Come Fly With Me

Some surf ski skills that can keep you from embarrassing, losing (not to mention life threatening) situations include knowing what to do when things go wrong. You can be in the Impact Zone, or just catching a wave when you get thrown off your ski. Nevertheless, you should know what to do automatically.

When the wave gets the best of you and you wipe out, remember to immediately turn the ski into the waves or back to shore, never turn it sideways. If you can’t get the ski to face the waves, be sure to position yourself between the waves and the ski. Doing so would ensure that when you wash ashore, you get washed onto the ski and the ski doesn’t wash over you. Having a ski washed over you can potentially hurt more than your pride. But even before you let the waves beach you, try hard to get back on the ski quickly. If there isn’t any time or opportunity to do so, just hang on tight. Grab the foot straps and wait for your chance to get back on. If you’re heading for the shore fast and your ski is in between you and the wave, try ducking underneath the ski and coming up on the opposite side. While doing this, obviously you don’t let go of the ski.

If the wind and the waves insist on pushing your ski sideways, do a sidesaddle remount, otherwise, normally a straddle remount works faster. Here’s where all the remount practice kicks in. Regardless of whether you’re new to surf skis or not, you have to know your remounts. Upon remounting, remember to focus and get it right the first time if possible, because doing it a few times over can cost you a lot of energy. Sufficient practice would prevent any injuries brought about by a combination of cold, harsh waters, adrenaline, and rushing upon remounting, so practice, practice, practice. In fact much of what you do by instinct when things go wrong can be trace to how much and what you practice. So your training regimen should have ample time for practice.

Upper body strength, especially arm strength, helps a lot during remounts, so work your arms during body training. Building up your stamina can also help you outlast a menacing set of waves in the Impact Zone, not to mention it improves your cardiovascular and respiratory capabilities.