HOLD DRILLS


AIM: 

To teach surfers the skill of staying low on some manoeuvres.


PREPARATION: 

Explain the importance of a low stance in surfing. Demonstrate the correct stance to the surfers. Have the surfers simulate this stance on the beach.


DRILL:

  • Send the surfers out into the surf for 20 minutes or for a specific number of waves (between 3-6, depending on the conditions). 
  • Ask them to surf each wave normally. When they perform their cutbacks for example, ask them to say“hold” in their mind to make them stay in a low stance longer.

NOTES TO THE COACH

The two main manoeuvres where this drill is useful is the bottom turn and cutbacks.

It is used to help surfers stay crouched for a longer duration to rectify timing errors in their technique.

For example, in the roundhouse cutback, a surfer should lower into a crouched stance at the beginning of the move and stay in that position until they see the top of the foam, to utilise the speed and power from the wave.

At the moment when the surfer has maximally used that power, then and only then should they straighten out of the crouched body position.

It is the power generated from the straightening of the body, applied at the correct time, which enables the surfer to rebound off the foam with height.

If the surfer straightens out of the crouched stance too early, it is unlikely that they will have sufficient power available to hit the foam high with success.

 Mark lesson complete