Crowded Breaks: The 6 Laws of Surf Etiquette!

Crowded Break

This photo makes me uneasy - there are 3 dudes trying to ride the same wave, and hoards of others paddling out to make it even more crowded.  I don't where they're all going.  But we've all been here.  Nice waves, but crowded as fark.  You almost … [Read more...]

Props! Guys Getting Shacked on Longboards

Props! Guys Getting Shacked on Longboards

How hot is this shot? Getting barreled on a longboard isn't easy to do. It's hard to get a 9 foot board to do what you want inside a tiny tube. It's not every day you get to surf a wave as good as this shot above. If you're like me you pretty much … [Read more...]

How to Perform a Drop Knee Cutback! Tips from a Pro

Drop Knee Cutback 5a

The drop knee cutback is a traditional longboard manoeuvre from the early 60's, when surfing was all about "style and grace".  The sheer weight of the longboards of this era combined with the deep single fins glassed right at the back of the board … [Read more...]

Anatomy of a Surf Wave (Video)

The Basics of Beach Awareness We came across this video on Beach Awareness, it is good for beginners to understand the anatomy of a wave...that is if you can understand what Phil MacDonald is saying -- is he speaking english? … [Read more...]

How To Do Aerials on a Longboard! Tips from a Pro

Harley Ingleby Backside Air Photo

Straight out of the shortboard stable, "aerial" manoeuvres are nothing new.  The introduction of lightweight materials and advanced technology in the early 90's allowed longboard pro's Joey Hawkins and Jeff Kramer to "bust some air" and put … [Read more...]

Mick Explains How to Pick Up Speed on Your Surfboard

Mick Explains How to Pick Up Speed on Your Surfboard

Courtesy of Mick... … [Read more...]

Buena Onda = Good Vibe Surfing

swamis

I just want to say how nice it is when there is a good vibe in the water. In Mexico, we call it "una buena onda." You can call people or different things "buena onda" and even say it as a, "Thank you so much, you're so sweet!" = "Gracias! Buena … [Read more...]

Surfing and Localism

No Kooks

Surfers can be territorial sometimes, especially where I live in Mexico. The locals (not all of them, but a good majority) are constantly yelling at beginner tourists who get in their way. There is this one local who supposedly has been banned from … [Read more...]

How to Surf Big Waves on a Log, Tips from a Pro

Lee Ryan Longboarding 3a

Although longboards are generally associated with small wave surfing, taking your longboard out in surf over 6 feet can be great fun.  The speed and drive you get with 9 feet of rail in the water is exhilarating.  However with all that rail edge to … [Read more...]

How to Perform a Fin First Takeoff! Tips from a Pro

Pic 2a

This is another manoeuvre that has been labelled as simply a "trick" and "not a functional manoeuvre" in the competition arena.  However, Joel Tudor frequently pulled them off in competitions in good sized surf with no leash - just because he … [Read more...]