Long Island surfing has been a growing trend for sometime, especially during a time of business lock downs and limited outdoor activities. Surfing may look like a calm and relaxing activity, wrong. The activity of surfing on Long Island and other parts of the world is extremely physically demanding. Surfing burns close to 600 calories per hour.
Catching waves looks like 1 clean motion to pop up and ride the wave. In reality surfing is many small steps put together all in 1 fluid motion.
The key things to remember when surfing are to grip the board firmly when popping up, grab the board low and keep your weight towards the back of the board.
Before discussing the surf pop up, we must first master the art of balancing on the surfboard laying down, while paddling, while sitting and then finally balancing while standing on the wave.
To stay focused on the surfboard, stare down the center of the board, most surfboards will have a line painted down the center of the board to keep yourself centered.
Prior to every wave you will want to do a minimum of 10 paddles to gain enough speed.
After paddling on your surfboard and you have enough speed, grab the board as low as possible by your hips.
Once you have a firm grip by your hips bring your front foot directly under you and plant it shoulder with a part directly under where your chest was while laying down on the surfboard.
The final step is to shift all the wait towards the back of the board and keep and athletic stance throughout never standing up fully to maintain balance.
Surfing is an activity that takes years to master, keep going at it and you too will become a master one day.
Stay safe this summer and try surfing right here on Long Island New York!