After a major hamstring tear, he set out on a crazy training regime, which led to him claim the world title the very next year in spectacular fashion.

This was the catalyst that changed the way surfers prepared from that moment forward. 

Gone were the days of surfers using just surfing itself as a means of training, and in came a new wave of surfers taking things much more seriously. Rigorous training regimes and personal coaches became commonplace. 

This is when surf coaching became a real thing. 

THE RISE OF THE SURF COACH

In came a number of elite coaches, coaching the worlds best:

Now, the world's best have their own personal coaches. 

As a team they could dissect technique, address areas of weakness and fine tune their strengths. 

This acceptance of external coaching has led to the rise in everyday surfers getting help too.

Whereas in the past surfers were expected to learn everything on their own (kind of mental when you think about it), to just kind of figure it all out, now they can get expert feedback. 

This is saving many people countless hours of butting their heads against the wall. 

IS IT STILL WEIRD TO GET COACHED?

There’s still a certain stigma in surfing with getting coached, especially in older dudes. 

For whatever reason men seem to think they can do everything on their own and are reluctant to reach out for help. I get it, I'm one of them. 

Women on the other hand seem to be way more receptive, and are flocking in their hoards to surfing programs, online coaching, e-learning, the lot. 

The same goes for kids too, with after school squads and elite academy’s servicing the growing number of kids entering the sport. 

So I guess the answer to “is it still weird to get coached” is nah, not really - and it’s heading way more to “nah, not at all”.

IS COACHING WORTH IT?

First up, there's absolutely nothing wrong with just surfing for the love of it, but for me personally that's not enough. 

Surfing just for surfing's sake - without trying to get better - takes away much of the fun if you ask me. In fact the reason surfing is so addictive is because it's so damn hard. 

And yes, you can learn everything on your own to a degree (you've got to live and surf where there are plenty of people much, much better than you to learn from), but there's certainly merit in getting additional help. 

Whether coaching is worth it however depends massively on the person giving you advice, if they know what they're talking about then yup, surf coaching is definitely worth it. 

If they're full of shit however, they're feedback is worthless. 

THE BEST TYPES OF SURF COACHING

If you're looking at different ways to get coached, here are a few of the best examples:

SELF LEARNING

If you're going down the self learning route here are some valid places to start:

- Online Courses

- YouTube

- Blog Content

- Surf Videos

SURF VIDEO ANALYSIS

This one is great as you get one on one feedback with a professional coach. 

Your coach can dissect your surfing frame by frame, uncover any blindspots, and give you a crystal clear pathway of progression to follow. 

If you ask me, this is a great way to go.

SURF SCHOOLS

Surf Schools can be a good place to go for private surf lessons, but, the quality of the coaching can be a bit of a mixed bag. 

The threshold for surf coaches is very, very, very low - so it's really difficult to every know what you're getting. 

Sure, you might get a guru that's worth their weight in gold, but you might also get a stinker too, so tread with caution.

CONCLUSION

In short, the sentiment to surf coaching is changing, little by little. 

So, if you're stuck in a rut, don't just rot away like the rest of them, get some help. 

Nobody wants to be crap forever. 

Yew!
Rowan.

Surfing is so freaking hard to master and repetition is the gateway to mastery.

Talk soon,

Lauren

If you want some Indo board training exercises to keep you on the right track, download this FREE workout PDF to get you started.

Before we begin let’s take a quick look at where yoga originated.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF YOGA 

Yoga began in Ancient India around 3000BC as a way to cultivate the mind, body, and soul on a path to enlightenment.

At the time the practice was heavily focused on mediation and yoga was introduced by a means of supporting the body for sustained periods of time during meditation.

What we know today as Yoga was born.

Brought to the west in 194o’s and later popularised by America, yoga has grown into a billion dollar industry.

Scientific evidence continues to support the many health benefits associated with yoga.

Let’s begin on the mat…

SURF & YOGA A PERFECT MATCH

The benefits of yoga can have on surfing are pretty far-reaching.

In fact, the combination of both has been around for some time and for good reason.

Think of it like strawberries and cream, you can have one without the other but to really hit the taste buds you need both.

Surfing and yoga complement one another.

A lot of it has to do with flexibility. The more flexible you are as a surfer the more likely you are to advance your surfing.

Just think of all the different movements you perform when your surfing.

And what about all the mindfulness similarities.

And the list goes on…

All of these factors can be found in yoga too. In fact, you will be to notice they cross over nicely.

Yoga for surfers assists the body to move and breath more functionally so when you’re next out in the water you can perform at your best.

The learning curve in surfing is steep, if you can find anything to help then you will have more success.

Here’s an example:

A faster and more fluid pop up will result in higher success rate on take off. This will allow you to catch more waves and have far more fun!

Surfing is hard. There are only a few percentages of surfers in the world that surf good. The rest fall into either the intermediate and beginner category.

How many of those surfers do you think practice yoga?

Not many. Because when you get older you lose your flexibility.

You only need to look at a toddler to see how naturally flexible we are when we’re young. As we develop bad habits and unhealthy lifestyle choices we limit our ability to be flexible and nimble.

Therein lies the problem…

Practicing yoga regularly you will begin to notice how complementary it is to your life and to your surfing.

Take pro surfer Nicki Van Dyke are a great example of introducing a daily yoga practice into her life.

If you need further evidence on how yoga can improve your surfing take a look at these benefits.

Start stretching and begin hitting the lip with force, not fear.

LANDLOCKED SURFERS TAKE NOTE 

Maintaining your flexibility out of the water is key for when you’re back in the water.

Yoga for city surfers is an epic way to feel connected and will help with the surfing fix whilst you’re having to grind out city life until you revisit the water.

You won’t be able to replace the surf stoke but it’s going to be the next closest thing.

If you worked on your flexibility for the winter months and entered back in the water the following summer you would see some MASSIVE improvements.

A few yoga studios host classes for city surfers, this is a great way to connect with like-minded people in the concrete jungle.

Here’s a list of some:

HOW TO GET STARTED 

For such a small set up fee these three components will help to begin your new yoga lifestyle.

YOGA MAT

When you roll out your yoga is like you’re affirming to the universe that this is your personal space to connect with your inner self.

Yoga mats are helpful for certain poses so your hands and feet don’t slip.

They can be helpful to make any ground a little more comfortable.

There are so many to choose from but very few are made with quality.

Go check out Mundaka. They have an incredibly high-quality range to suit all yogi’s.

CONSISTENCY 

Creating time in your day for yoga is challenging.

However, once you begin to feel and see the differences you will re-align your habits and priorities to make sure yoga is part of your day or at the very least a couple of times a week.

When you working on new skills it’s well documented the key to success is repetition.

The more you are able to practice the better you will become.

EXCERCISES

If you practice yoga for more than half of your week you are building healthier habits and this will re-shape your routine.

As with anything new, getting started is the most challenging.

ONLINE CLASSES

If your needing an extra motivation and guidance then maybe an online class is a great place to start.

Most people nowadays are leading busy lives and a commitment to a class each week can be hard to stick. This is where an online class comes in handy.

The pros of an online class:

Most online yoga classes let you have a free trial or an opt-out time period, so why not give a go and see if you enjoy it?

When you consider the health benefits and the improvements to your surfing is crazy not to start.

CONCLUSION

Yoga for surfers is a great stepping stone to advancing your surfing.

A 15-minute practice 4-7 days a week would be so valuable to your health and your surfing.

Taking your cutback to the next level might just be a yoga class away.

Let’s do a quick recap to make sure you’ve taken the most important information from this article:

Okay, now I’m interested to know what are your favourite yoga tips?

Let me know in the comments below!

With love,

Lauren

WHAT IS SURF SKATING

Surf skating is a form of skateboarding that replicates the experience of surfing on a wave in the ocean, on dry land.

And because it’s an activity that can be done irrespective of the elements, it’s something that you can practice again, and again, allowing you to refine, repeat, and perfect your technique until you get it right.

What’s more, unlike surfing the ocean with its ever changing canvas (literally no two waves will ever be the same), the surface whilst you’re surf skating will always be the same.

And it’s this consistent learning environment that allows you to make big improvements, fast.

IS SURF SKATING HARD?

Surf skating isn’t hard par-se, but it is something that’ll take a little getting used to.

If you’re someone that has some skating experience already, and you surf too, you should find the transition relatively straight forward when learning the basics.

But getting good at surf skating however is a different story, and will take considerable practice to perfect.

DOES SURF SKATE IMPROVE YOUR SURFING?

Yes, surf skating does improve your surfing.

It helps because it gives you the opportunity to replicate and refine the body mechanics of what you do in the water consistently. 

As these movements are practiced on dry land they’re internalised, and when you hit the water the body is pre-programmed to move in the right ways, taking things out of your head and into instinct.

Surf skating won’t improve your surfing however if you don’t actually go surfing often, because even though there are many similarities between the two, there’s still no supplement for the real thing.

Think of it as an accelerator…

In and of itself it won’t help you improve, but when combined with regular surfing it’ll accelerate your surfing progress for sure.

ARE SURF SKATES GOOD FOR BEGINNERS?

The short answer is yes, surf skates are good for beginners.

But in truth, it’s a little more nuanced than that.

Here’s why.

You see, most of the movements that are made on a surf skate generally replicate the movements of a more advanced surfer, things like pumping for speed, big bottom turns and cutbacks - yet as a beginner surfer, these types of manoeuvres are not quite in your repertoire just yet.

So does that mean the surf skates are no good if you’re just a beginner?

Nah, not at all.

With most of us spending the majority of our time sitting at a desk, or lying down, at the very least they’re going to help with your balance and agility in general - keeping you mobile and active.

And at best they’re going to prep your body mechanics in the right way for when you’re ready to tackle more advanced manoeuvres down the track.

WHAT ARE THE BEST SURF SKATE BRANDS?

Buying the right surf skate can be a bit of a labyrinth if you’re not sure what to look for, so below I’ll be dissecting the best surf skate brands, and what to expect from each:

SMOOTHSTAR

Designed in Australia, Smoothstars are definitely one of the best surf skate brands out there.

Endorsed by top rated surfers like Filipe Toledo and Johanne Defay these boards really do a great job of replicating the surfing experience on land.

Smoothstar surf skates are built for one thing, and one thing only, and that's replicating surfing on land.

And in this department, they're top of the pack for sure.  

One thing to note though is that they're very shortboard focused, so the feeling you'll get riding these boards is that of a performance shortboard.

So if you're a longboarder looking for a slightly different sensation then these probably aren't for you.

But if you're a shortboarder however, and you want the most real surf-like experience you'll find Smoothstars hard to beat.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: https://www.smoothstar.com/

SLIDER

Sliders are manufactured in the Basque region of Spain (damn I love that area), with much of the production of parts happening in and around the area too which is a rarity, as almost everything else is made in China.

Sliders are a real good hybrid between surf skate and cruiser.

They have the manoeuvrability of a surf skate - the ability to pump, carve, and do cutbacks - but they're also easy to push too.

If I had to pick one board as an allrounder I'd pick the Slider.

It's epic for just cruising around, checking the surf, and all that good stuff.  And they're sick for riding the skateparks too.

So if you're looking for an all-rounder then this is the board for you.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: https://slidesurfskates.com/

CARVER

Carver surf skates were the first brand to really focus on delivering a surfing experience on a skateboard.

Designed and tested in America they have a deep history in the sport and a huge range of options to choose from.

Carvers are built for mass market, which is great because they're certainly cheaper than some of the other brands, but with that comes a drop in quality.

Sure they're epic to get started with if you've never skated before, and they're decent at mimicking surfing too, but they're just not quite there in comparison to some of the other surf skate brands out there.

Good as an allrounder, also for someone that doesn't want to drop top dollar on new equipment too.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: https://carverskateboards.com/

SWELL TECH

Swell Tech is kinda the new kid on the block, and they're certainly shaking things up.

Endorsed by Jamie Obrien, they've taken a unique, novel approach to their truck design that from the outside in looks incredible.

In truth I've never tried a Swell Tech Surf Skate so it's hard to have too much of an opinion.

But from what I can see from the video footage of these boards they look like the real deal, and a great option for replicating the surfing experience.

They look a little bit strange in the way they ride if I'm honest, but like I said I've never ridden one myself so I'll reserve any opinions until I've given them a test drive.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: https://surfskate.com/

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SURF SKATE AND A CRUISER?

Surf skates and cruisers may look very similar on the outside, but they're actually quite different when you get into the nitty gritty of it all.

CRUISER SKATEBOARDS

Cruiser skateboards are designed for cruising down hill, carving from side to side, and are great for riding along smooth flat surfaces too.

The front and back trucks are fairly traditional and are both constructed in the same way (surf skates are quite different in this regard).

They’re great for cruising from place to place, but they don’t replicate the feel of surfing all that much.

SURF SKATES

Surf skates are designed with one purpose in mind - to replicate the feeling of surfing. This makes them great for pumping around on flat surfaces and pump tracks, but they're not so great riding down steeper hills.

The reason for this is the way the trucks are constructed, with the front truck being incredibly loose making riding at speed more of a challenge as speed wobbles come into play.

Surf skates are amazing at one thing - mimicking the feeling or riding a wave, but generally speaking they’re not so good at riding from place to place as generally speaking speed is generated without pushing (speed is generated by pumping instead), which can be strenuous riding long distances.

WRAPPING IT UP

Surf skating is a craze that has swept the world over in recent years, and for good reason.

Will it help improve your surfing?

Damn right it will.

So what are you waiting for!

16 SURFING HEALTH BENEFITS

MIND

In today's society with depression, anxiety, and PTS on the rise, surfing is proving to be a valid therapy as a combative measure against them.

1. ANXIETY BUSTER

Does surfing reduce anxiety?

Well, if recent studies are anything to go by then yup, damn right it does.

Immersed in nature - no phone, no advertising exposure, no 'things to do' - pre-frontal cortex stimulation is non existent and the body's fight and flight system is able to be at rest.

Calming the body, bringing you back to a place of peace.

2. STRESS, WHAT STRESS...

Stress and anxiety kind of go hand in hand, so it's no wonder that surfing has been shown to reduce stress too.

It's no secret that physical activity and it's stimulation of the amygdala and the hippocampus in the brain have a positive impact on stress levels, which probably explains why most surfers are pretty chill (not all, but most..).

In fact studies have shown that physical activity alone can increase the size of the hippocampus by some 14% in just 8 weeks!

I'm not really sure why that's a good thing, but if a big hippocampus is a byproduct of surfing everyday and it's meant to be good for you I'll take it

3. MAMMALIAN DIVE REFLEX (THE MASTER SWITCH)

This blows my mind...

The Mammalian Dive Reflex (often referred to as the Master Switch) is a physiologic reaction that occurs in mammals (humans included, we are animals remember!) when submerged in water.

Check this out:

When you immerse yourself in water something incredible happens, your body calls upon millions of years of evolution reigniting a fish-like response completely altering the body's physiology.

The heart rate slows, blood is redistributed to the vital organs only, stress levels drop instantly, and a state of calmness ensues.

This is why you feel so good after surfing, and this is why surfing as a therapy can be so valuable.

BODY

Surfing is the ultimate full body workout with tonnes of benefits to your health.

4. STRENGTHENS YOUR HEART

Do you ever feel totally, utterly, 100% GASSED after surfing?

Yup, me too, but that's a good thing.

All of that physical exertion is like a workout for the heart, and the more you do it, the stronger the heart will become.

The perfect excuse to spend more time in the water!

5. IMPROVES CIRCULATION

All that blood pumping around your body when you're surfing has the knock-on effect of improving circulation.

Effective circulation ensures that blood and oxygen flow freely throughout the body, giving your organs what they need to function properly. 

Not only that but it's been shown to heal wounds faster, contribute to a healthy heart, reduce brain fog, and it even gives your complexion a natural flush too.

It's official, surfing makes you better looking!

6. FAT BURNER - SURF YOURSELF SKINNY...

Surfing is a great way to burn fat.

Here's why:

Surfing is a high intensity anaerobic sport with short explosions of effort, followed by short periods of rest.

Much like interval training.

And this type of exercise has been proven to be epic at burning fat.

So if you've got a few extra pounds knocking around that you want to get rid of, give the diet the flick and just go surfing instead - it's way more fun

7. FULL BODY WORKOUT

Unlike going to the gym where you work out specific muscles, surfing is a frickin whole body workout like no other.

Literally every muscle gets a workout.

And what's even better is it's free, so you can give your gym membership the flick whilst you're at it too.

8. KEEPS YOU ACTIVE

You don't need me to tell you that surfing keeps you active, but I'm going to do it anyway

But think about it, on those miserable rainy days whilst everyone is stuck inside all glum and depressed - you're out surfing.

When it's 6am and everybody is still in bed - you're out surfing.

When everybody else in your office is working - you're out surfing...

Oops, I probably should keep that last one on the d-low

9. GLOWING SURFER SKIN

The circulation health benefits of surfing already contribute to naturally glowing skin, but so does the salt water and natural elements exposure too.

That's why surfers always look so hot!

Radiant, natural, glowing skin - perfect for doing away with those pimples!

10. VITAMIN D TOP-UP

Your body needs vitamin D for a healthy immune system, and the best source of vitamin D comes from exposure to the sun.

During the summer months this sun exposure is easy to come by, but in the winter months where you're locked up for months on end this isn't so easy.

Surfing consistently however changes that, keeping your vitamin D levels topped up, happy and healthy all year round.

11. COLD WATER IMMUNE BOOSTER

Exposure to cold water has been proven to boost the immune system (just ask Wim Hoff he loves this stuff).

Exposure to these cold elements helps to trigger our natural immune system - one that's been lost in our constant quest for comfort and warmth - helping the body to fend off illness and disease.

12. SURFER HAIR

Ok, this isn't really a health benefit of surfing, but it's good nonetheless.

But it's a fact, surfing makes your hear look cool, right?

In fact, city-folk the world over pay good money for the surfer hair look and you get it for free!

There's a money saving reason to surf right there

SOUL

Surfing helps us to connect to ourselves, nature, and those around us.

13. GET CONNECTED TO NATURE

As a society we NEED to connect to the nature around us a whole lot more that we currently do.

We're not apart from nature, we are a part of nature, and this is something we must constantly be reminded of.

And what better way to connect with the nature around you than to literally immerse yourself in it, distraction free, total immersion.

Just you, and it, together.

14. ACCIDENTAL MEDITATION

Surfing inadvertently transmutes as the perfect accidental meditation.

The ebbing and the flowing of the waves, the lack of artificial stimulation, the alone time and the connection with nature culminating in a meditative state.

A state of presence where the mind shuts off, and focus is purely on the here and now.

An accidental meditation maybe, but a powerful one nonetheless.

15. IMPROVES SLEEP

Surfing and all the many health benefits outlined in this post culminate in improved sleep.

Tired, content muscles, a clear mind plus ample vitamin D, all compounding to help you rest at night and sleep like a baby.

16. CONNECTS YOU TO YOUR TRIBE

As a social species we need to connect with other like minded people and in our ever more segregated world this is getting harder and harder.

Surfing however brings together likeminded people, people with similar values and world views, and connects them around a shared love of the sport.

Go anywhere in the world and meet a surfer and there's an instant connection right there.

This is something we all need in our lives right now

WRAPPING IT UP

Surfing's health benefits are slowly starting to be more widely researched with scientific studies proving time and again just how good surfing is for your health.

But you don't need to be a doctor or scientist to work this stuff out, just go in the water and see for yourself.

Does it make you feel good? Does it make you happy?

If yes, DO IT MORE OFTEN!

According to this article you'll live longer, be thinner, have better skin, nicer hair, be better looking, more calm, happier, fitter, stronger, more connected to nature...

...the list goes on.

So do yourself a favour, if you're Umming and Arring about whether or not to go surfing, quit being a slug and just get in there, your body will thank you for later I promise.

Yew!

Loz