Surfing Secrets Revealed

Surfing Maneuvers: Defining the Cheater 5

Zeus — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:59:30 +0000

As a surfer advances in his or her skills, the maneuvers done become more difficult and daring; but with the complication also comes more style and awe-inspiring moves. That is why expert surfers push themselves to develop more tricks or make variants of already existing ones. These said innovations inspire beginners to train harder and be more creative. That is what Paul Strauch Jr. did when he first performed the Cheater 5 in the 1960s – invented a new trick that inspired those after him.

The Cheater 5 is a form of noseriding wherein the surfer’s five toes are placed at the nose of the surfboard. The word cheater was included as a part of the maneuver’s name because although it looks like the surfer is riding the wave with most of his or her weight at the front of the board (because the forward foot’s toes are placed at the nose), in reality, the bulk of the weight is actually placed on the back foot. The maneuver is done while squatting and bending the knees well enough to maintain one’s balance because the legs are quite extended.

Mostly done using a longer surfboard, the Cheater 5 is often executed for trimming of the board when surfing; trimming is to put the board into a position that will result to greater speed and decreased resistance. Therefore, the Cheater 5 is used to generate or increase a surfer’s speed, which is one of the essential elements in surfing.

To do the Cheater 5, catch a wave that gives enough speed and has just the right height – not too high or too low. It is important to catch just the right wave, although unlike the other variants, Cheater 5 is a form of noseriding that can be done in bigger waves. Next, make sure you stand up and position yourself at the wave’s fastest section, the part where the wave forms it’s most upright wall. To have increased speed, ride the wave at its higher parts. After that, secure your balance and move your front feet slowly to the nose of the board. Bend your knees and squat down while moving your front feet forward. Remember to put the bulk of your weight on the back foot and not the front to prevent falls due to tilting of the surfboard and losing control. When your speed or the speed of the wave diminishes and just before the wave curls over, walk back to the center of your board and maneuver it from there.

Also remember that to do the Cheater 5, you must actually lead people to believe that you are skillfully maneuvering the surfboard with most of your weight at the front. So, take time to practice the maneuver with dedication and passion and you’ll surely catch some commendations when you perfect it. Along with the skill is also the attitude, so enjoy the training – both the successes and failures and make your love for the sport your inspiration, not just the admiration of others.

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Surfing Tips: Entering the Water from a Boat

Zeus — Sat, 12 May 2012 22:49:46 +0000

For surf and wave lovers, being far from the ocean is no longer a hindrance for them to catch on the waves. Only because they can now create their own waves. How? Well, it may sound a little out of the ordinary as compared to catching on nature created waves, but it sure is possible, to enter the waters and surf from a boat. In fact the new sport known as wakesurfing has emerged. As it has been derived from its wakeboarding counterpart, wakesurfing is still new but it is slowly getting a lot of interest from water-sport lovers in the world.

In some parts of the United States, there is already a number of professional-level wakesurfing championship being held annualy. Compared to other water sports, wakesurfing is relative safer.

This type of sports entails the help of a motorboat to create artificial waves in which a wakesurfer on top of a short surfboard of about 5feet or 1.5 meters can ride on. The boat itself is loaded with extra weight so that it can go deeper and create a generous amount of wake to challenge the surfer,

The wakesurfer starts while lying down on his surfboard while being towed by the boat. He is alert to stand up as fast as he can the moment the boat gains a speed of around nine to eleven miles per hour. So with the boat’s trail of surf behind, he will then stand up in a surfing position and releases the towrope and the starts surfing through the foamy waters. He can surf on for only around five minutes before the artificial waves goes flat. Some wakesurfers has the ability to show off nice tricks, and many other stunts just like what wavesurfers do.
But how can a motorboat create waves that mimic that of the ocean? And is it really possible to pull off spins and aerial tricks on a relatively calm lake? Keep reading to learn all about this growing sport, beginning with the physics of wakesurfing.

These artificial waves or created by motorboats are somewhat similar to ocean waves. It may seem relatively smaller but sometimes a boat can actually create as high as a four foot wave in a calm lake. The higher the waves the longer it can sustain a surfer. Similarly, these waves also has some break and curl that are attractive for surfers since it gives them the chance to show off their dips, sharp turns and spins tricks.

The force of holding on to the towrope as the boat speeds along helps the surfer to ride and stay on top of the water. The surface tension of the waters as well as the bouyant force of the water and his surfboard supports him to stay afloat.

Some dangers of wake surfing involves performing a stunt inaccurately or tipping the front of the surfboard to submerged which can tip the surfer over the waters. Also when the boat suddenly stops can lose the balance of the surfer. The type of boat as well as the kind of surfboard is always important for a great wakesurfing experience.

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Surfing Etiquette: How to Show Respect to Other Surfers

Zeus — Wed, 09 May 2012 22:48:12 +0000

Like in every activity and action in this world, we need a set of rules to prevent chaos. Just imagine a world where every person gets to do what he or she wants without respect for others and get away with it. And that exactly is what etiquette’s about – a code of conduct expected from a particular group with the end goal of respecting the rights of each member of that group. Surfing is no different; surfers need to be governed by a list of expected behaviors to prevent chaos.

And it is of utmost importance that all surfers learn the surfing etiquette from the start. To better understand the gravity of following the etiquette, it is imperative that surfers do not forget how dangerous surfing is. Without proper direction, behavior, and safety procedures, a fun and safe wave may lead to a surfer’s injury or worse, death.

The foundation of every code of conduct is to show respect to one another and this is also true in surfing. One way this is done is by respecting a surfer’s right of way. To do this accurately, make sure that you are observing your surroundings while you surf. Generally, the surfer closest to the peak of the wave or the surfer who has been out waiting for the wave the longest is given right of way. Communication is vital if ever this becomes unclear, like in waves breaking in two directions; shouting “left” or “right” will help prevent confusion and collision.

Another way to respect others is by giving other surfers a chance to enjoy the waves. Do not be selfish and let others enjoy surfing too. It is inevitable that there will be beginners and surfers who paddle slower than you can (so you get closer to the peak of the waves often), so make sure you take time to be considerate of them and equally divide the waves amongst yourselves.

Also respect the safety of other surfers, which is an example of respecting life. No amount of awe, admiration and reverence of your skills is worth the life of a person. So, be careful not to intercept others when paddling or riding a wave by keeping clear of another surfer’s way and be careful not to hit anyone with your board. Also remember that you and your fellow surfers belong to one family, so do not hesitate to help a surfer in need. If ever you accidentally hurt a fellow surfer, either physically or emotionally, take time to make an apology and be more cautious so that you do not repeat the offense.

Finally, your respect for life should be both for humans and animals. Take care of the ocean (and the locals and animals that depend on it for their survival) that provides you with such great waves by not littering and helping pick up trash even if it’s not yours. Preserving the beauty of the beach is both for you and for the future generations of surfers after you.

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Surfing Etiquette: Why Do Fast Crafts Need to Slow Down?

Zeus — Sun, 06 May 2012 22:47:02 +0000

Surfing is like driving your board through the waves; however, unlike driving on the road, the ocean does not have clear lanes and solid demarcation lines. The unclear boundaries can be a source of confusion and injury. That is why adhering to the surfing etiquette is both for you and for other surfers’ safety.

On the road, cars have speed limits and traffic rules to follow. This is also true for surfers and other water crafts. Because it is unavoidable for a beach to be crowded with short and long board surfers, kite surfers, jet skis, and other water crafts, a code of proper and expected behavior should be followed or else disobedience may result to a lot of injuries and even deaths. The basic principle governing many of the other rules in the water is to prevent accidents of all types at all cost.

That said, it is imperative that surfers and other water activities’ enthusiasts understand that driving a board or a craft in the water is more difficult that driving a car on the road. The waves’ direction and speed coupled by the wind all contribute to that difficulty and thus, maneuvering a watercraft or board may need more effort and strength than usual. So, to prevent collision and injury, fast craft drivers need to slow down when they are sharing a beach with other water sports’ enthusiasts such as surfers.

Surfers actually ride a wave and depend on the waves’ direction and speed to take them to the shore. Even if they can pump or paddle to go faster, ultimately, it will take more time and effort to maneuver a board. And a surfer’s speed is by no means equal to that of a fast craft. If a fast craft driver (like the one on jet skis and those motorized boats) comes too close to a surfer too fast, the surfer may not be able to steer the craft on time and collide with the surfer. With the fact that these crafts are built of harder and sturdier materials than the surfboard, chances are the surfer will be injured more intensively. And like a collision between a car and a motorcycle, motorized boats and jet skis will hit the unguarded, unprotected body of the surfer himself or herself.

Generally, these watercrafts need to stay clear of surfers by not going too close to them, and that is why it is important for them to slow down. Slow down just enough to be able to observe and assess their surroundings carefully and get their bearings right. Slow down just enough to give opportunities for other surfers to enjoy the waves and not ride all the waves themselves. Slow down just enough to prevent collisions by giving more time and distance for safe maneuvers. Slow down because human life is precious. And slow down just enough to have fun and share the fun. Remember that driving recklessly, both on the road and in the water, mostly results to regrets and accidents.

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Surfing Tips: Getting to the Water

Zeus — Thu, 03 May 2012 22:31:52 +0000

When you are watching the professional surfers, surfing may seem easy but actually there are a lot of things you need to know before you can paddle out by yourself. There is more than simply riding an incoming wave when it comes to the art of surfing. You need to know the correct equipments to be use. You need to have a better knowledge of the ocean because surfing can be very complex than what other people perceive. The best way to start surfing is to enroll in surf lessons.

The first thing you need to consider before you can begin paddling out is your surfboard. You have to make sure you have the right surf board. There are a lot of surfboards’ designs which have specific purposes. The next thing you need to learn is choosing the best area of the beach to learn to surf. These two factors will determine your surf experience. Usually the best place to learn to surf is a flat sandy beach wherein there will be plenty of space to find a spot for your surf practice because you can not practice surfing in a zone where children and families are casually swimming.

When you have the proper surfboard next thing to get is a wetsuit. There are a lot of people who do not fully understand the importance of a wetsuit to a surfer, especially in a cold water destination. Wetsuits have plenty of designs where you can choose from. The design will be based on a number of factors but whatever would that be, one thing is for sure, a wetsuit is an equipment to have for you to access surfing.

Next is getting ready for surfing. You have to make sure that you surfboard have been properly waxed before you head out to the ocean. A surfboard which has been properly waxed can provide good traction and solid footing when you are trying to stand up on a wave. Leash has to be check if it is securely fastened to the leash plug on your board. This will prevent the board from getting away from you and possibly hit others.

You are ready to catch your first wave. For your first couple of waves, try catching the whitewater and ride it straight into the beach. Usually the best thing to have a feel for your board is when you see whitewater rolling in, you need to point your board toward the beach and just lie flat on your stomach and do not try an stand up. In this way you will be able to feel the surfboard movements when it is riding a wave. When you grasp the feeling, then it is time to catch a real wave. Paddle first to the incoming wave before it breaks and creates the foam ball. When the wave is getting height it begins to move faster. It means you need to paddle hard and fast for you to catch the wave where it is going.

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Surfing Tips: Stretching Before You Surf

Zeus — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 22:29:49 +0000

Preventing surfing injuries is very important. If you do some basic stretching before you surf it can help prevent accidents and it will also improve your surfing skills. Most professional surfers see stretching as not just preventive exercise for muscle related injuries but most of them see this as getting more agile when in the water thus will helping them perform better.

When you go on surfing it is a big advantage if your flexibility is at best condition. This will help you handle the twisting and tossing in the surf from wipe out. It is actually a must that all surfers have strong swimming skills and with a good upper body strength because when you want to stay upright on the surf board it requires a solid base of strength to you lower body and core maintain your balance. You need to have a good cardiovascular conditioning before surfing since this is important especially if you are constantly moving to get in and out of the surf.

When you are surfing, one of the major muscles that are in used are the muscles of your legs, the muscles on your hips, the core muscles and the muscles on you upper back and shoulder. You need to condition these muscles to avoid any muscle injuries while surfing. One way of conditioning your muscles is weight lifting, cardio vascular training and doing stretching exercise before catching the big wave.

Stretching exercise is one of the most neglected exercise for improving athletic performance, this exercise will help prevent any sport injury and properly rehabilitating strain injury and sprain.

These are some samples on how to do a stretching exercise.

First thing you need to do is to start rolling your head just enough to limber up your neck. In surfing you always have to look where to go so it would be easy to tweak your neck in an instant.

Second exercise is touching your toes, you need to slowly touch your toes and do not force or immediately touch your toes because it might cause injury. Just let your body weight slowly bounce you down and perform the exercise.

The third stretching exercise is to pull your feet to you arse and stretch them by quads. This is actually the most essential part of the maneuver.

Fourth exercise is you need to put your one foot on the sand and another foot crossing over your knee then try to twist from your waist from light to left.

The fifth example of exercise is to do a sitting arch your back and reach for the stars while locking your finger palms facing up. And lastly is to stand up and shake loose strap on the leg.

The stretching exercise is a good starting point in improving you surfing skills. It will give you more benefits if you add a wider range of stretching exercises. Not just to improve performance but also to greatly reduce any injuries and accidents while surfing. Thus, when you decide to go on surfing make sure you have done some basic stretching exercise.

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Riding and Maneuvering Surfing Tips: How to Stand Up on Waves

Zeus — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 22:27:40 +0000

It is just common that most people who are able to witness people surf first hand are usually inspired to learn how to surf. Practising regularly will help you develop a skill in surfing. You will soon be surfing like a professional with good regular practice. Standing up on your board with a good wave always looks so easy by those who love to surf but this technique is not easily achievable without a knowledge on the basic skills that is required in doing regular surfing.

Being able to stand up on your surfboard includes several steps which includes paddling for the wave when it comes. Try to feel the momentum on your surfboard if it changes, if it does it is time for you to stand up. You can stand up by firmly grasping each rail and push up quickly. Then extend your arms and pull your knees quickly to your chest direction. The trick is learning how to keep your weight at the centre so that you can easily balance it the out. Once you are standing up try to place you feet firmly on you board. And position it so that one foot is near the tail of the board and the other one is in the midpoint of the board. Then stand up on your board while keeping a low centre of the gravity. You can crouch to keep your centre of gravity to its minimum.

Try to practice this knowledge of standing up on your board but it doesn’t always as easy as getting it right the first time. This needs practice and a lot of effort necessary. There are some surfing fanatics who sometimes only mimic but once you are able to stand up for the first time it will give a kind of happiness that only a true surfer feels. Once you are getting the hang of it you can try entering the tunnel of the wave when it has one. This will let you experience a different form of excitement and joy. Being able to ride a perfect cone is one of the surfer’s lifelong dreams. And they often compare riding one to being in heaven.

Surfing a very complicated sport but there are a lot of people who are getting hooked on playing it. Most of the professional surfers did not wake up possessing their skill in riding the wave. This takes a lot of effort and practice. Most of them claim that they are able to learn how to surf first than learning how to walk because they are very interested in learning the sport.

There are a lot of individuals who are earning a lot of money through their sponsorship in competing with other surfers. There are a lot of different categories that usually starts with kids, women and men. There are a lot of people that usually comes in different location gather to witness any fun competition or event that involves surfing.

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Riding and Maneuvering Surfing Tips: How to Do a Cutback

Zeus — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 22:25:24 +0000

After learning how to stand up and do a few basic tricks on your board like doing bottom turn it is now time to consider taking some more difficult tricks that includes big waves. This includes doing a successful cutback. It is important that you know all the available option that you are now ready to step out from being a beginner and join in the big league surfer. There are certain factors that you need to consider in being able to achieve a good cutback.

When you are trying to perform a good cutback try to first build up speed because you’ll need the right amount of speed to be able to perform a good cutback. You also have to know when it is perfect to do so; your timing should be flawless. A successful cutback relies on the right position of your board in the wave when you think you have missed it then just try again the next wave. You foot placements should also be changed when you are doing a cutback. Your back foot should be over the fins and your front foot is in the centre of the surfboard.

The different kinds of cut back rely on the right turn that was performed. Like in doing a front side cutback is similar with a drawn-out back side bottom turn. And if you wrap your head around it you will be easily performing the cutback that you really canted. When you stand up try to bend your knees to be able to tighten your core and have a good balance. There is also a proper arm placement in doing a cutback. You need to take your leading arm and point it towards the water.
A simple rule to follow is your head should follow your eyes and your body will follow your head and eventually your board will follow you body. This is what most surfers live by. You can actually be performing your first cutback in no time after following these simple steps. After you are able to master the art of doing the cutback you can also consider on doing some special techniques to enhance the new trick you’ve learned. There are a lot of young ones who love this sport because of the thrill that it gives them. There are some that are lucky enough to win a sponsor. So they are able to continue on riding the waves and have a great time while earning from it.

There have been a lot of reported accident cases happened during surfing but this doesn’t stop a lot of the surfing hopefuls to be able to join in the professional league of surfers. The surfing sport is here to stay and there are just some new tricks and tips that will be coming out directly from the surfing experts themselves. Practicing everyday and exercising to have a very fit body can still help you earn money while doing something you enjoy on doing. And there is no exact age that is perfect to start learning how to surf just try to do it the moment to feel that this is what you want to do.

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Tutorial on Catching Waves

Zeus — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 17:21:19 +0000

Surfing is a worldwide sport but it does not mean it cannot be enjoyed by beginners. If it is your first time in surfing and you are about to catch your first wave then, these tips will surely help you how.

Catching waves is all about timing, positioning and paddling hard. It would be impossible to catch a wave if you do not put much effort into it. You need to keep your mind focused down on the wave, especially as you try to stand on your surf board while riding the wave. Once you lean your weight back you will lose the wave.

You need observe that every wave is different. Waves have different breaks and different types and will most likely have different tendencies. You need to learn every time you miss a wave and make corrections and then try again.

You can lay your board on the sand and start practicing. You can try pushing up and popping to your feet. Just remember when you pop up you need to plant your feet in the riding position so that you will not have to make any changes in your position when you drop in.

The most important thing is to observe the rules in the right-of-way of every surfer. Allowing other surfers to catch the wave when the situation calls for it.
First thing you need to do is paddle out beyond the breaking waves and you need to sit on your board facing out to the sea. Pick the right wave that has not yet broken and you have to make sure you are sitting far enough among the slopping swells.

You need to make sure that the wave is in its highest peak and about to break. Remember that if you are too far out the wave will not be ready to break or either if you are too close to shore the wave will just immediately break and thrash you.

As soon as you are in position, you need to spin your board around until you are facing in the direction where you want to go and the wave will just carry you through. You need to paddle in the direction where in the wave is moving so that it will overtake you before it will break.

You need to apply full power when the wave picks you up and propels you. You need to keep your weight as far over the nose of your board provided you are not dipping it under the water this is for you to have gain balance. When you are sure that the wave is taking you, grab the rails of your surf board directly beneath your shoulders. Then, do a little of push up position on the board, push the board down and you need to stand quickly.

Always remember that surfing is a dangerous sport which can cause serious injury or even death so it is recommended that you need to seek training from the professionals.

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Surfing Maneuvers: Dealing with Different Peaks on the Same Wave

Zeus — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:19:03 +0000

Learning to surf is not a breeze. It can be a tough sport to really learn but those who practice are eventually rewarded in the end. When you get the hang of it you would keep on coming back for more. The ocean will be your mistress as it will lure you back to her when you’re not with her.

The first thing that needs to be learned is to catch the wave and maintaining balance while on it. Only after that will the fun begin. The best part of surfing is when you are already out there to carve the waves. Surfers master many maneuvers that will be handy when they face the different types of waves that they will encounter in the open seas. The element of surprise that the ocean brings also gets hard core surfers stoked. That is why bagging a few tricks won’t be a bad idea.

Skilled surfers are able to take on different peaks using some maneuvers that will allow them to carve through the wave. The peak is the highest point of a breaking wave and is when the swell is at its full strength. There are times though when the ocean gives you a peaky condition and here you need to make use of several stunts in order to stay on top of the waves for a relatively good amount of time.

Some of the most common maneuvers being used by surfers now include the Cutback. This requires the surfer to turn directly into the peak. This is being used by surfers in any kind of skill level. This maneuver lets you use the rail of your board and by bringing you back to the source of the wave you can generate more speed from this point.

Off the Lip maneuver lets the surfer ride along the face of the wave. He doesn’t scale the wave’s peak but banks off at the lip before dropping back to the wave’s face.

One most useful maneuver to deal with different peaks with the same wave is the Frontside Floaters. Floaters can be used to make finish off a wave, to make sections or a propeller to get more speed for your next maneuver. The three things you need to remember for a successful floater are the following: you need to get on to the lip with more speed preferably, then you ride the lip and, you need to re-enter back into the wave.

One other maneuver that is quite advanced is the Aerial. Aggressive surfers are most likely to take on the challenge of doing the stunt of becoming completely airborne off a peak of the wave.

Whatever style you’ve got works fine. The only thing needed is for you to master the craft in order to be able to ride high and mighty over the peaks that the ocean has in store for you. First you just need to learn how to catch the wave and then you start carving them waves with the maneuvers that you’ve worked hard for to achieve.

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