more fun riding something that fits the situation a little better than trying to ride/surf the way others around me are surfing. Honestly I've just been having more fun on that pink soft top that I probably would have trying to grovel on a 5'10" shortboard. At the moment the Firewire Revo Max is the board I have my eye on. Watching reviews and planning my next purchase in thr next few weeks.

4. Just being more comfortable and relaxed in the lineup. As Clayton says when you play and have fun that's where the learning happens and I can say that is true in my case.

I do plan to continue this into October. Now that I've started I have not desire to stop. The training will continue. I have a lot further that I want to progress and surf coaching lessons lined up to give me an outside perspective on where and what I need to improve.

Hopefully I can start to get some water footage to share with Y'all.

Yeewww

Michiel van Gerven I can. I'll get a photo or video this afternoon during my workout to share.

I happen to own a squat rack that has cable pulleys on it that I use. But the idea came from this:

https://surfbasis.com/products/basis-paddle-trainer?srsltid=AfmBOor4mHBW0HjXELf8dcZGM-lkZoMZoTV_OFbUcpGvxZUFEmdfskjI

I just happen to have equipment that cam some what replicate that same movement pattern.

Haven't updated in a while. Still going strong. I have missed 2 days since I've started. Miss 1: was the day I had to take my wife for x-rays after our puppy knocked her on her butt. Miss 2: was actually supposed to be a surf coaching day but the waves never improved and we never actually got the session done.

This far into the month I have noticed 2 major improvements. No. 1: I am definitely more more comfortable on the board... pop ups, moving around, making it through crumbling sections I probably would have fallen in the past.

No 2: Doing my paddle exercises and extra paddling around the line up has made a huge difference. Surfed extra long this morning with none of the shoulder or low back burning I normally experience on longer sessions. Been using my new full rack, laying on the bench in front of it and using the cable part of the machine to paddle for a minute at a time basically until I don't think I can paddle anymore. I am for sure keeping this is my daily routine because I could feel the difference today. I caught everything, arms and shoulders never got tired, popping up at end of session was as clean and quick as in beginning of the session.

Still have lots to work on... but feels good seeing/feeling my own improvements.

Michiel van Gerven https://gnarwall.co/collections/gnarwall/products/surfboard-hanger-hanger-futures

Went to bowl again this morning to work on this. Was definitely feeling like I was getting higher on the transition by straightening up more.

Days 10-12: Surfed day 10, quick session after work before picking the kids up from school.

Day 11: unfortunately missed this day. The dog took my wife's legs right out from under her and she landed right on her tailbone, which landed us in urgent care getting x-rays and pain meds, nothing broken thankfully. Spent the rest of the day helping my wife, who could barely walk, and building my new home gym.

Day 12: Surfed 2.5 hrs on tiny little waves riding the 7'0 soft top again. Really has me wanting an honest midlength... looking at the Firewire revo Max and Sunday models. Really been enjoying twin fins lately.

Also got a full workout in on the new equipment. I'm sure I'll be sore tomorrow.