What began as an activity for flat days is now a trend gaining more and more followers – not just by the sea. We are talking about surfskating. Surf skateboards allow you to experience the feeling of riding waves on the street and it improve your surf skills outside the water. Our local skate surf community in Tamraght, Morocco, is growing and thriving. Want to know everything there is to know about surfskating?
We answer your questions in this blog post:
- What is surfskating anyway?
- Where does the surfskate trend come from?
- How do your surf skills benefit from surfskating?
- What’s the best way to get started?
- How do you learn to surfskate at our surf camp?
What is surfskating?
Put simply, surfskating is surfing on the road. Special surf skates, or surf skateboards, are therefore equipped with a movable front axle. What sounds pretty wobbly at first, feels like surfing in the water with a little practice (which is also rather wobbly at first). The more balanced you shift your own weight, the closer the ride feels to surfing. The manoeuvrable boards can be set rolling and easily steered without you having to give them any momentum. Surf skates are the perfect training tool for your next surfing holiday, especially for surf fans who don’t have access to a surf spot in their everyday life.
Differences to skateboards and longboards
Boards, boards, boards. What they all have in common: a deck and four wheels. In contrast to the classic skateboard, a surfskate is longer, wider and equipped with thicker wheels. “So it’s a longboard!” you’re probably thinking. The difference to the classic longboard lies in the front axle mentioned above. This allows you to take even tighter turns and build up speed through skilful carving.
Where did the surfskate trend come from?
In the 1950s, Californian surfers had a brilliant idea: why not surf on the street when there are no waves? They screwed wheels under wooden boards and invented the skateboard. A movement of its own was born, lived out on the street and in new built bowls and skate parks. Naturally, surfers were right at the forefront. In the 90s, two of them wanted to get even closer to the real surf feeling and began experimenting with the axle construction and wheels. They invented the surfskate. Surfing and skating have always been closely linked. Surfskates have made the two fun sports inseparable.
What are the benefits of surfskating for surfing?
Whether you’re just starting out with surfing or want to improve quickly: Surfskating is your best friend! With a surf skate, you can practise many of the techniques you need in the water on land. This means you’ll never be bored again when the waves are waiting for you! Your training times no longer have to depend on the swell – or whether you’re at the sea or not. From now on: anytime, anywhere!
You can learn and practise a lot by surfing on the tarmac:
- Pump and build up speed: With a surf skateboard, you will learn to speed up and stand safely on the board.
- Keep your balance: Keeping your balance when a wave hits you is easier said than done. Surf skating trains your sense of balance, stability and self-confidence.
- Improve your stance & style: On the surfskate, you can work on how to get into the perfect stance and maintain control.
- Steering and carving: Smooth turns and stylish carves are an art. On the tarmac, you can fine-tune your surf and skate style and make it more fluid.
- Correcting mistakes: What is sometimes difficult to recognize in the hustle and bustle of the water, you will notice on the surfskate. Here you can correct mistakes and improve your skills in the long term.
- Train muscle memory: The more often you do a movement, the easier it is for your body to instinctively remember it – you can call up the moves without even thinking about them. That’s what we call flow 😉
Please keep in mind: surfing and surfskating have a lot in common, but they are still different sports. What you’re able to do on the tarmac doesn’t automatically work 100% perfectly in the water. Of course, the reverse is also true. But with surfing in particular, there are many rules and basics about the ocean that you should know and internalize before you paddle into the line-up. Especially for beginners, surf skating is no substitute for a surf course.
What’s the best way to get started with surfskating?
Speaking of courses. Now you already know a lot about surfskates and what surfskating can do for you. But what’s the best way to get started? The easiest (and safest) way is to take a surfskate course. Not only will you learn the basics, but you’ll also be in direct contact with others who are just starting out in the surfskate business. Experienced coaches show you the basic techniques for stance, i.e. the correct position on the board, and playfully guide you through your first turns.
Our Surf & Skate Camp
You’ve probably already guessed it: we’re also keen on surf skating, to put it modestly. Our home town of Tamraght is a paradise for surfers and, for some time now, for surf skaters too! We are particularly proud of our local skate park, which leaves nothing to be desired when it comes to skating. Smooth asphalt, bowls and ramps await you here. Just around the corner: the most beautiful surf spots in Morocco.
In our Surf & Skate package, we have put together all the activities on land and in the water for you. Our coaches are waiting for you on site with all the equipment you need and will quickly take you to a new skate and surf level.
Conclusion
Surfskating is a board sport that allows you to experience the feeling of surfing on the street. With a little practice, surf skating can have a very positive effect on your balance and your surfing skills. A surfskate course with experienced skaters is worthwhile so that you learn the right techniques right from the start to have absolute carving fun and perform your first tricks.
