How to Surf a Smaller Surfboard - Don't Kook It!

[@j.thornton8390]

Thanks! Been logging for 12years, finally decided to add the short board. You've confirmed what I was anticipating I would need to do.

[@SurfStrengthCoach]

yep, you'll need to look at a wave slightly differently, get used to different viewpoints as you takeoff, and become more comfortable with a steeper ramp at takeoff

[@xisotopex]

and surf the short board in EVERYTHING. dont surf the longboard AT ALL. even those days that people dont bother or claim its "log-able" you have to figure out how to get speed from the wave, rather than the board.

[@jamesetal7088]

LOVE how people in the comments are being so open honest vulnerable concerning their surf progression. Im in the same boat and will try on a different set of eyes next session. TY!

[@jess77surfs]

I'm so glad I watched this... I've been surfing a 9'2 for 24 years. I just got a 7'6. Went out on a pretty decent day but got very frustrated with all the hard paddling and drop-in fails.😭 I'm going to apply this advice on my next session.❤️❤️

[@caraault2892]

I’m in the same situation have a 9.1 went for a 7.4 even sitting on the board feels so different. I definitely had better results finding some space in the line up to not mentally feel pressured and sitting a bit further in than Normal

[@aaronchu0427]

One the the most valuable tips on KZbin.

[@rosemarybarton8121]

Soo helpful and validating as to why I was struggling during my first session on a 7'2 after my 8' foamy! Going to use this tip when I go out there today. Thank you!

[@fredmesley3051]

That is true, I bought a 6.4ft board. I learnt how to surf on longboards. When I tried standing up on small waves the board just sink. However, When I tried more powerful waves the board just speed up like a rocket. I never had the chance to stand up as the board is really fast. It can be scary.

[@raymondngu3026]

I'm transitioning from a 8ft foam board to a 5'10'' fish and having so much difficulty just balancing while sitting on the board...

[@wakeworm80]

That is a big transition to make and if you struggling to sit on it then I'd be spending a bit more time on the bigger board until you are ready to go down to 5'10. Fishes generally have good volume and are decent paddlers but the pop up is much harder as there is a smaller surface area to work with and you have too bring your legs up further. Another idea may be to take it out in flat water and paddle on it lots and practice sitting on it , getting on and off in good speed etc

[@kitegirl83]

Yep, that's been me! Was scared of the lip so switched to a 6'2 43l foamy, which has been great in getting my confidence up, not worrying about hurting myself or anyone else. Not sure if I want to go back to a fiberglass board just yet, or if I will invest in a 5'6 Softlite at 36 litres.

[@emanekafecaftoggaf6893]

just got a cheap used shortboard after surfing on an 8ft foamie for a few months. thankfully I live near the beach and have plenty of time to suck at surfing, also without pissing people off because its winter now and the crowds are light. looking forward to actually catching a wave on the new board soon lol

[@twiginindo3041]

You may also need , depending on the reduction in length, to slightly change your stance / foot position a little , more towards the centre of balance ie your rear foot may need to come ever so slightly fwd to help control the board . And you can rely more on smooth upper body movement to do turns.

[@boxofdoomisolationcabinets166]

Just made the transition from a 8.6 (100 ltr) to 7.0 (55 ltr), big difference indeed.. Had the idea that I had to start all over again.. haha.. But the surf is much more interactive and fun. Even with those crappy waves here in North Sea..

[@emberspeedruns430]

Im a kid i am 4’9 tall i did start off with a 5’8 shortboard and i was wondering if that was ok

[@ingnir]

Great detailed and practical advice, especially about where to take off on waves on different surfboards

[@SurfStrengthCoach]

thank you! I find it's an aspect that is never talked about, but probably one of the more important aspects to changing surfboards

[@gofiodetrigo8756]

what's your weight and board volume for that 5.11 :? good temps there I can tell here we have to add extra 5kg on gear 5:4s hooded and what not

[@NK-vw4ms]

I have been paddling in on the peak on my longboard lol bcs that is what I was taught. Switching to a shorterboard this weekend hoping I will actually find the drop in easier with more room/less chance of nose going under.

[@MsBettydog]

good words coach.

[@SurfStrengthCoach]

thanks! something for the aspiring surfer to consider

[@George-ni7tq]

Thanks for the help mate. Looking at my dream board but it was 5”2 and i was a little scared.

[@chronictraingaurd1717]

I've dropped from a 9ft soft board to a 6ft fibre glass. Is this too much of a jump in size? or should I continue practicing on the board I currently have?

[@SurfStrengthCoach]

that's a considerable jump. Generally speaking, most people would have trouble with that jump, as it's altered SO MANY variables, and very much including wave positioning and wave reading. if you have difficult, you need something in between, and more than likely, a few in-between boards

[@Kidofwater]

When's how to surf better part 3 coming out?

[@SurfStrengthCoach]

soon!

[@lukagallagher2112]

Hey! What do you think of me doing the voice treatment of your videos?

[@christinegerard4974]

Thank you .I had the impression to be in the water too ! ! …

[@maskedburritow]

This is rarely stated valuable advice. Dropping dimes dude.

[@teamconspiracy]

Couldn't agree more if I tried, and I'm trying

[@jupyjones4823]

I'm going from a 7ft foamy to a 6,6 shortboard...will I be okay? It's not ideal but really cheap so thats why:)

[@phantomstranger1125]

It depends on the volume of the two boards. If there is a really big difference in volume, then it will be very hard at first.

[@Jhart44]

Help! Is a 6 foot foamy board a good board for me if I’ve never surfed...everything says 8 foot or more but it’s a great deal

[@jupyjones4823]

@@Jhart44 I would say it is too short, go for a 7ft to 9 ft foamy or a minimal. I have just moved from a 7 ft foamy to a 7'9' minimal and it is a good transition.

[@Jhart44]

JupyJones will the learning on a 6 foot foam as opposed to 7 or 8 be that big of a difference? Genuinely asking I know in texts it can come off a different way sometimes

[@jupyjones4823]

@@Jhart44 I have never surfed a 6 ft foamy but that is the same size as a short board so it will be hard until you get use to it which could be a long time. What have you previously surfed?

[@nternetrat]

This was good to hear, esp how frustration and learning is a part of it. I've surfed a wavestorm for my first year of surfing, and for the second year I've moved to a small 5'7 board and I haven't caught a single open face (it's been almost a year -- ahh I hate to admit it). Am I just in the learning curve? Do I keep pushing until I get that breakthrough? I mean it's not impossible right? advice would be great, i can't really buy another board lol

[@SurfStrengthCoach]

you may have jumped too far ahead in board progression. each step of progression carries with it new challenges in terms of skill and wave reading. any change in variable (wave size, wave power, board dimensions, size, volume, etc), will have an initial downslide in skill and an increase in difficulty and frustration. this is an inherent part of the process at times. you may have jumped too many steps ahead and don't have the skills quite yet to master that short board.

[@nternetrat]

@@SurfStrengthCoach shoot, okay. Thanks so much for responding. i needed to hear that, even if it's hard to hear lol. i guess i should get a bigger board thanks again!

[@nternetrat]

@@SurfStrengthCoach wow haha came back to this comment after regressing to a fun board- I'm catching 5x more waves (legit green waves, never had before) with this one. So worth it. Thank you for your advice!!

[@SurfStrengthCoach]

@@nternetrat it's made all the difference! that's sick! congratulations. from now on, whenever you surf ,think about what are the conditions? what are my skill levels ? is my board appropriate for these conditions? do I have the skill required to surf this board ? it's more of an analytical process about surfing and viewing your success or difficulties.

[@nternetrat]

@@SurfStrengthCoach thank you so much!!! Forrr sure, it's so worth it to just take my time with it (and more fun ;))

[@gabrielseldow6734]

What board short board brand/size do you recommend getting?

[@jess77surfs]

That depends on your size, weight, the type of break you're surfing, and what you're trying to do...

[@loganpabllo]

how tall r u? since you are surfing a 5’11

[@SurfStrengthCoach]

I'm 5 11", about 75 kg

[@LofiLove-x4n]

Can you do a tip on catching barrels I always catch the wave then can’t get inside the barrel

[@stuartwallace6154]

Take off deep, don't go to the bottom and stick your arm in to slow down, but obviously each wave is different

[@Hunter-vd1gr]

most helpful tip you'll ever read about here it is. all these guys complicate this way too much go get a board and surf simple as that guy makes it way harder than it needs to be i stated surfing for the first time bought an 8-foot board caught my second waive 2 weeks later after surfing no more than 3 times I didn't like lugging around a big board went and bought a 5 foot 8 inch board surfed it just as easy if not easier now for me to get back out there duck diving waives

[@MrHenrymorle]

This is shit advice people

[@LunaticBiker11]

If I want to transition from an 8ft to a shortboard, should I go straight to a shortboard or try to progress on something in between? I've tried 7ish footers a few times and they just seem to not want to balance when I'm trying to sit on it, so I'm not sure if that is due to them being slightly "over volumed," in which case a shorter board with less volume might be more stable sitting on because it's underneath the surface rather than on top?

[@SurfStrengthCoach]

you'll want something in between for sure. an 8footer to a 5 11' is a HUGE jump

[@SurfStrengthCoach]

@@jblecoz it certainly helps in certain conditions, but not always the case. on the majority of coaching trips we run in Indonesia, we often have people surfing WAY too much volume, and we actually lower the volume and increase the length of board we have them one. the length allows from some easier entries, and the less volume (dependent upon their weight) allows for better wave positioning. but this also depends on their current abilities, wave reading abilities, and what they're actually working towards in terms of surf goals.

[@xaviermengle3322]

Thank you for this, was used to riding a 7’6 board and catching waves with ease and now I transitioned to a 6’6 and maintained old habits gonna use this advice tomorrow though

[@SurfStrengthCoach]

yep, that could be a BIG transition. it'll definitely require that you start to read and position for waves a bit differently.

[@sazemi]

thanks, you got it man, blessings!

[@arsaeterna4285]

literally describing me TO THE TEE steepness scares me, and i never catch anything with my shorter board : )

[@artshoshi1111]

GREAT VID

[@harryward6516]

Good paddle ineeeyoo eeyoo😂love it

[@nelsonferreira8844]

This is sooo true.

[@artshoshi1111]

THANK U

[@notjamo_2034]

I’m ridin a 5’10 fish

[@JacksonThegoat-m5l]

why ru in a lale

[@SurfStrengthCoach]

Despite lake surfing being a thing (wind can cause waves), Cris is most definitely NOT in a lake in this video (or any for that matter) 😂 -SSC Team

[@jakejacka2164]

can you do how to surf bigger surfboards

[@SurfStrengthCoach]

what exactly do you mean? as in a longboard? are you transitioning to a longer board? more volume? longer board for bigger surf? or beginner surfboard bigger board?

[@jakejacka2164]

no i mean like i just got a surfboard gifted to me that is 6'0" and im only 60 kg and 5'7" im fifteen and i dont know if im gonna ruin my progression because my board is (i think) way to big for me...

[@jakejacka2164]

@@SurfStrengthCoach im an intermediete surfer and its a high performance shortboard

[@jakejacka2164]

@@SurfStrengthCoach do you think the size of a surfboard matters ?

[@lukasconrad7732]

Sometimes, when transitioning from a longboard or a funboard, a bigger shortboard like something 6’0 or bigger with more volume is easier to transition with. Thats what I did, i transitioned from a longboard to a 6’6 fish and then down to a 5’10. Theres going to be a lot of frustration especially going down to a high preformance board but its worth it.

[@reycisneros2925]

Boo , did not really explain .....

[@SurfStrengthCoach]

I explained in detail something we see ALL The time on surf trips. I just left from several weeks of coaching at macaronis, and what we saw over and over and over is people having NO wave awareness or how to actually read a wave, so it just becomes frantic paddling and unnecessary effort. so when transitioning to a shorter board, the ability to read a wave is PRIORITY # 1, otherwise the difficulty is simply magnified

[@phillippearce9680]

👍

[@OlivierdeWith]

Why is this video in the water?😂😂

[@SurfStrengthCoach]

Why not? 🙂 -SSC Team

[@artshoshi1111]

1K

[@conlanmurray7109]

bad surfboard so bad review