How to tips for surfing beginners!Written by Fred Riehl at www.BraveSurf.com
Surfboards and You: Surfboards are made to float on water. They have a natural center of gravity. If you were to lay any surfboard in a swimming pool, it would come to rest same way every time. This is what we want to do when you lay on a surf board. That is to have board remain in same relation to water as it was without your weight on it, just a bit lower in water. A good tip is to find this balance point and lay on your board then make, a mark right at your chin. This is a spot is best made with a bit of wax or a magic marker. It is a reference point that enables you to put your chin on same spot every time so board will react to your weight same way every time. If board's nose digs into water it is called pearling and you must move location of "your chin" back. To adjust, just slide back an inch from mark and make a mental note. Too much weigh in back and board will cork board. This is a common mistake amongst beginners. You cannot catch a wave if you are corking your board. Move up an inch at a time till board lies in water naturally. This will provide you with maximum hull speed and minimum drag from water displacement that you are causing with your weight. Do not paddle with both arms simultaneously because this will cause board to speed up and slow down in water and you will not be able to maintain constant hull speed through water. Always paddle with crawl stroke; one arm and then other alternatively. This will provide you with a constant speed so you can catch that wave. Ok, so now we know how to lie on board and paddle board. Now it's time to learn how to sit on board. The first time try this you may be quite wobbly. The key to doing this well is being calm, or trying to be still. The less movement that you make easier you will find it is to do this. All other skills of surfing will improve as you learn to be "calm" while surfing. Now it's time to learn how to stand up. This is something you have been doing all your life. Lie on your chest, your head up, looking ahead. Put your hands on board beside your shoulders palms down like you were going to do a push up. Push your upper body up while at same time you sweep your feet under you, laying them on stringer, line down middle of board, so your weight is centered along stringer. When you come up, remember to keep low. If you stand erect you will fall. Assume a position of a sumo wrestler. Press your feet shoulder width apart and "grip board in your feet", opposite of way you would press your thighs together on a horse. Have your hands a bit higher than your waist and just in view of your vision. Always look up! If you look at your feet, you will fall down. I promise! Practice this for hours. Have someone watch you and have them critique your performance. Practice jumping up without making a sound on floor. Calm and controlled is smoothest way to approach this so practice doing it quietly. If you have a surfboard, lay it on a large bed or in sand and do this exercise. This is a way for you to judge your ability to be controlled.
| | How To Give Your Surfboard A Custom Paint Job!Written by Fred Riehl at www.BraveSurf.com
Here are five easy steps to turn your surfboard into a piece of surf art. Or an easy way to turn that old classic sun brunt brown board into a new cool looking stick. This is same way pros at lost surfboards or spyder surfboards set up for their amazing art boards.Step1: Materials make sure you get right items for job. Some colorful spray paint, low tack masking tape, a xacto knife, and a bottle of clear acrylic sealant. The low tack masking tape works best, it may cost a little more, but when you are peeling it off your board it won't rip or tare. It is always best to do your art on a new surfboard that is clean from wax and grease. But if it's an old longboard or short board just take your time cleaning it up. Once all wax is removed use some wax remover or paint thinner to get board as clean as possible. Step2: Your custom design planning think big!!!!! You have to think big because a small design wont show up. Try to be original and spend some time on your design. Remember this piece of surf art will be an extension of yourself on your surfboard. Step3: Taping and cutting your design tape surfboard from rail to rail all way across board. Make sure to overlap tape on top of itself about ¼" inch with each piece of tape. This will keep other areas of your surfboard clean from paint. Once you design is decided upon, draw it on top of tap in area of surfboard that you think will look best. Then you will cut design out with xacto knife. But make sure not to press to hard because you do not want to cut into glass on your surfboard. Once you cut out design peel off excess tape from were you want paint to go. Leaving protective tape on to keep paint of rest of your surfboard.
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