Surf kayaker: beginner, intermediate, expert

[Mutsurfx]

Hey all,

I've been wondering; when does a beginner stop being a beginner and become an intermediate surf kayaker? Equally, what separates the intermediate from the expert?

Any thoughts?

Cheers,

-Mut.

[Jim Tait]

From personal experience, I would say you're no longer a beginner when you can stop worrying about staying upright, and have the basics of bottom and top turns?

As from the transition to expert? Probably when you stop looking at and talking about the huge crashing close-outs and actually get in and paddle them!

Jim

[Daker]

Off the top of my head, not that its important so long as youre having fun -

Beginner plays in white water and maybe green waves on a small day, doesnt want to risk having to roll much.

Intermediate gets into bigger conditions + is happy to accept the odd kicking + inevitable need to roll, getting to grips with fluid movement on the wave face.

Advanced go bigger and better, look really in control on the wave, seek out bigger and cleaner waves, probably paddle a much sinkier boat.

Experts paddle conditions the rest us look at and think NO WAY !

[Mutsurfx]

Good stuff, thanks guys.

As I expected this currently puts me in the beginnner approaching intermediate camp. Nice to have some goals to aim for though. I need to improve my righthander top-turn, get some more "green miles", and take a few more hits! :)

Cheers,


Mut.

[pearcy]

Hi.
I would look beyond stokes and techniques, to a more fundamental level:

::Beginner - wrong place, wrong time, most of the time.
::Intermediate - right place, right time, majority of the time.
::Expert - perfect position, perfect timing 99% of time. (1% catastrophic wipe out!)

There is a nice figure in the back for Paul Hurrel's surf coaching booklet explaining the thought process from beginner to expert as an inward spiral. It starts with the obvious wave height direction, moves on to wave sets and positioning and beyond, leading on to tiny subtle things like changes in clouds/air temp etc all the rest has become autonomous.

Andy

[jam bo]

Unconscious incompetence
Conscious incompetence
Conscious competence
Unconscious incompetence

[Jonny-the-ski]

Way, way back in the day, in the late early 90's I was surfing Morocco. I was lucky enough to be there when ex-world champ and legend Mark Richards was there. I asked him "Who is the best surfer in the world?" He said "The one who enjoys himself the most"

Intermediate, expert - thems river terms dude. There is surfing. And that's it. There are degrees of confidence and making bigger moves, taking off later, banging airs. Anyone can surf. Fact. You stop being a beginner when you look at the surf from the beach and when out in the water and know what waves to catch, where to sit, where the waves are breaking. I say again, anyone can surf. By that I mean paddle out in a plastic boat and ride whitewater to the beach. Not anyone knows where to be, where the waves break etc. When you do - you are no longer a beginner.

Getting better, is when you are taking off on waves you wouldn't before. Wipe out or not - doesn't matter. In surfing good also attributes to going for it. Surfing is the only sport in the world I know of where we get respect for when we don't make it as much as when we do. The better you get, the later, riskier moves. Soon you move onto 'He rips'. You don't have expert as that's something you say that you are. In surfing it's what others say you are, as in 'He rips'. You are judged not only on your ability, but how big a risk you take and even your style. Soulsurfer on here can give a master class in long, drawn-out arcing carves and in the pocket surfing.

Quantify your smiles dude.

[Mutsurfx]

Thanks guys, some varied and interesting angles there.

By Mr Richards' standards I may already be close to expert! ;)

[surfkayaks.com]

When was Mark Richards World Champ?

[Jonny-the-ski]

I'm on about super star legend, stand up surfer mark Richards: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Richards_%28surfer%29

[surfkayaks.com]

Didnt think we had plank riders on here!!

[Jonny-the-ski]

Surf everything me. Shortboard, bodyboard, ski. My first love, and if anyone asks I'd say I was a waveski surfer, but keeps it fresh playing with other weapons. A waterman in truth.