ISTD//Surf tricks

Here are some descriptions of surf tricks to educate beginners or help experience surfers improve on their moves. 

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TUBE RIDING

Only a surfer knows the feeling. Time stands still. This is probably one of the best feelings you could ever have in any situation. To get inside a tube, first you need a hollow wave. That can be hard this time of year, but if you’re keen, you'll find one! It is important to remember when you pull into a barrel, whether you stall to get in, snap into it or speed into it; be sure to have your shoulders parallel with the wave face to hold your line. Try to shape yourself to the barrel to avoid getting a lip to the head and to ensure a clean exit.

AIRS

Airs on a shortboard are all about speed and timing. The same thing applies on a longboard. It's a strange feeling doing an air on a longboard but not much comes close to it. Get as much speed as possible and head towards the section of your choice, gaining as much speed as possible on your way. When you get to the section, stay nice and low and compress into it, as you hit the section. Keep pushing right through the turn until you get to the tail. You want to connect the tail with the lip and come out of your compression as you do so, but keeping your knees bent enough so your board sticks to your feet and you can land comfortably. This is a challenge, but when you pull it off, it is worth all the effort.

HANG 10

Hanging 10 is the ultimate feeling on a longboard. It really does feel amazing, there is nothing between the water and your toes and is one of the hardest things you can do on a longboard. The same applies with this as you have to be in a hang 5 before you move up to your 10 - again, slow right down to the wave pace and put yourself as tight in the pocket as you can to be able to hold the 10 for a long time. Get this right and it will blow your mind.

HANG 5

Hanging 5 on a longboard is one of my favourite things about surfing. Not only does it feel really good to be stood on the nose of your board, but it is also very functional. It is something we use when in between turns to link everything together and flow. It also leads to hanging 10. It's important to remember when doing a noseride that you set it up first. It is key to be going the same speed as the wave and to be as tight in the pocket as possible. The more of the tail of your board is in the curl, the more stable you will be and the more critical your hang five and the more speed you will have when you step back from it for your next turn.