| How to do an aerial in surfing |
| Monday, 15 October 2012 08:34 |
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Aerial surfing has been gaining momentum in modern waves. How does a surfer pull an aerial? Learn the winning formula of airborne surfing in 10 easy steps.
Old school surfers were not designed for aerial surfing, so they had to learn with the young surf generation. Today, surf magazines love aerials in their covers. The first aerial featured in the cover of surf magazine was scored by Kevin Reed, in December 1975. The door to new school surfing had been opened quietly by skateboarders and their ollies. By the beginning of the 21st century, aerial tricks and moves are part of the surf judging criteria, at least, in small-to-medium height waves. You may not fly up to the skies, but it is important to learn how to take off from the lip of the wave. To learn how to do an aerial in surfing you need a shortboard, a light onshore breeze over the lip of the selected wave and speed. The aerial winning formula is: 1. Take-off in a steep two-to-three foot wave.
Flight technique is the most important skill when it comes to aerials in surfing. The decisive moment arrives when your surfboard is about to leave the wave face. When you pop up out of the lip, your front foot should be in the center of the board and your rear foot should be in the traction pad. As you strike the tail, let your body fly as high as possible in the air. The front foot will control the surfboard flight towards the landing site, be it flats or white water. Speed is critical in aerial surf maneuvers. The highest speed you get down the line, the highest aerial you will pull. Try to get airborne off the wave ramp as many times as possible until you complete. Practice will make you pull the first ever aerial of your surfing life. |
