The BEST Intermediate Surf Tip

The best intermediate surf tip is that you probably need to fix your pop up. The most common problem I have seen with intermediate surfers is that they struggle with the pop up. These days it's easy to come across a lot of surf theory that will help you progress faster than you ever have. But, that leaves a lot of room for mistakes because you progress so fast. This is a great example of how someone can be really good at surfing on the wave, but the reason they cannot progress is rooted in the pop up and overlooked.
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[@ImPRIATZ]

That’s crazy because i was struggling for few weeks, focusing on my take off, trying to make it proper but i couldn’t see any progress until I realized that I was watching my board, so i started watch the line and it really changed everything, the pop up was more natural, my position on my board was way better i dont know how that magic trick works but it works

[@independentsurfer]

It's such a game changer!

[@karllindberg4830]

Really great video braking thing down in such great detail. Sounds like when turning its mostly with your back foot. That being said are surf skates not a good tool for training since your using your front foot to make most of the movement? Thoughts?

[@independentsurfer]

Good question, my thought on this is that the boards turning function is driven from the back of the board and if you don't have your foot directly over the fins, it's hard to turn. However, there are times that you'd want the back foot further forward like when you are speed generating or getting barreled, and then placed further back for turns. I think a lot of control over the board comes from both the front foot the back and hard to tell which is the real driver. But, I think it's most important to think about the upper body movement involved. My surfing really changed when I paid more attention to upper body movements

[@peterlamar8546]

Great explanation of hip rotation

[@mbloom84]

Any tips on how to maintain the high line while taking off besides looking down the line?

[@independentsurfer]

Good question, getting in early always helps. The later you get in to a wave, the harder it is to get that 1st bottom turn in. Angling take off also helps a lot, if the wave is a little steeper and you are taking off a little late. Having a good pop up can’t hurt, and rotating your shoulders out to sea as soon as you stand up will help as well. But, most important is to get in and get up early

[@mbloom84]

@@independentsurfer thanks!

[@surfnow.]

magnificent

[@0x7FFFFFFFFFFF]

There's nothing intermediate about anything being discussed in this video, not sure why you'd put 'intermediate surf tip' in the title, maybe I'm wrong but an intermediate surfer has already figured out popping up and having a functional stance, and is moving from trimming down the line to doing more drawn out bottom and top turns, I don't know if I'd agree that the surfer in the video is at that stage yet.

[@independentsurfer]

In my experience coaching for the last 11 years, these are the most common mistakes intermediate surfers are making.. I think it’s fair to say that if you are surfing a short board like he is, speed generating down the line and doing turns then you are at the intermediate stage. You’d be surprised at how many surfers are making mistakes with both the take off and the pop up at an intermediate level and that’s having an adverse effect on their performance on the wave.. Intermediate is a spectrum and I think it would be totally unfair to call this guy a beginner.. Sorry that this video doesn’t appeal to you but if you are looking for surf tips to help you get better at surfing I would seriously consider assessing the basics if you feel like you aren’t making progress, it’s usually what holds people back