Gents.
My kids need help. They have been surfing for years and have the fundamentals sorted except they are still going to the knee first. We have gone over everything on the beach and although the signs are there that the knee is going, I thought I'd ask the question. What advise would you give. I thought maybe a couple of days at surf school?

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beastsurf said...
Gents.
My kids need help. They have been surfing for years and have the fundamentals sorted except they are still going to the knee first. We have gone over everything on the beach and although the signs are there that the knee is going, I thought I'd ask the question. What advise would you give. I thought maybe a couple of days at surf school?

My girls (7 and 9) have done surf groms and also a lesson with Clayton from Clayton surf, Clayton was big on not jumping up and broke down the stand up sequence so the back foot almost stays where it is and the front one pivots around the waist... This helped my girls heaps as they are only really thinking bout getting the one leg/foot around and to the front.. He was massive too on hands being in front as they stood up to get the weight forward propelling the rider down the wave faster...

Okay that makes sense. I'll give that a whirl

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beastsurf said...
Okay that makes sense. I'll give that a whirl

They still go for the knees too a fair bit though, I think they just arnt physically strong enough yet

my kids are almost 12 and on the less powerful waves it seems they aren't quiet strong enough yet. When the wave lacks power. I suppose if they concentrate on the back foot they twist and that takes the knee out of the way

Yeah, it's great getting a wave with the kids tho hey!, my 9 year old (almost 10) can paddle on by herself in small stuff, can't wait for a couple if years time when where all out the back

My kids have been getting into surfing now that they are older 6 & 9 and I have found that the following clip was been great for breaking the popup into two sections.....



You could try the popup stance called the chicken wing, its from 3:40

The youngest is using this method and is getting faster at it (interesting is that she is left handed but jumps up right handed). The oldest on the other hand still prefers to jump from his knees, but this may be because he prefers to paddle in the kneeling stance.

Thanks CS that's what I've been looking for nice easy vid for me and the kids. It's easy when you've been doing something for years but sometimes trying to explain it to the kids is difficult. thanks once again keep you posted on the progress

I can not offer advice in terms of specific technique for children as my kids are a bit young yet. But I want to contribute an opinion on children and learning, particularly in sports. The children have to be enjoying what they're doing. My advice is to slowly offer advice over time but don't flood then with theory and technique, instead enjoy the fact that your children are spending time with you and they're happy. I hate to be condescending and in sure you're already doing that. The refinement of technique will come with time. Enjoyment is most important as there is correlation between time put in and skill improving, and there will come the day where they may intrinsically choose to alter their technique themselves in their own pursuit of improvement. Think of Glen McGrath who I believe was not the best bowler as a youngster, but who kept nutting it out and through effort achieved excellent technique. If he was flooded with advice, he may have quit. Even if their technique is wrong, some go on to prove people wrong. Think of Buddy Franklin whose kicking technique was not right but he went on to great things. There was even a tennis player in the old days who used two hands in both the forehand and backhand stroke; very unconventional. My training in kids and sport and the current stance of department of sport and Rec is to promote enjoyment and refine the technique at a later date, when they're ready.

Hey PP the kids are ready. They are the driving force. They search and seek info. They want to know how they can improved.

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PaddlePig said..
I can not offer advice in terms of specific technique for children as my kids are a bit young yet. But I want to contribute an opinion on children and learning, particularly in sports. The children have to be enjoying what they're doing. My advice is to slowly offer advice over time but don't flood then with theory and technique, instead enjoy the fact that your children are spending time with you and they're happy. I hate to be condescending and in sure you're already doing that. The refinement of technique will come with time. Enjoyment is most important as there is correlation between time put in and skill improving, and there will come the day where they may intrinsically choose to alter their technique themselves in their own pursuit of improvement. Think of Glen McGrath who I believe was not the best bowler as a youngster, but who kept nutting it out and through effort achieved excellent technique. If he was flooded with advice, he may have quit. Even if their technique is wrong, some go on to prove people wrong. Think of Buddy Franklin whose kicking technique was not right but he went on to great things. There was even a tennis player in the old days who used two hands in both the forehand and backhand stroke; very unconventional. My training in kids and sport and the current stance of department of sport and Rec is to promote enjoyment and refine the technique at a later date, when they're ready.

Nice work PaddlePig. Couldn't agree more. Kids really only want to have fun. If they are so "designed" and driven the child will ask for more technique. I sometimes make the mistake of getting too technical and you can recognize the eyes glazing over. That's a sure signal. If you want to see some parallels....go to a kids soccer match and watch some of the parents.

+1

I also find that If I try to push a technique or get to technical then they loose interest fast.
The best thing I find is that sometimes I sit down in the evening and watch youtube clips on surfing + techniques and pretty soon the kids are climbing all over me for a position to sit and watch as well, and sure enough before too long they are asking me questions and getting me to search for specific types of clips, i.e. the little girl loves to watch other girls on longboards, I guess it lets her know that its not just a male orientated sport and that girls do it too.

....for some reason I can't understand she also LOOOOVES to watch wipeout clips as well. I hope she isn't getting ideas about becoming a big wave surfer, The grandparents would never forgive me for that one.....They still go on about sharks.