SurfSkate Tutorial: Bowl Riding - Flow and Style

This tutorial video will help you move from beginner skill level to intermediate skill level by highlighting ways to improve your flow in the bowl on a SurfSkate. Subtle changes to the way you move your body and timing can make a big difference in how smooth you carve your arcs, and that translates to more speed and height. At the same time these adjustments can help make you look more stylish and calm while riding, resulting in better style.
This video builds off of the Bowl Riding Basics Tutorial I released earlier this year, where I teach you about planning your lines, compression and decompression, and techniques for initiating backside and frontside carves. It may be worth reviewing that video: • SurfSkate Tutorial: Th...
Thanks for watching, if you would like to make a contribution to help support more tutorials like this over the Canadian winter (each 3 hour indoor skatepark session costs $28!) I would be very appreciative! You can become a supporter via the following link: www.buymeacoff...
#surfskate #bowl #bowltutorial #surf

[@d-entrecasteaux]

To me, the surf skating is not just an evolution, it represents everything skate boarding should have always been. Out of all the surfskate videos I’ve watched, your style is definitely the one to emulate. Please keep up your fantastic content.

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

Thank you for the kind words 🙏

[@clairemacdonald1760]

So stoked I found you! Thanks for sharing. I find your teaching style really works for me and how you slow down your videos as a learning tool. I hope you continue.

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

Thank you so much for the kind words, glad it is helping!

[@michalmularski7833]

Somehow your vids are always coming in a moment when I am working on what you are covering. Since I learned how to drop in last month I am now focusing on a bowl riding most of the time. For me personally getting speed and height is not longer a problem but to break the mental barrier to go as high as I can is an issue. Also proper back leg position is not coming naturally and I am ending with a poo man stand. Great contents as usual Mark!

[@zachpousman]

Thanks for this video! I’m watching this as i skate at my local bowl and really trying get that smooth surf looook!

[@lagerstarfish]

Thanks for this, Mark. That tip about pressing with the back leg made sense to me and today I was able to pump transitions on the way up and down for the first time.

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

So glad to hear that it helped and thank you for sharing! I always wonder if my explanations come through clearly enough in video tutorials.

[@dermotleslie3610]

Nice board. The Troubl3 guys in Ottawa make great stuff.

[@arthurliesthal7833]

Really. dig your flow in the bowl..so smooth !

[@BenSmith-jm4zp]

A video on the spine transfer please Mark!

[@virtualdavichi]

Wow! So good Mark! You inspire me go further on practicing surfskating. This pass summer I went many times to Legacy Skatepark , 6 in morning to practice and wellcome the sunrise. I would like to get some tips from you if there is a chance to meet you there in the future spring/summer.

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

6 is a bit early for me but I was there at 8 a lot to beat the scooters. Send me a message via Facebook or Instagram next spring and we'll skate @surfskateottawa

[@marsmachine1156]

Dang. I should have rewatched your vid! I went for a bowl sesh yesterday. My goal was trying to use the whole bowl. I used to use just half, like a halfpipe, crossing the middle and losing speed. It worked really well and was a big improvement but some crossing (on short side) is needed to get such a cool flow like you. I must try harder 👊🏻😂

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

Keep at it, you are progressing well!

[@petebuckney]

This is really great Mark - love to see your content and your teaching style developing!

[@riffraffrichard]

Thanks for all the amazing tips. I ❤️ carving

[@antithesispistopheles937]

Great vid!

[@ansborromeo7470]

excellent tutorial!

[@riffraffrichard]

He's the Bob Ross of skating complete zen

[@surfskaterelaxation8616]

Sick concave Mark.I ve discovered a flaw on the yaw though

[@shelleyroberts7238]

So good! Can't wait to generate more speed to really work on the compress and decompress...and of course style :) Thanks for this Mark. #babysteps

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

The bowl at the Yard is an awkward shape to navigate, but on the plus side it is nice and soft compared to the concrete at Legacy so a tradeoff when learning. Keep practicing and you'll be ready to enjoy a little more space at the bigger outdoor bowls come spring!

[@LaggerSVK]

Just one point. I wouldnt call wiggle a proper pumping technique. The proper pumping technique that works on surf is compression and decompression where you load the rear truck. When you wiggle you move by loading front truck sideways. Is good for start from standstill and its easy to learn however I was told its a bad habit because it doesnt translate to water and also you are risking a fall when you start wiggling in a bowl on radiuses.

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

I re-watched the whole video and I am not seeing how you interpreted that from anything I said or demonstrated. The entire video is focused on compression and decompression and timing. Could you enlighten me so I can see if I can improve my communication in future videos?

[@LaggerSVK]

@@MarktheLandlockedSurfer I mean 1:14, its not really that much of a wiggle when I rewatched . I am not an expert but went through some courses and was told with good reasoning that its better to not wiggle especially for beginners that are just learning the habits. That its better to properly push to have some speed for proper pumping rather than try to ride from standstill with wiggle. In reality I had once fallen because of wiggle on a pumptrack. The beginner student that was learning to ride in bowl was also wiggling.

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

@LaggerSVK Oh okay, the point of that two second clip was to help beginners understand that even if you can't drop in yet, it shouldn't hold you back from getting to the top of coping with proper transition pumping. I wanted to show that you can get to the top of the bowl even from a standstill without a single push, not that you should do it that way.

[@popenator438]

Hello just saying thanks again

[@bobbyd8020]

Marc - love, love love your videos. Long time surfer, beginner skateboarder riding a carver in bowls here in Austin, TX. Could you please tell me what specific wheel brand and size your riding? Please keep up the tremendous content, learning much!

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

I don't really have a go-to wheel. In this video I am using YOW Cinetics (66mm), however these feel way stickier and harder to slide than the Grey Cinetics that came on my Medina. I don't know if the dye affects the composition or what, but it was weird when I tried to snap and it just kept on the same path. I have a set of Love Handles on the way after a black friday sale finally brought them within a semi-reasonable price range. We'll see if they live up to the hype.

[@MrConfo]

@@MarktheLandlockedSurfer Congratulations for your great and instructive videos. On a Slide Gussie i changed the original wheels for 4President which gives an additional stability welcome in pumptrack. I'll be very interested about Love handles feedback to increase agility.

[@tombell4079]

What deck and trucks + size wheels are you using Mark ( Black deck with blue wheels ). Ur surf skate skills are insane in the bowl. It keeps raining here in the UK ( no surprises 😂🇬🇧). One thing I’ve noticed massively with Surf skating is when the surfaces are a little cold or wet it can get pretty deadly when ur carving quite hard especially on ur heel edge it can get a little sketchy. Hopefully we get some dry cold conditions come through for December !!!. Keep posting ur videos they are brilliant.

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

Thank you! The board in this video is a Custom handmade deck from Troubl3 skateboards. They aren't cheap but people who have used them told me "good luck breaking this one". www.troubl3skateboards.com/product/old-school-pool-or-cruising-single-kick-tail-troubl3-skateboards It is set up with YOW Meraki trucks and Cinetics wheels (66mm 80a).

[@odedmyers]

How tight are your surf skate trucks? I ride flat ground with my carver C7's as loose as they get. Will tightening them up be advantageous for aggressive bowl riding? Love your videos btw!

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

Almost always as loose as they will go. If you are just learning to drop in, tight might be good to begin, but I find super loose truck give you more line options because you have more freedom with your turn radius.

[@surfskaterelaxation8616]

hi lovely stuff.What board are u on ?and ofc thanks for the video incredible

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

This is a custom made deck from Troubl3 skateboards - With custom artwork of me doing a Layback (www.troubl3skateboards.com/product/old-school-pool-or-cruising-single-kick-tail-troubl3-skateboards) I have it equipped with Meraki trucks and Cinetic wheels.

[@adamk3244]

Hi Mark nice work there. Great video to watch after my night session here in Singapore! I’m a longtime surfer and have been dropping in on my Carver C5’s for some time but actually just dropped out 6-8ft bowl on my Yow tonight! It’s a lot of fun but sheesh a lot of work. I have a new Rocket pool scout inbound which I’m planning to pair with some 97a retro wheels. Curious as to if you stay with spring based systems or ever switch back to something like a Carver CX/C5 that might be less hi performance but also less work? Cheers.

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

Congrats on the big drop-in on the YOW! That is awesome! As for your question, when I am doing harsh stuff like ollies into the bowl and big air transfers and learning 360s on transition where I would be landing fakie, I was using a board with CX trucks a lot over the winter. And once I get back out to the waxed curbs, my C5 (mini-CX actually) setup will be back in action. There is definitely a place for them in my quiver. I am using spring based systems a lot more currently because I am trying hard to land a sponsorship and show that I can do the traditional more conventional riding as good as the pros. Want to be well rounded!

[@adamk3244]

@@MarktheLandlockedSurfer Thanks mate, dropping on the Yow was a long time coming. Good luck in your sponsorship quest! Any opinion on wheels for the C5? I have the stock 90a’s I’ll transfer to the Yow. In between OJ team rider II’s and Gbones but a little scared of wheel bite on Gbones. Cheers.

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

@@adamk3244 Rat Bones from Powell Peralta are really good, it is what I am running on my current street setup with CX trucks.

[@nicholashh]

Sick flow and vid!! Q: I have the Carver Greenroom w/ C7. Is the c7 to loose for a bowl? Feel like the front truck might be to wobble/buckle. Thanks for any info.

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

No way! C7 work great in a bowl and even grind the coping well. The initial bowl riding tutorial that I filmed was mostly done on a a C7 surfskate. Use your green room and you will be fine.

[@nicholashh]

Thanks for the input. I might have to tightens bit. I have the trucks set up loose for tight turns. Def don't want speed wobbles.

[@nicholashh]

@@MarktheLandlockedSurfer Also, any pref on traditional kicktail style boards vs. Flat swallow/pin tails in bowls?

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

@@nicholashh Aside from aesthetics, I`m not a fan of swallow tails on surfskates, but my preference is more for doing more skateboard style stuff than just carving, and also because I am really hard on my boards.

[@abreefproductions]

Hey ! I was wondering if you can put a different deck on yow trucks ? Like carver boards (they are lighter but I prefer yow trucks)

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

Yes indeed, I have a custom deck on Meraki trucks in this video.

[@petebuckney]

Yes lots of people do this - I have Soulboardiy on Meraki and it's wonderful!

[@justfromg]

Yes, I put the meraki on a slide neme pro deck and it’s a great wheelbase for me (17.75”)

[@winstonloh1051]

Where is the park with the blue painted concrete?

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

That amazing bowl is in Waterdown Ontario near Hamilton. Would love to get back there, we only had about a 50 minute stop on a road trip but it is one of the best I've ever visited.

[@winstonloh1051]

@@MarktheLandlockedSurfer aww darn, I was hoping it was near ottawa. Looks like it flows so well. Im visiting ottawa over Xmas, maybe I'll see you at the yard!

[@skatelearningat4089]

To me the back leg position is a big deal ! I ve tried a bit to ride the bowl like that but feel really uncomfortable Any tips or tutorial coming to work on this damn leg ?

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

Practice on flat first. Try carving on flat ground while getting the inner ankle of your back foot closer and closer to the grip tape. Feel how the subtle changes affect your riding. The big difference when using tuck knee stance is that you can easily adjust your weight up and down while simultaneously shifting you centre of balance forward and backwards. This makes the shifts from compression to decompression so much more fluid. Practice Practice Practice.

[@skatelearningat4089]

@@MarktheLandlockedSurfer i ll give it a few tries !

[@toddvandagrifft84]

Where is that park?

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

It is in Ottawa