Surfing and surf skating are like peas in a pod. Skateboarding itself was invented to complement surfing and replicate the same movements on land. Over time, however. Skateboarding evolved to be more about street riding and tricks. But in recent times surf skateboarding has risen. Which in some ways, is a regression back to the good ole days of skating. But in a good way.
Exit BUX wetsuit change bucket versatility.
Before we get into the meat of this article we just wanted to mention the Exit BUX wetsuit change bucket. More than just a change bucket the BUX’s capacity makes it a worthy carry all for many things. Exit’s head honcho Kieran uses his BUX for carting mountain biking gear about. But it doesn’t stop there.
BUX wetsuit change bucket | Exit watersports accessories
If you’re a skateboarder the BUX is also cracking for lugging setups about. You can also have a change of clothes and keep your trainers in the BUX so you’re ready to roll whenever you see fit. Everyone should have an Exit BUX in their ‘toy box’. Skaters and surf skaters apply here! Check out the Exit BUX here.
Table of Contents
What’s surf skating?
Surf skate setups rely on a specifically designed front truck that delivers hyper manoeuvrability. Decks are usually wider and longer to accommodate a wider stance – which echoes surfing. Rear trucks can also offer more lean. And wheels are generally bigger in diameter than street skates.
Surf skateboards can be pumped without pushing and carved at extreme angles, mimicking the ways riders pilot surfboards. That’s the idea anyway. In reality, whether surf skating copies the way you surf is down to your riding in style. No less, surf skating is a hyper manoeuvrable and fun board sport.
Surfing stumbling blocks (in the UK and Ireland).
When the stars align and conditions all come together surfing in the UK and Ireland can be sublime. There can be waves and breaks for everyone – from world class big wave spots (Mullaghmore Head in County Sligo) to mellow longboard waves like Saunton Sands in Devon.
Unfortunately, the UK and Irish weather is very changeable and hard to predict. One day it’s 3ft, clean and offshore and the next it’s howling onshore and a 20ft mess of white water and froth. As far as the latter’s concerned this can put the kibosh on surfing antics. But fear not as you can still score. If you surf skate…
Why surf skate?
Like we say, Mother Nature’s moods in this neck of the woods are often unpredictable. Sure, we get days of blazing sunshine and warm temperatures. Unfortunately, this is usually in the high summer season which is great for Atlantic depressions. And it’s these low pressures which drive surf round our way. So often it can be flat or small.
Equally, during autumn and winter, when you’re more likely to get waves they can be accompanied by wind. Sod’s law dictates it’ll be the onshore variety which tends to blow surf out. Of course, every dog has its day. And there’ll certainly be a period when clean, offshore groomed swell can be scored. In the meantime, there’s always surf skating to perfect those moves.
Other benefits of surf skating.
Surf skating keeps you moving. It’s important to stay supple and keep those joints and muscles loose for that next surf sesh. Far too often surfers end up with a stop/start situation with swell conditions being so inconsistent. So riding a surf skateboard can fill the gaps and help connect the dots.
But just in general, anything that keeps riders active and getting outdoors amongst it is a good idea. There are plenty of older skaters who ride surf skates for this very reason. And why not? Skateboarding is surely more fun than being a gym bunny!
How to start.
If you’re fancying a go at surf skating then it’s not as expensive or hard to get involved as you might imagine. Full surf skate setups can be pricey. But to start with something like a Waterborne Skateboards front surf adapter is very affordable. It then retrofits to any existing deck and truck configuration, instantly turning your setup into a surf skate.
If you then fancy progressing you can add component parts as you see fit. Building up to a fully tuned surf skateboard. The main takeaway here is that you don’t need to shell out loads of cash at the start.
First surf skating drills.
Having sorted your first surf skate setup the next step is to practise on the flat. All riders need to get used to the increased lean and carveability. It’s an unusual experience, even if you’ve ridden skateboards previously.
From there learning to pump along, making use of the surf skate’s abilities to gain momentum without the rider having to push is key. This is a foundational part of surf skating and something which shouldn’t be overlooked. Also, starting to understand how much carving lean you can accomplish will help you become more comfortable moving forward.
When the magic happens.
For many surf skaters, the magic of surf skating is when they start taking their riding to skate park bowls and transitions. Replicating waves, these concrete ramps allow riders to really dig in with the surf skate’s performance capabilities and really ‘surf’ the land.
Many surf skaters are all about the flow state at this point and carving lines all around the terrain. However, for those that really want it, there’s the hybrid surf skating style. This has synergy with new school aerial surfing. So is about harder carves, Bert slides down the vertical parts of transitions and full on boost sends where riders aim for clear air between their deck and Terra Firma. Surf skating can be as performance-orientated as you want it.
The big question: does surf skating help with your surfing?
This is the question all surf skaters who surf are asked. Does surf skating help with surfing? And the answer is: it depends on how you ride. Some surfers ride surf skates exactly the same as one another. Others have a completely different way of doing things on a skateboard deck when compared to surfing. And there’s a big criticism from those in the know that rehearsing surfing moves when surf skating the wrong way can have a detrimental effect on your surfing.
Ultimately, riding a surf skate should be seen as complementary and fun. If you find it helps with your surfing then great. But don’t get hung up on it. Or, get some proper guidance from coaches who use surf skates the right way.
Tez from Surf Skateboard Shop comments.
I’ve been riding surf skates for around two years. I’ve skated all my life, on and off. But it’s only with surf skating where I’ve really found my feet, so to speak, when rolling on fours. And I’m 45 at the time of writing! But there are plenty of ‘dad skaters’ who enjoy the sport. In fact, it’s perfect if you’re getting on.
Referring back to the question above I find surf skating does help with my surfing and other watersports. One of the biggest pluses is that the compression and elevation of surf skating mimics that of being hydroforming. I do a lot of foiling and I feel a huge benefit by rolling around my local bowl. It also helps my surfing. My backside riding has come on hugely since surf skateboarding. But as already mentioned it doesn’t matter if you don’t feel the benefit. It’s just a fun activity that you can make as hardcore or chilled as you like.