This tutorial from coach Martin Dunn focuses on correcting common errors in speed generation. It emphasizes that many surfers fail to create horizontal speed effectively because they do not utilize the full motion of their arms to unweight their body.
Key Takeaways & Tips
Horizontal Speed Generation
To generate maximum horizontal speed, you must straighten your body and **lift both arms up to shoulder level**. The way to think about this is if you can see your hands directly in front of your face.
Unweighting
Surfers create speed by lifting and **unweighting** their body. This full-body lift is necessary to overcome drag and propel the board forward quickly.
Arm Movement
The arm movement must come from the shoulders, not just the elbows. The lift should be a full motion where both arms are thrown forward to help propel you along the line quickly.
Linking Maneuvers
The speed created by this technique is essential for quickly getting to the next maneuver or getting through a long, flat section. You lift and throw yourself along the line with your arms, lifting them up to shoulder or face level.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Partial Arm Lift
A common mistake is failing to lift the arms sufficiently high enough, or moving them only from the elbows instead of the shoulders. This renders the unweighting and propulsion ineffective.
Failure to Unweight
When linking maneuvers, if you fail to straighten and throw yourself along the line with your arms, the board will be slowed down, and you will not get to the next section quickly enough.