What skills to focus on?

[Hoffenator]

Ok, so i feel pretty comfortable paddling and getting outside the break and I've been able to catch a few small waves.  I need to bring some focus to my sessions, beyond having a blast everytime I'm out on the water .  I'm looking for advice on what skills are best to develop for beginner.  Is it wave catching, pivot turns, something else?  What are the skills you would focus on developing beyond just standing up and paddling?

[stoneaxe]

I'm just barely progressing beyond beginners stage myself so take this from where it comes...

Reading waves so you can be in the right place at the right time. Sit and watch the break for a bit before just jumping in and see how the swell that day is making it work.

Punching whitewater...the better you can do it the faster you get back out=more waves=more practice=the better you get. Somedays...especially short period choppy stuff, I'll just sit in the zone practicing in the whitewater.

Pivot turns to get into position

Walking your board...not only fun but key to getting the most out of a wave

Turns....of all kinds. find your weaknesses and focus on those. Start out with bottom turns...they setup everything else.

Speaking of turns....compress...read the are you compressing enough thread Byron started. Getting down and pushing off is what makes turns really work.
http://www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php?topic=3429.0

Don't discount just getting out there and having a blast. The skills will follow. If you try to focus too much on learning a technique and its not working don't beat yourself up, roll with it and have fun. I couldn't do a layback cutback to save my life. Gave up trying and settled for gentler turns. Then one day it just happened...I still fall most of the time when I try it but now at least I now what it feels like and I can get it once in awhile.

Tom English's article on ke nalu is a good place to look at some of the things to work on for more advanced stuff.
http://www.kenalu.com/2009/03/07/advanced-sup-techniques/

[Tree]

Noobz!!! Hahahahaha! Just kidding...      Good to see you guys are fired up and want to progress!

[stoneaxe]

LOL....thanks tree...and you say you want to surf with me.... ...what will that do for your rep...

[Hoffenator]

Tree, you have some responsibility here since it was your board that I used my first time last fall with Mark from Brickhouse.  That one time got me hooked and I've been looking for ways/waves to get back on the water ever since  .

[Hoffenator]

Stone, thanks for the tips and links.  Good point on reading the waves.  Most times the focus is just to get into the water as quickly as possilble and often forget to pause and look at what is happening.  Also, forgot about all the good beginner info on Ke Nalu.  I'll check that out over the weekend.  Bill