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How to Surfskate: A Beginner’s Guide
This guide is ideal for those who have never tried surfskating before. Familiarise yourself with shifting your weight to generate forward movement without the need for pushing as you would typically do on a skateboard. Learn to connect smooth turns and position your body to maintain control. These movements are directly applicable to surfing techniques such as "bottom turns" and "cutbacks".
Surfskating offers a way to practise the fluid turns, body control, and balance found in surfing, away from water. It utilises a specially designed surf skateboard with a front truck that pivots in a manner completely unlike a conventional skateboard truck. If you're located far from the sea or the water is calm, surfskating allows you to enhance your surfing skills, build leg strength, and improve your timing.
Overview
Commence Surfskating: Stance and Balance
Surfskate trucks are sensitive to even minor adjustments in foot positioning, offering a distinct experience compared to standard skateboard or longboard trucks. Rather than continually pushing with your foot, a single push sets you in motion. All subsequent forward movement is derived from the surfskate pumping method.
Your stance provides the base for all actions in surfskating. Position your front foot just behind the bolts of the front truck, angled slightly forward. Set your back foot over the rear truck with your toes directed more sidewards. Keep your knees bent, shoulders relaxed, and eyes focused on the direction you intend to travel. Maintaining a low, balanced posture ensures you can swiftly adapt to directional changes.
Mastering Pumping for Velocity on a Surfskate
Unlike typical skateboarding, speed is not gained by foot pushing. Instead, momentum is achieved by shifting your weight from heel to toe in a smooth, rhythmic motion.
The "pumping" action in surfskating consists of:
- Pressing down through your toes and leaning with your upper body into the turn.
- Synchronising your shoulder and hip rotation with the board.
- Extending your legs as you come out of the turn to propel yourself forward.
Envision tracing an S-shape on the ground. Each curve presents an opportunity to accelerate and set up for the subsequent manoeuvre.
Executing Bottom & Top Turns
In surfing, Bottom and Top Turns are fundamental, and a surfskate allows you to practise them in an innovative way.
The Bottom Turn occurs at the wave's base, redirecting the surfer back toward the peak of the wave (commonly referred to as "The Lip"). The Top Turn is executed near the lip, guiding the surfer back down the wave.
Successfully linking these turns smoothly forms the cornerstone of effortless surfing, and they are repeated continuously on a wave, being crucial for surfing proficiency.
Advance forward, lower into your knees, and execute a deep curve to one side (Bottom Turn). Then rise into the subsequent curve in the opposite direction (Top Turn). Linking these turns creates a seamless path that mimics the sensation of surfing an actual wave.
Advice on Stopping Safely While Surfskating
Surfskating requires adapted stopping strategies due to the unique front truck system. If you're used to using a shoe to slow down on a regular skateboard, the behaviour of surfskate trucks might surprise you.
Essentially, the high responsiveness of surfskate trucks makes carving and tight turns easy, but necessitates a different technique to reduce speed.
Fortunately, halting on a surfskate is straightforward. Here are three reliable methods to safely stop your board:
- Step Off Into a Run - When moving at a moderate speed, step off with your back foot first and jog forward to disperse your momentum. Always face ahead and select a clear area to land.
- Utilise Grass or a Rough Surface - If nearby, steer your surfskate onto grass or uneven terrain. The amplified friction decelerates you swiftly without taxing the trucks or wheels.
- Implement Carving to Diminish Speed - Execute a series of broad, controlled turns to gradually slow down. This technique is most effective when space is ample, though it won't assist in scenarios necessitating an abrupt stop.
By refining these methods, you'll boost your confidence and maintain control over your surfskate consistently. Mastering stopping early in your surfskate endeavours grants you the liberty to hone turns, pumping, and other skills without concern about deceleration.
