One time I asked someone at Waikiki beach if they would like a surfing lesson. He replied " I'm a snowboarder, so I don't need a surf lesson ". That is funny, because it is actually harder to teach surfing to a snowboarder than to someone who has never been snowboarding.
Why ? 1st. because you dont need to "catch" the mountain, but you do need to catch the wave. Surfing is 90% paddling and only 10% riding.
2nd. Snowboarder lean on the FRONT leg and slide the rear to turn. Surfers lean on their BACK leg and slide the front to turn. Notice the coach's weight is forward. His student is a bit scared and leaning back, more like a surfers stance. The coach is saying " lean forward !"
3rd. Snowboarders turn to SLOW DOWN or control their speed. Surfers turn to GO FASTER or make speed. ( in surfing, when you cutback, you actually "come back" to the wave, which is where the power is )
look closely at this drawing made by the first foreigners to the Hawaiian islands. Even then, the illustrator noticed that the surfers put their weight on the back foot.
Sometimes you need to lean forward to make "flat sections" on a wave. But on a longboard it is better to take a step forward. ( by looking down, it only brings the nose up, which makes matters worse )
See how he is shifting his weight FORWARD over his front leg. His left hip is leading
looks sort of same here, even her hands position is the same. She might also be a snowboarder. One of the reason why she is turning this way is her left foot is turn in past 3 o'clock. If she put her foot a 1 o'clock it "gives" power to the rear foot.
See her right rear foot leaning inwards ? most her weight is on her front foot. Her hips are leading.
This photo is from 2011
this photo is from 2013. Habits are hard to break. Take a lesson from a good surf instructor so he can point out any bad body lines or foot positioning before they become habitual.
When the snowboarder goes too fast, he turns. Thats why when a surfer goes snowboarding for the first time, he is surprised that he doesnt have to do anything to go fast , just go straight.
but in surfing, the board flat to the wave is slow, being on rail is fast. Opposite of snowboarding
If you are a snowboarder, you probably dont need a surf lesson, you will need many !!
check out http://starb.on.coocan.jp/ to spot snowboarder stance
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