I’m trying to learn a forehand and backhand turn on the surf skate and this video is from my first session. Right off the bat I can see I carry too much tension and am not pumping at the right time to use the energy of the walls and bowl, so I’m wasting energy.

I used a tennis ball to help me mark a line to follow and put numbers 1 - 4 and that really helps me keep my head up and hands forward to glide through and complete the turn.

Any pointers on how to get the feeling of the compression and extension in this context?

Also, I haven’t been able for drop down and do a frontside turn because my mind freezes, then my body, and I can’t flow through over my shoulder.

Checking in after about a month or so. Last video I posted, the feedback I received was more front foot forward, arms up, less frozen.

I’m working on that but still feel a little stiff. Apologize for the grittiness (not a camera film this time, just a Surfline cam). I feel like my arms are more forward / coffee cup stance. I tried to extend the bottom turn to go deep and compress and then extend out of the bottom, but fell off the back on reentry.

What is the next steps to improve the botttom turn and transition to top turn or cutback?

Also, this is a 6’10” DHD Inteceptor. I’m starting to feel much more flow, but I can turn more nimbly on my 6’2” Pyzel Astro Pop. Which should I focus on surfing more to progress? I feel rail to rail more on the mid length and feel that creates good habits. The shortboard forces more precision, but I can “cheat” the turns and lose speed because I’m not actually on rail.

Thanks!

I’m working through the 12-week surf smart program and just finished week 4, so I thought I’d post for a 1/3 way through check in.

I feel like it’s a clean pop up, but I’m embarrassingly stiff. Any advice in loosening up or in general? I feel that I could have built speed better as well. Should I have tried to pump up and down the face or taken a higher line from the takeoff?