Hi Libby. It’s interesting where we all have our weaknesses and insecurities. On a skateboard and kiteboard I’m fine, goofy foot. When I first learned to surf, I was taught natural foot and boy, was that a mess. Nothing felt right, my balance, timing, intuition was completely off. I’m goofy on any type of boards but natural foot with other things. Is there a chance your balance foot isn’t really your balance foot?

I am un-training my mind (and body) from the pop up I used to do due to an inability to move my hip. My socket grew over the ball joint to lock it in place so it wouldn’t move (from a car accident injury). I had the surgery two years ago.

I had an aha moment about two weeks after that video while land training at home with video. My down to the ground to get into surf paddling position played backward was exactly what I needed to emulate getting off the ground and standing. I just needed to “rise” once both my feet where placed on the deck. That’s my trigger word now.

Hi NR. Thank you for sharing your journey. Surfing can be frustrating, for sure and really beat us up mentally. I think you’ve nailed it! Accepting you’ll fail while trying to improve is the mental position we should all take... Also known as embracing the suck.

Working on one tiny tweak at one time has helped me the most.

Hi Libby,

That’s no easy feat— being pulled by a boat! Sounds like much fun though!

I do love longboarding style. So many amazing female longboarders out there. I do hope Clayton will branch out a bit on OMBE to be a bit more inclusive of longboarders. With that said, the information in this program so far has been incredibly useful and does translate to both styles of surfing. I am on week three of the Beginners Start Program.

I was watching so much garbled information on surfing. I tune out everyone else’s noise online and at the break. Im only following OMBE’s sound advice. I feel like it’s an online university for surfing.

Can’t wait to see more from you and the group, it’s very encouraging. 😀

My OREO Biscuit; Rincon, Puerto Rico, Jan 2024

This was on a 9’ Takayama In the Pink

The one near me in the States is at The American Dream Mall in New Jersey. We’re about 1ish hours by car from there. It’s small and indoors which is great for our winters here. The wave has a pretty short ride. I’ll be going again this Friday and am looking forward to some video footage.

Last weekend we were at the Waco, Texas Wave Pool and it couldn’t have been a more different experience than the wave at the NJ indoor pool. My husband and I are planning another Waco TX trip. It’s a bit of a hike, about 4 hours by plane.

I was at intermediate about 5 years ago but surgeries and hip replacement has had me out of the water for a while. So instead of trying to start at intermediate, I kicked myself all the way back to beginner. But this time with a high quality surf coaching program. I need to learn to surf properly. I was doing a work around to get up to my feet due to my limitations that I need to relearn, create new mind-muscle connections.

I can’t wait to see OUR progression!

Definitely very lucky!! Drone footage or surfing and waves is just so amazing, I imagine it’s how a bird sees flying about. You should hire him periodically. 😀 I wish there was someone here by me that offered that. I was always so against being filmed but it is so helpful!

Hi Alyssa, so I noticed something while filming the last two weeks. Which was something I never did before OMBE. Amazing the things you learn. My descent to the ground, if played backward is exactly what I need to do to get up. Somehow, in the Superman to “walk up”, my brain made things more complicated than need be. Mostly from learning how to do this the right way post hip replacement surgery due to a car accident. My trigger word has become “rise” as this tells me from a low crouched position to just rise with my hands forward… and not do anything else as I am already in the foot placement needed to be in neutral position. My cobra to plank and back foot front foot were fine. It was in the standing up part things were getting mottled.

I play back my videos in between each walk up and review and fix. I hope I’ve made sense.

Hi Brian, I live in Long Beach with my husband Rob. We surf right outside our backyard. I’ve been going to Skudin’s at American Dream Mall in Jersey recently, too, as waves have been non existent… dismal to be more precise. And who loves to put on full winter rubber, anyway???

It’s a beautiful video!! I’m new here so I’ll just take the position of admiring, for now. 😀

Hi Libby,

Thank you for your response.

Good to know about your experience. At my next indoor pool surf session I’m going to try a smaller board at the halfway mark where the A-Frames pickup height and speed. I can definitely smell the chlorine on me all day. Even after showering. It faded my rashguard on day one, too.

You have a little height on me. But I beat you on the weight. I have about 7 pounds on you. 😀 I carry wide shoulders and not enough in the caboose. 👀

We’re around the same age, too, which is exciting to know.

I’d love to see some videos of you surfing and progression some time.