Do you work on getting better?

[DavidJohn]

In downwinding I try to discipline myself by going hard when there's anyone behind me,

  don't worry about me.. carry on..   

[Off-Shore]

After being "reminded" by DJ, about my totally unprofessional kook stance downwinding sometime back, every time I go out downwinding I focus on my surf stance, and it seems to be working (thanks DJ!). For some people, change comes naturally and quickly, but I am a believer that forcing yourself to try new things repeatedly, speeds up the process to get into the habit where you don't even think about it...

Coming from a ski background, and not a surf one, surf stance felt more unstable to me that a staggered stance, but after hours and hours of forced practice with an imaginary DJ shouting at me to get into surf stance, I'm now realising that surf stance is way more stable and faster than the kook.. 

[Caribsurf]

Sometimes I have a plan to try a new maneuver or trick, but then decide not for fear of wiping out and wasting a good wave.
 What I do try and improve is my endurance, so I train on and off the water.  Nothing worse than having to leave a session early due to fatigue.  I am a fan of the 3-4 hr non stop session when the surf warrants. 

[SlatchJim]

This question continues to echo in my mind. During cardio therapy, there is an abundance of slow treadmill walking.  I've taken to a 1 mph cross step stride while warming up and cooling down.  I guess I'm more than subconsciously trying to get a bit better.

[supthecreek]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 

[Kmania]

I don't surf, just flatwater paddle, but yes, my goal, besides a workout and seeing marine life, is to always work on getting better. Today I was really happy with my paddling--I went faster and farther than I have before--and I practiced walking around on the board, which I'm usually reluctant to do. Still mostly shuffling, but it's more than I've done before, and I feel more comfortable doing it now.

[Zooport]

To me, having fun and working on my technique is the same thing.  I get the most fun out of improving. 

I'm finding that recording some of my sessions with my SoloShot has been a great tool for improving.  I'm currently working on tighter lip bounces and cutbacks, I often fail and fall.  It's really helpful to watch the vid because I can often see my mistake.

[standuped]

I really like to work at not getting worked.  I like to paddle out and not get worked. I like to keep my position with out getting worked.  I like to get off a wave before I get worked, and I like to ride in with out getting worked.  It's a lot of work not getting worked but I think it's worth it.   'Cause sometimes it's like "Owie my head hurts weal bad" or "I want my mommy"

[Board Stiff]

I really like to work at not getting worked.  I like to paddle out and not get worked. I like to keep my position with out getting worked.  I like to get off a wave before I get worked, and I like to ride in with out getting worked.  It's a lot of work not getting worked but I think it's worth it.   'Cause sometimes it's like "Owie my head hurts weal bad" or "I want my mommy"

lol, I can relate! Job #1 for me is avoiding ending up in the water with my board between me and a breaking wave, or with my leash caught between my toes, getting ready to rip one off when the oncoming wave yanks my board away. 

[SUPcheat]

Reviewing since my last post on this thread: I have had the Prowave a couple of months:  learned to trim MUCH better, which I was able to apply back to the Vernor.  Learned to step back and forth on the rear foot rail.  Got better at compressing and turning. Did an accidental lip smack. Got caught by an overhead and managed to surf it.  Can do reasonably aggressive standing turnarounds by stepping the tail and turning from the tail than walking back up the board, four seconds or less for 180 degrees, nearly 80 percent on that one without falling off. Now that my torn left knee is largely healed, after 7-8 months of pegleg, am exploring goofy foot switches and maneuvers to expand my rail skills. Started surfing backward on the Vernor at times. Can "mogul turn" around the kelp clumps a bit on the Prowave. Expanding my standup times on the Prowave and managing in more chop and cross chop/wind conditions.

Can't say any of these were because I was working on getting better, just going with the flow and trying to expand my stepping skills in an evolutionary manner.  However, it IS progress in a few months.  My brain has its own time schedule in writing the stepping scripts, which is slow but steady.

If I can ever "dance like Supthecreek", routinely smack lips, turn with predictable skill rather than random skill, I'll know I have gotten into some skill sets. I probably won't learn to ride the tail until I manage to get some more powerful waves than the standard waves I have been getting.

[Wetstuff]

When I get home and tell my wife; "I did about 46 man-overboard drills in 2hrs."  She says; "Why don't you just paddle in flatwater?"  (Arrrr.. same reason I don't ride a tricycle.) 

I may look like a one-legged boulder climber out there, but the satisfaction of breaching the wall is like nothing else.  It took me a couple of years (in the danger years of the early 2000s) to feel comfortable with kites both in the surf and flatwater.  I'm almost there - here. 

90% done - 90% to go.  Press on!

Jim

[magentawave]

I work on getting better in the surf all the time, but I'm still getting humbled 2+ years later.