Surfing is surfing. However, can we find resemblances between riding waves and other sports and performing arts? Let's get inspired.
Surfing is a unique sport driven by Nature's will.
Nevertheless, we can always find similarities between the popular water sport and other physical and non-physical activities.
Let's see.
Ballet
Ballet is a performance dance executed in front of an audience. Surfing is the art of dancing with the waves.
Compare the grand jetes of ballet with surfing's aerials; the fouetté en tournant with the roundhouse cutback.
Surfing is a lot like ocean ballet. And it has its share of spectators, too.
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint to a surface. Surfing is the art of applying lines to wave faces.
While painters have canvas upon which to express themselves, surfers have moving walls of water to lay their turns and lines.
BASE Jumping
BASE (Building, Antenna, Span, Earth) jumping stunts resemble big wave surf rides.
In both cases, athletes risk their lives by defying gravity and the elements.
It's stiff down below. Wipeouts can be deadly. Both pursuits attract the thrill-seekers and adrenaline junkies of the world.
Chess
Chess strategy consists of achieving long-term positioning advantages and concentrating on immediate maneuvers with personal tactics.
Surfers make real-time decisions (left or right, cutback or aerial) and long-term options (this wave or the next one, hold priority or let go).
It's all in the mind. Decisions, decisions...
Skateboarding
Skateboarding was born to ride the streets when the ocean's flat. Many tricks and moves are surf-influenced maneuvers.
However, today, skateboarding is changing the way we ride waves, too. When will surfers land a 1080?
Snowboarding and Skiing
Snowboarding and skiing invite us to descend the snowy slope.
They are gravity-based sports, just like surfing is, and they also require board and feet knowledge.
Making turns in fresh winter snow and trimming virgin summer wave faces. Opposites attract.
Pilates
Pilates is the perfect physical fitness system for surfers.
Although it was developed by Joseph Pilates in Germany - a country with rare surfing swells - its principles work as a mirror for surfing.
Concentration, control, centering, flow, precision, and breathing. Perfect match.
Acrobatics
Acrobatics demands balance, agility, and motor coordination.
Like surfers, acrobats are pushing human body performance to extreme levels.
Have you seen a rodeo flip by Jordy Smith? Pure acrobatics.
Synchronized Swimming
Synchronized swimming requires strength, endurance, flexibility, grace, artistry, and precise timing.
The sport, which was once known as water ballet, is both an individual and team sport - that's surfing and tandem surfing, isn't it?
Figure Skating
Figure skating offers a wide range of competitive elements.
Spins, jumps, moves in the field, lifts, throw jumps, and death spirals demand balance, experience, and creativity.
Scary wipeouts included. Check.
Logrolling
Logrolling is an unorthodox outdoor activity that originated in the lumberjack/log driver tradition of the northeastern United States and Canada.
Who can balance on a log the longest while it rolls in the river? Undoubtedly, a man-on-man heat.
Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com